Weakness in Taiwan’s economic momentum to be temporary
Jun 25, 2015 05:06 am UTC| Commentary
Taiwans Q1 GDP growth dipped slightly to 3.4 yoy in Q1 from 3.5 yoy in Q4 2014. That said, the composition of growth shows external demand weakened further and the recovery in domestic demand was weaker than anticipated....
US personal spending finally on a rebound
Jun 25, 2015 05:00 am UTC| Commentary
The reported May increase in US auto sales combined with a solid increase in retail sales suggest that consumer spending finally rebounded after a winter pause that extended into the early spring.Societe Generale forecasts...
Japan's Fiscal consolidation plan and reform agenda are positive, concrete targets needed
Jun 25, 2015 04:52 am UTC| Commentary
Reforms are also important to drive further growth in Japan.The government aims to increase services-sector productivity growth to 2% by 2020, riding the wave of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It also targets doubling the number...
Japan's low unemployment rate not yet fuelled a stronger consumer sector
Jun 25, 2015 04:39 am UTC| Commentary
Low unemployment in Japan has not yet fuelled a stronger consumer sector. Household spending in May likely continued to contract y/y on lower-than-expected wage growth and consumers still adapting slowly to inflation."The...
Core PCE inflation may creep up in May
Jun 25, 2015 04:35 am UTC| Commentary
US Personal Consumption Expenditure inflation for May is scheduled to release today.Standard Chartered estimates, core PCE inflation (Thursday, 08:30 ET) to be up 0.1% m/m, (in line with the consensus view) from 0.1% in...
Japan's May core inflation likely slowed to 0%, the same as shortly after QQE launch
Jun 25, 2015 04:34 am UTC| Commentary
Japan releases May inflation, employment and household spending data on 26 June.National core inflation is expected to have followed a similar downtrend, reflecting rising concerns about inflation among BoJ board members....
Singapore industrial production likely to have stabilised in May
Jun 25, 2015 04:21 am UTC| Commentary
Singapore is schedule to release May industrial production data on 26 June. According to Standard Chartered, industrial production is likely to have stabilised, contracting just 2.1% y/y, versus the 8.7% y/y fall in...
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
Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board
Sudan: civil war stretches into a second year with no end in sight