jeudi, juin 18

No surprise from the SNB and the BoE - policy rates kept unchanged

US: Initial jobless claims (June 13): 226k vs 225k expected (prior: 230k revised from 229k)

  • The level of unemployment claims remains low.

 

US: Philadelphia Fed. (June): 10.3 vs 10.0 expected (prior: -0.4)

  • Most of the sub-indices increased, including prices paid.

 

UK: BoE leaves key rate unchanged at 3.75% as expected

  • The number of MPC members who dissented in favor of a hike rose from one on 30 April to two today.
  • The BoE expects inflation to rise above 3.25% in the final quarter of this year, up from 2.8% in May. It was also marginally more upbeat on growth, estimating the economy is expanding at an underlying rate of 0.2% a quarter, up from 0.1% in its last set of forecasts.
  • For most policymakers, a weak labour market (higher unemployment and slower wage growth than a year ago) reduces the chance that a new short-term pick-up in inflation would create long-term difficulties returning to target.
  • We expect the policy rate to stay unchanged this year.

 

UK: Unemployment rate (ILO) (April): 4.9% vs 5.0% expected (prior: 5.0%)

  • A drop in the participation rate fully explains the decline in the unemployment rate; this does not indicate a tightening job market. Actually, it should remain quite weak in the coming months.

 

UK: Average earnings incl. Bonus (April): 4.4% y/y vs 4.0% expected (prior: 4.4% revised from 4.1%)

  • This strong growth mainly reflects higher wages in the public sector since the three-month average of pay excluding bonuses in the private sector eased from 3.1% 3m y/y to 2.9%.

 

Switzerland: SNB leaves rate at 0% as expected

  • The central bank has slightly raised its inflation forecasts to 0.6% (from 0.3% in March) for 2026, and to 0.6% next year (from 0.5%), as a result of higher energy prices and rising inflation abroad.
  • The SNB growth outlook is unchanged at "around 1%" for 2026, and 1.5% for next year.
  • The monetary policy assessment was largely unchanged. The language about FX intervention was slightly modified relative to March by adding "if necessary": "If necessary, the SNB has an increased willingness to intervene in the foreign exchange market."
  • We expect the policy rate to stay unchanged in 2026, but a hike in December cannot be fully excluded if the CHF weakens along with higher ECB rates.
mercredi, juin 17

Retail sales remain strong in the US

US: Retail sales (May): 0.9% m/m vs 0.6% expected (prior: 0.4% revised from 0.5%)

  • Sales were strong over the month, boosted by higher gasoline consumption (in value terms), up 3.4% m/m. Sales in several other sectors were also solid, in particular autos, furniture and internet sales.
  • Core sales (sales ex food, gasoline, building materials and autos) were up 0.7% m/m after 0.5% m/m in April.
  • Consumption is expected to have regained strength in Q2 after modest growth in Q1 (below 2% q/q).

 

US: Pending home sales (May): 3.8% m/m vs 0.8% expected (prior: 0.3% revised from 1.4%)

  • Despite higher mortgage rates and tight supply, pending home sales increased to a 6-month high in May.

 

US: Business inventories (April): 0.5% m/m as expected (prior: 1.0% revised from 0.9%)

  • This strong increase suggests that inventories could contribute positively to GDP growth in Q2

 

UK: CPI (May): 0.2% m/m vs 0.4% expected (prior: 0.7%)

  • Inflation has moderated over the month thanks to declining energy prices.
  • Energy prices were down by 0.5% m/m (3.5% m/m prior month) with fuel prices down by 1.3% m/m (14.5% m/m prior month). Food prices have also declined over the month.
  • Services were up by 0.4% m/m (0.9% m/m prior month), mainly due to transport (2.1% m/m after 0.8% m/m) and package holidays. Core inflation was up by 0.3% m/m after 0.7% m/m prior month.
  • Yearly trend remained stable for headline inflation at 2.8% y/y, up by 2.6% y/y from 2.5% previously on core inflation; services were up by 3.7% y/y after 3.2% y/y.
  • Inflation remained contained and transmission to core inflation was limited to the transport sector; these data give more time for the BoE before changing its strategy.

