US consumers take a summer break from spending in June
Aug 04, 2015 03:38 am UTC| Commentary
While a robust personal consumption expenditure (PCE) figure of 2.9% annualized for the second quarter was already telegraphed in last Thursdays GDP report, the monthly pattern is somewhat less constructive for third...
US manufacturing sector index suggests slowdown in July, but underlying strength remains
Aug 04, 2015 03:32 am UTC| Commentary
US manufacturing sector report was a bit of a disappointment, especially in light of the weakness in the employment index as well as the externally-exposed import and export sub-components, with the latter consistent with...
South Korea July inflation: A tale of higher food and transport costs
Aug 04, 2015 02:37 am UTC| Commentary
South Korea inflation came in at 0.7% y/y for July (June: 0.7%; May: 0.5%), in line with consensus. Similar to June, food inflation remained the key driver on the back of the severe drought which weighed on agriculture...
China's equity sell-off could spark a chain reaction
Aug 04, 2015 01:21 am UTC| Commentary
The stock market is one of three alarming bubbles in the Chinese economy. A domino effect from the stock market nosedive to the larger credit and property bubbles is unlikely, but not impossible. The government is expected...
US clearing another hurdle: Core inflation stable
Aug 04, 2015 00:29 am UTC| Commentary
Headline PCE rose 0.2% m/m, supported by both core and non-core components. Core PCE was up 0.1% m/m (0.148% unrounded), consistent with moderately firming price pressures. Food prices were up 0.3% m/m after declining for...
BoE interest rate decision: Subtle hints of small hikes?
Aug 03, 2015 23:24 pm UTC| Commentary
The BoE has been serving all its recent talk of rate hikes with a side of gradualism and a 10bp first hike is an easy way for the BoE to effectively implement this message. In Julys Minutes, the BoE appeared to suggest the...
BoE to cut near-term inflation forecasts
Aug 03, 2015 22:49 pm UTC| Commentary
Lower oil prices and higher sterling will likely lead to a cut in the BoEs very near-term inflation forecasts. Assuming oil prices stay where they are, inflation could bobble around 0.1% until October. That probably rules...
Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility
Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget
Biden administration tells employers to stop shackling workers with ‘noncompete agreements’
Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects