星期二, 七月 23

Decreasing business confidence in the US (Richmond index), increasing consumer confidence in eurozone

US: Richmond Fed manufacturing (July): -17 vs -7 expected (prior: -10)

  • Business sentiment has dramatically decreased over the month to reach lowest level this year.
  • Sentiment has decreased on shipments, new orders, and business conditions; the 6-month index has increased on shipments but remained cautious on orders and employment versus the prior month.

 

US: Existing home sales (June): 3.89M vs 3.98M expected (prior: 4.11M)

  • Sales have decreased for both single houses and condos but declined the most for condos.
  • Inventories were on the rise over the month, the most fo condos.
  • Prices have slightly increased in absolute terms from the prior month and were up by 4.1% y/y (5.8%y/y the prior month).

 

Eurozone: Consumer confidence (July): -13 vs -13.5 expected (prior: -14)

  • First estimate of consumer confidence pointed towards ongoing improvement of global consumer confidence.

 

Poland: Unemployment rate (June): 4.9% as expected (prior: 5%)

  • Unemployed remained on a downward trend.

 

Turkey: Consumer confidence (July): 75.9 (prior: 78.3)

  • Consumer confidence has decreased over the month; sentiment has deteriorated on financial situation, unemployment, and future economic conditions.
星期一, 七月 22

Swiss M3 back into positive trend

Switzerland: M3 (June): 0.4% y/y (prior: -0.6%)

  • M1 was still down by 9.6% y/y after -12.6% y/y the prior month and M2 down by 5.3% y/y after -7.7% y/y.
  • Time deposits remained on a sustained growth trend (35.2% y/y).

 

Poland: Retail sales (June): 0.3% m/m vs 1.4% expected (prior: -0.1%)

  • Sales were strong for autos and fuels but have reversed in other sectors over the month.
  • Sales were up by 4.4% y/y after 5% y/y the prior month (all in volume terms).
星期四, 七月 18

ECB keeps rates steady; UK wage growth slows

US: Initial jobless claims (Jul 13): 243k vs 229k expected (prior: 223k revised from 222k)

  • The number of unemployment benefit claims in the US rose by 10k to 243k for the week ending July 13th, exceeding the anticipated 229k and setting a new weekly high.
  • This uptick, alongside other significant indicators, points to a continued weakening of the US labor market during this period, strengthening the belief that the Federal Reserve might reduce benchmark borrowing rates by September.

 

US: Philadelphia Fed. (Jul): 13.9 vs 2.9 expected (prior: 1.3)

  • The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index in the US surged to 13.9 in July 2024, marking its highest level in three months.
  • This reading indicates a broad expansion in Philadelphia's manufacturing activity, with general activity increasing and indexes for shipments (27.8 vs. -7.2), new orders (20.7 vs. -2.2), and employment (15.2 vs. -2.5) all turning positive. Additionally, both price indexes reflected ongoing price increases, with prices paid at 22.5 (up from 19.8) and prices received at 24.2 (up from 13.7).
  • Most future activity indicators also rose, pointing to more widespread expectations for overall growth in the next six months (38.7 vs. 13.8).

 

UK: Average earnings incl. Bonus (May): 5.7% y/y as expected (prior: 5.9%)

  • UK wage growth declined to 5.7% in the three months leading up to May, down from the previous 5.9%, aligning with consensus expectations.
  • Wage growth remained steady in the public sector at 6.3% but decreased in the private sector to 5.5% from 5.9%. This decline was partly due to favorable base effects, as a significant increase in May of the previous year was not repeated.
  • The unemployment rate remained stable at 4.4% during the same period, matching consensus forecasts.
  • This moderation in wage growth is likely to reassure the central bank, especially following signs of persistent inflation in June's CPI report.

 

Eurozone: ECB meeting: no change in key rates as expected.