 

UK: PPI Input prices (May): 0.2% m/m vs 0.5% expected (prior: 2.6% revised from 2.4%)

  • Fuel prices were up 3.4% m/m after 1.7% m/m in April.
  • Yearly increase accelerated to 8.7% y/y, up from 7.9% y/y in the prior month.

 

UK: PPI Output prices (May): 0.5% m/m as expected (prior: 1.5% revised from 1.4%)

  • Core inflation was up 0.8% m/m after 0.9% m/m in April.
  • Yearly trend remained quite stable at 4% y/y, compared with 4.1% y/y in the prior month.
  • Input and output prices pointed to rising costs, indicating further potential upside risks to inflation and lower margins for corporates.

 

Eurozone: CPI (May): 0.1% m/m as expected (prior: 1.0%)

  • The final estimate confirmed a moderation in monthly inflation; energy prices were down 1.2% m/m after +3.0% m/m in April. Food prices also declined over the month.
  • Goods prices were up 0.2% m/m, while services prices rose by 0.4% m/m after 1.1% m/m in the prior month. Core inflation was up 0.3% m/m after 0.9% m/m.
  • Headline inflation increased from 3.0% y/y to 3.2% y/y and core inflation from 2.2% y/y to 2.6% y/y. Services have contributed 1.6 pp to the yearly trend and energy 0.99 pp.
  • Over the coming months, the key question will be whether core inflation and services continue to rise, while energy prices may have peaked.
mardi, juin 16

Falling US housing starts; Germany: a rebound in ZEW expectations

US: Housing starts (May): 1177k vs 1430k expected (prior: 1392k revised from 1465k)

  • Housing starts have sharply declined over the month; the move was mainly driven by falling housing starts of multi-family houses, but single-family houses have also decreased. Prior month data were also revised down.
  • Building permits have decreased from 1423 k the prior month to 1413 k, with single and multi- family houses both decreasing over the month.
  • Activity in housing remained volatile and trend in housing starts has collapsed after some improvement the prior months.

 

Germany: Zew (June): -81 vs -78 expected (prior: -77.8)

  • Business sentiment has deteriorated on current situation over the month.
  • On the opposite, expectations have strongly rebounded, index being up to 10.5 from -10.2.
  • Opinions have increased, or turned less negative from the prior month, in all sectors except construction.

 

Italy: CPI (May): 0.3% m/m vs 0.4% expected (prior: 0.4%)

  • Final data confirmed rising yearly trend and still sustained monthly change.
  • Prices of hotels-restaurants were up by 1.6% m/m after 2.1% m/m the prior month, while other prices remained in a 0%-0.2% m/m.
  • Yearly trend was up to 3.2% y/y after 2.0% y/y the prior month.

 

Brazil: Retail sales (April): -0.7% m/m vs 0.2% expected (prior: 0.0% revised from 0.3%)

  • Broad sales have decreased, and prior month data were revised lower.
  • All sectors except food-supermarkets have decreased over the month. Sales were up by 1.4% y/y after 6.5% y/y the prior month.
lundi, juin 15

Mixed US data on business confidence (Empire index), industrial production and confidence in housing sector

US: Empire manufacturing (June): 5.7 vs 13.5 expected (prior: 19.6)

  • Sentiment has decreased over the month: opinions have decreased on new orders, shipments, delivery time and average workweek; prices paid and received have marginally decreased over the month.
  • The 6-month index has also decreased from the prior month on lower prices and also lower capex; otherwise, the 6-month views on new orders, shipments and employment were on the rise.

 

US: Industrial production (May): 0.1% m/m vs 0.3% expected (prior: 0.9% revised from 0.7%)

  • Manufacturing production was flat over the month after 0.7% m/m the prior month.
  • Production of equipment goods was up by 0.6% m/m after 1.8% m/m the prior month, but activity in utilities was down by 0.4% m/m and consumer goods also down by 0.5% m/m.
  • Besides these changes in sectors, activity was noticeably stronger for autos, computers, defense and space, and on gas over the month.
  • While total production was volatile past months, trend was strong in some sectors such as defense and business equipment.

 

US: NAHB housing market index (June): 35 vs 37 expected (prior: 37)

  • Sentiment in housing has decreased over the month after a rebound the prior month; data remained volatile past quarters.
  • Opinions have decreased on current sales while views remained constructive on future sales of single-family houses.

