- Inflation in both the EZ and Switzerland fell below the respective central-bank targets in May.
- In the EZ, the decline solidifies the need for a rate cut this month, and we look for another one in Q3.
- In Switzerland, deflation is likely to become a mainstay, so brace for a 50bp rate cut from the SNB.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- We expect the initial estimate of May payrolls to show a 26K month-to-month decline.
- LFS unemployment will likely tick up to 4.6% in April, and LFS employment should gain 48K.
- We expect year-over-year whole-economy AWE ex-bonus growth to fall to 5.3% in April, from 5.6%.
Elliott Laidman Doak (Senior UK Economist)UK
In one line: Manufacturing remains under pressure.
Oliver Allen (Senior US Economist)Global
Manufacturing remains under pressure.
Oliver Allen (Senior US Economist)US
- In one line: Recovery maintaining a solid pace, but external headwinds still loom.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Global
- In one line: Recovery maintaining a solid pace, but external headwinds still loom.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: Falling saving and more borrowing supporting consumption should keep GDP growth ticking along despite a drag from investment.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
- In one line: Manufacturing is past the worst as tariff uncertainty fades.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
- In one line: House prices rebound in May, but the stamp-duty-unwind has more room to run.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
- Mining and services offset weak industrial output in Chile, providing a solid base for Q2 growth.
- Business sentiment improved slightly but remains fragile, with construction still the weakest link.
- Peru’s inflation is well under control, led by cheaper food and fuel prices; the BCRP is likely to cut soon.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- The dramatic collapse in Indonesia’s trade surplus in April was down in large part to seasonal noise…
- …Underlying the emerging down-shift are struggling exports and a welcome recovery in imports.
- We have cut our 2025 CPI forecast to 1.5%, in view of the soft May data and the coming utilities relief.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Both candidates in the presidential election have committed to a KRW30T fiscal plan to boost the economy.
- May’s export growth was not as weak as it appeared; WDA monthly and annual growth were positive.
- Still, tariff and trade-policy uncertainty will continue to weigh on Korea’s GDP growth in 2025.
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
- The 0.3% increase in Italian GDP in Q1 was driven by both domestic demand and net trade.
- In Switzerland, it was just domestic demand that pushed GDP up by a whopping 0.8% on the quarter.
- Growth is now slowing in both economies, though risks to our H2 calls are likely to the upside.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Consumers are back to spending rather than saving, which should keep GDP growth ticking along.
- Households seem to be reducing saving, and borrowing on credit cards to support spending.
- Manufacturing is past the worst, and so far we see little sign of trade diversion cutting goods inflation.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
TRADE TRUCE BRINGS LATAM MODEST GAINS…
- …BUT DOMESTIC FRAGILITIES UNDERMINE GROWTH PROSPECTS
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
In one line: Switzerland was on a tear before the tariff shock; surveys point to slower growth in Q2.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
Korean PMI shows domestic demand tanking, but sentiment is improving thanks to tariff war pause
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- In one line: Near-zero inflation is once again around the corner.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Global