  • With no surprises, the ECB decided not to change its policy, which is still viewed as being restrictive.
  • Inflation remains a concern despite the statement downplaying the recent rebound due to one-off factors. Nevertheless, the ECB’s statement remains slightly hawkish as it indicated inflation could remain above target next year.
  • Wages remained on the rise while productivity is low; profits have partly absorbed inflation pressures. Pressures remain on domestic prices.
  • More data are needed to confirm the beginning of a downward trend in wages and inflation.
  • Nevertheless, the door remains open in favor of a September rate cut.
  • Risks to growth are on the downside, and confidence and global trade could be negatively impacted.
  • The ECB calls for deficit reduction and a cap on public debt.
星期三, 七月 17

US: firmer industrial production and higher housing starts

US: Housing starts (June): 1353k vs 1300k expected (prior: 1314k revised from 1277k)

  • Housing starts were higher than expected and have regained from the lows seen the prior month (revised up).
  • The monthly rebound was driven by multifamily houses while single-family houses have decreased further to reach the lows of 2024.
  • Building permits have increased from 1393k the prior month to 1446k; these permits probably point towards firmer housing starts next months; within permits, the rebound was fuelled by permits on multifamily while those for single family have declined over the month.

 

US: Industrial production (June): 0.6% m/m vs 0.3% expected (prior: 0.9%)

  • Industrial activity was boosted by auto production (1.6% m/m) and utilities; other sectors were mixed.

 

UK: CPI (June): 0.1% m/m as expected (prior: 0.3%)

  • Monthly inflation was in line with expectations and has slowed down from the prior month.
  • By sector, prices were down for clothes, transport, and communication but on the rise for hotels and restaurants.
  • Yearly trend remained unchanged from the prior month for headline inflation at 2% and for core inflation at 3.5% y/y, while market was expecting data slightly below 2% y/y on headline.
  • Some BoE's members mentioned that more data will be necessary to build more confidence on inflation before voting for a first rate cut; the probability of an August rate cut has decreased despite the 2% inflation target reached due to still sticky prices in services (5.7% y/y).

 

UK: PPI Input prices (June): -0.8% m/m vs 0.1% expected (prior: -0.6% revised from 0%)

  • Prices of energy and intermediate goods have decreased over the month.
  • Yearly trend has turned less negative, down 0.4% y/y after -0.7% y/y the prior month.

 

UK: PPI Output prices (June): -0.3% m/m vs 0.1% expected (prior: 0% revised from -0.1%)

  • Prices of energy and food have decreased over the month.
  • Yearly trend has declined from 1.7% y/y the prior month to 1.4% y/y.
  • Pressures on prices have eased down and could help further disinflation at CPI level.

 

Eurozone: CPI (June): 0.2% m/m as expected (prior: 0.2%)

  • Prices were confirmed up 0.2% m/m as expected; food prices were up 0.2% m/m as seen the prior month; energy prices were down 0.8% m/m after -1.2% m/m prior month.
  • Prices of goods were down 0.1% m/m after being flat the prior month.
  • Services remained sustained, up 0.6% m/m after 0.7% m/m prior month (4.1% y/y unchanged from prior month).
  • Yearly trend has declined from 2.6% to 2.5% for headline prices and core inflation remained stable at 2.9% y/y.
  • With these inflation data, there is no rush for the ECB to cut key rates in July, but rather to wait for Sept. for another move.
星期三, 七月 03

Weather weighed on UK retail sales in June

UK: Retail sales (June): -1.2% m/m vs -0.6% expected (prior: 2.9%)

  • Retail sales y/y: -0.2% vs 0.2% expected (prior: 1.7%, revised from 1.3%)
  • The weakness in June can mainly be attributed to unseasonable weather and, potentially, to the uncertainty caused by the general election. This compensated for the 10% rise in minimum wages from April and rising real wages.

 

UK: GFK consumer confidence (July): -13 vs -12 expected (prior: -14)

  • After a steady improvement since October 2022, consumer confidence hit a 34-month high in July amid rising real-wage growth, which suggests that spending could improve in H2.

 

Germany: PPI (June): 0.2% m/m vs 0.1% expected (prior: 0.0%)

  • PPI y/y: -1.6% as expected (prior: -2.2%)
  • Prices of non-durable goods and food posted the strongest increases over the month (+0.3% m/m)

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