 

Eurozone: Industrial production (April): 0.1% m/m as expected (prior: 0.4% revised from 0.2%)

  • Production remained sustained for intermediate goods and has rebounded over the month for consumer goods.
  • But activity has declined for energy and equipment sectors.

 

Germany: Wholesale price (May): -0.6% m/m (prior: 2.0%)

  • Prices have declined from 6.3% y/y the prior month to 5.9% y/y.

 

Poland: CPI (May): -0.3% m/m as expected (prior: 0.6%)

  • Final data confirmed the decline in monthly inflation; this was due to falling energy and transport prices, clothes and recreation. Prices for restaurants and health were on the rise over the month.
  • Yearly trend has declined from 3.2% y/y to 3.1% y/y.

 

Sweden: Unemployment rate (May): 8.8% vs 8.7% expected (prior: 8.5%)

  • Unemployed has increased and labor force has also increased in parallel.

 

Switzerland: PPI-import prices (May): -0.4% m/m (prior: 0.8%)

  • Prices of imports were down by 0.3% m/m (2.3% m/m prior month) and producer prices were also down by 0.4% m/m (0.2% m/m prior month).
  • Yearly trend remained negative at -1.8% y/y after -2.0% y/y prior month.

 

Switzerland: Seco Consumer confidence (May): -38.1 vs -38 expected (prior: -40)

  • Consumer sentiment was less depressed over the month; views were less negative on future economy and purchases but more negative about financial situation.

 

Turkey: Industrial production (April): 3.7% m/m (prior: -0.8%)

  • Production has rebounded in the manufacturing sector, up by 4.4% m/m after -1.1% m/m the prior month, but production of electricity was down (-2.8% m/m after 3.8% m/m prior month.)
vendredi, juin 12

Rebounding US consumer confidence (Michigan index)

US: Consumer confidence (Michigan) (June): 48.9 vs 46 expected (prior: 44.8)

  • Consumer confidence has rebounded in preliminary data.
  • Sentiment has improved on both current conditions and expectations.
  • Opinions have improved on financial situation and were less negative on net income. Business expectations have improved, and views have stabilized on unemployment.
  • Willingness to buy autos has regained over the month.
  • Inflation expectations at 12M have declined from 4.8% prior month to 4.6% y/y and expectations at 5-10y have declined from 3.9% to 3.4% y/y.

 

France: CPI (May): 0.1% m/m as expected (prior: 1.2%)

  • Final data confirmed some slowdown in monthly inflation; energy was up by 0.6% m/m (4.7% m/m prior month) and oil prices were down by 1.8% m/m after 8.2% m/m prior month.
  • Prices of goods were up by 0.1% m/m and services flat after 1.2% m/m the prior month.
  • Yearly trend has accelerated from 2.5% y/y to 2.8% y/y.

 

Germany: CPI (May): -0.1% m/m as expected (prior: 0.5%)

  • Final data pointed to falling energy prices (-7.2% m/m after 4.3% m/m prior month), helped by lower tax, but leisure was up by 1.4% m/m after 0.3% m/m prior month.
  • Yearly trend has declined from 2.9% y/y to 2.7% y/y.

 

Spain: CPI (May): 0.1% m/m as expected (prior: 0.7%)

  • Energy and transport costs were down over the month and other sectors were flat or modestly up (0.2% m/m) in monthly data.
  • Prices of restaurants-hotels were up by 0.7% m/m after 1.6% m/m the prior month.
  • Yearly trend has slightly increased from 3.5% y/y prior month to 3.6% y/y.

 

UK: Industrial production (April): 0% m/m vs 0.1% expected (prior: -0.2%)

  • Activity in manufacturing was up by 0.4% m/m after 1.2% m/m; utilities production was down while mining and oil production has rebounded over the month.
  • Separately, construction was up by 0.1% m/m (1.5% m/m prior month) and services down by 0.2% m/m (0.3% m/m).
  • Proxy for GDP was down by 0.1% m/m after 0.3% m/m prior month. Activity remained fragile after Q1-026.

 

Turkey: Current account (April): -5.70bn USD vs -5.5bn expected (prior: -9.69bn revised from -9.67bn)

  • Exports of goods have rebounded over the month and balance of services has improved, reducing the deficit.
  • Official reserves have increased by USD 12.4 bn after USD -43.4 bn the prior month.