Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q4) The provisional Q4 euro-zone GDP figures confirmed that the economy contracted at the end of last year, albeit by a bit less than had been feared. The 0.3% quarterly fall was slightly better than the... 15th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Money and credit still very weak While some of the euro-zone activity indicators have nudged up this month, money and credit growth have weakened further. The annual growth rate of the broad money supply fell to an 11-month low of 1... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Dec.), & German ZEW (Feb.) 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Greece on the brink, yet again The immense difficulties in finalising a second rescue package and debt restructuring for Greece have pushed the country right to the brink once more. Even if the policymakers manage again to step... 13th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB focuses on credit crunch dangers The ECB today approved further measures to address the danger of a credit crunch in the euro-zone. However, it continues to resist taking more direct action to tackle the region’s fiscal crisis. 9th February 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Focus How would the US cope with a euro break-up? The US is not that exposed to the crisis in Europe. Despite the prospect of a very deep euro-zone recession arising from some form of euro break-up, we estimate that US GDP growth will be just 0.5... 8th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Austerity deal won’t mark a turning point for Greece Greek policymakers may soon agree on a new austerity and structural reform programme, reducing the chances of a disorderly default in March. Nonetheless, any deal is unlikely to prevent Greece’s... 7th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Crunch year for the euro-zone? While the news on the euro-zone economy has improved a bit in the last month or two, 2012 could still turn out to be crunch year for the currency union. Fiscal progress in the peripheral economies has... 6th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Compact agreed, but economies diverge While European leaders have now agreed to the fiscal compact proposed last year, its terms have been diluted significantly. Meanwhile, their economies have continued to diverge. Most worryingly, while... 6th February 2012 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update China will not bail out euro-zone alone Yesterday’s remarks by Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, have yet again raised the possibility that China may put its financial weight behind international efforts to shore up the euro. We remain sceptical... 3rd February 2012 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Will the ECB take a haircut? While the European Central Bank (ECB) is likely to keep interest rates unchanged again at its February policy meeting, President Draghi will no doubt use the following press conference to stress the... 3rd February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response E-Z CPI, Final Manu. PMI & ECB Bank Lending Survey (Jan.) The latest euro-zone economic data do nothing to alter our view that the region is set for another tough year, even if policymakers implement further measures to help bring the debt crisis to an end. 1st February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Jan.) The latest fiscal data suggest that most of the southern European economies are still struggling to make further major inroads into their budget deficits. With growth likely to weaken further in the... 31st January 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Unemployment (Dec.) December’s euro-zone unemployment figures revealed a further increase that will add to the downward pressure on consumer spending in the coming months. 31st January 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey (Jan.) & Spanish GDP (Q4) January’s improvement in the EC’s euro-zone business and consumer surveys is something of a relief, but the headline index still points to a renewed recession. 30th January 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Could Germany yet save the euro? Worries about the Greek debt deal were offset last week by greater optimism towards Germany. Not only were there further signs of a pick-up in the economy, but Angela Merkel hinted that she would be... 30th January 2012 · 1 min read
