terça-feira, março 17

A rebound in US pending home sales

US: Pending home sales (Feb.): 1.8% m/m vs -0.6% expected (prior: -1.0% revised from -0.8%)

  • Y/y: -0.6% vs -4.5% expected (prior: -1.4% revised from -1.2%)
  • First increase in 3 months as buyers took advantage of lower mortgage rates (lowest since 2022) and slower price increases.
  • However, mortgage rates have risen quite sharply since early March…

 

Germany: Zew (March): -0.5 vs 39.2 expected (prior: 58.3)

  • Current situation: -62.9 vs -68.0 expected (prior: -65.9)
  • The expectations index has slumped to the lowest level since April due to the war in Iran, which could put at risk the recent economic recovery.

 

Switzerland: PPI-import prices (Feb.): -0.3% m/m (prior: -0.2%)

  • PPI & import prices y/y: -2.7% after -2.2% in January.
  • The annual change fell to the lowest level since November 2020.
segunda-feira, março 16

Mixed US index in industry: rising production while falling regional business confidence

US: Empire manufacturing (March): -0.2 vs 3.9 expected (prior: 7.1)

  • The business confidence index remains highly volatile on a month-to-month basis.
  • Sentiment on current situation has decreased over the month due to a sharp fall in shipments and in prices paid too.
  • Other sub-components were on the rise such as new orders, delivery time, unfilled orders and employment, making the situation less severely negative than the global index.
  • The 6-month index has slightly decreased (from 34.7 to 31) with all subcomponents on the fall, except capex.
  • This index seems to reflect uncertainties and constraints coming from the war on global activity, while pressures from previous tariff hikes on prices seemed to ease.

 

US: Industrial production (Feb.): 0.2% m/m vs 0.1% expected (prior: 0.7%)

  • Manufacturing production was up by 0.2% m/m after 0.8% m/m the prior month; production was driven by equipment goods, up by 0.2% m/m.
  • Within sector, auto production and computers were on the rise over the month, as well as the defense sector.
sexta-feira, março 13

US inflation held steady in January while consumer confidence slipped

US: Core PCE deflator (Jan): 0.4% m/m as expected (prior: 0.4%)

  • The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge still points to sticky prices. In January, core PCE quickened to 3.1% y/y from 3.0%, matching forecasts and ensuring a close look from the FOMC next week.
  • Services drove the gain: the "supercore" measure, core services excluding housing, rose 0.4% m/m, up from 0.3%, with healthcare leading the advance.
  • The print predates the recent surge in energy costs and could face upside risks in the future.

 

US: Personal income (Jan): 0.4% m/m vs 0.5% expected (prior: 0.3%)

  • Consumer demand kept its December rhythm in January, with spending tilting further from goods to services.
  • Personal spending held steady at 0.4% m/m, while real spending eked out a modest 0.1% gain.
  • Higher energy costs will weigh on real spending, though tax refunds and wage growth should offer some support; even so, a fragile labor market remains a risk to the outlook.

 

US: GDP (4Q S): 0.7% q/q vs 1.4% expected (prior: 4.4%)

  • The BEA now reckons the government shutdown bit harder than first thought. Fourth-quarter growth was revised down to a 0.7% q/q annualized rate from 1.4%.
  • Consumer, business and government outlays, as well as exports, were all marked lower. Even so, the underlying demand gauge held up relatively well.

 

US: Durable goods orders (Jan P): 0.0% m/m vs 1.1% expected (prior: -0.9% revised from -1.4%)

  • Durable-goods orders were flat in January, disappointing expectations. Excluding transportation, a cleaner read on underlying activity, new orders rose 0.4% m/m, down from an upwardly revised 1.3%.
  • Core capital-goods orders (nondefense, ex-aircraft) were likewise flat, while core shipments, that feeds into GDP, slipped 0.1% m/m, versus 1.0% previously and well below the 0.4% forecast.
  • Even so, momentum remains positive on a year-on-year basis for both core orders and shipments.

 

US: Consumer confidence (Michigan) (Mar P): 55.5 vs 54.8 expected (prior: 56.6)

  • The Iran conflict has barely dented American consumer sentiment, at least judging by inflation expectations.
  • Though the headline index fell by less than forecast, short‑term inflation expectations held at 3.4%, defying predictions of a rise to 3.7%.
  • The current-conditions gauge climbed to a five‑month high (55.5), while the expectations index slipped to its lowest since November (54.1).
  • Looking ahead, sentiment could yet buckle under higher fuel prices linked to the Israel–US tensions and a still‑fragile labor market.

 

US: JOLTS Job Openings (Jan): 6946k vs 6750k expected (prior: 6550k revised from 6542k)

  • America’s JOLTS data showed a tick-up in job openings. Even so, caution is in order as response rates remain weak, clouding the signal. Layoffs edged down from 1.1% to 1.0%, while the hiring rate held steady.

 

Eurozone: Industrial production (Jan): -1.5% m/m vs 0.6% expected (prior: -0.5% revised from -1.4%)

  • Eurozone industrial output fell 1.5% m/m in January, wrong-footing expectations of a 0.6% rebound, though December was revised up to -0.6% from -1.4%.
  • Germany (-1.3%), Italy (-0.6%) and Spain (-0.5%) all slipped; France rose 0.5%. A 9.8% plunge in Ireland, often volatile due to multinationals, amplified the drag.
  • February’s PMI hinted at stabilization, but it predates the latest flare-up involving Iran and higher energy costs. With manufacturers already flagging rising inputs, commodities, transport and wages, next week’s PMI prints will be important to monitor.

 

UK: GDP (Jan): 0.2% q/q vs 0.3% expected (prior: 0.1%)

  • Britain entered 2026 with scant momentum, leaving it more exposed as Middle Eastern tensions rise. The services powerhouse stagnated amid a softening labor market; manufacturing edged up 0.1% m/m (vs. 0.2% expected) and construction 0.2%.
  • Looking ahead, PMIs point to a firmer underlying pace (about 1.5% q/q annualized), but a sustained energy-price spike would sap growth.

 

quinta-feira, março 12

US labor market still in low-hire low-fire equilibrium

US: Initial jobless claims (Mar 7): 213k vs 215k expected (prior: 214k revised from 213k)

  • Applications for unemployment benefits were largely unchanged from the prior week, while continuing claims drifted down to 1850k for the week ending February 28, from a slightly revised 1871k the week prior.
  • Claims remain consistent with a low-hire, low-fire equilibrium despite the February decline in payrolls.
  • Previous labor indicators, such as lower job-creation plans among small business owners and the February jobs report, show that this equilibrium remains fragile.

 

US: Trade balance (Jan): -54.5 bn USD vs -66.0 bn expected (prior: -72.9 bn revised from -70.3 bn)

  • America’s trade gap narrowed in January as exports jumped 5.5%, led by shipments of non-monetary gold, other precious metals, computers and aircraft. Imports slipped 0.7%, weighed down by a drop in pharmaceuticals.

 

US: Housing starts (Jan): 1487k vs 1341k expected (prior: 1871k revised from 1404k)

  • January housing starts beat expectations despite foul weather, but the details point to softness ahead.
  • The gain was driven by multifamily projects, not single-family homes, the segment that matters most for ownership and affordability.
  • Permits fell across most regions and for all housing types, and with inventories bloated at single-family builders, residential construction still faces stiff headwinds.
quarta-feira, março 11

US inflation in line with expectations, showing a stable yearly trend

US: CPI (Feb.): 0.3% m/m as expected (prior: 0.2%)

  • Inflation was in line with consensus expectations and has shown limited monthly pressures across sectors.
  • Core inflation was up by 0.2% m/m as expected and as seen the prior month.
  • Prices of food were up by 0.4% m/m (0.2% m/m prior month), and energy up by 0.6% m/m after -1.5% m/m prior month); the rises in energy prices were due to fuel oil (11% m/m) and gasoline (+0.8% m/m).
  • Good prices were up by 0.1% m/m (0% m/m prior month); just a few sectors have shown monthly rises probably due to tariffs (appliances, apparels), but balanced by flat prices of new cars and another decline in used cars (-0.4% m/m).
  • Services were up by 0.3% m/m (0.4% m/m prior month); shelter costs remained moderate (0.2% m/m as seen prior month); prices were up for hospitals and airfares but balanced by moderate rises or some decline in other sectors.
  • Yearly trend remained unchanged from the prior month for both headline inflation (2.4% y/y) and core inflation (2.5% y/y).

 

Germany: CPI (Feb.): 0.4% m/m as expected (prior: -0.1%)

  • Final data have confirmed a monthly rebound in prices; this move was driven by higher prices of clothes (1.6% m/m), rising oil-petrol prices (1.1% m/m) and firmer prices for communication and leisure goods; on the opposite, household equipment prices were down over the month.
  • Yearly trend came marginally lower, from 2.1% y/y prior month to 2.0% y/y.

 

Spain: Retail sales (real) (Jan.): 4% y/y (prior: 2.8% revised from 2.9%)

  • Real sales were up by 0.1% m/m after -0.8% m/m prior month.
  • Monthly picture was mixed as sales were stronger for food, personal goods and online sales, while they declined for household goods and health sectors.

Assine as nossas newsletters