In one line: Tariff-front running boost to industry and trade fading in early Q2.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Energy and services pull headline down.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Stable, in line with advance release.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The SNB is sure to ease this Thursday, and more analysts have joined us in expecting a sub-zero rate.
- Strength in EURUSD is supported by leading indicators, but the recent rally will fade soon.
- Disinflation in core goods from EURUSD at 1.15 is trivial, despite the ECB’s stringent forecast rules.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- EZ industrial production fell in April, as goods exports retreated.
- The increase in tariff rates in April hurt exports, but the main hit came from fading tariff front-running.
- The risks to our calls for net trade and GDP in Q2 are to the downside.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Post-meeting comments from ECB Council members are mixed, but do not rule out another cut.
- Markets, like us, look for one more rate cut—in September—but it will be a close call.
- The ECB’s wage tracker eased in Q1, in line with other measures; wage growth will remain high.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Investor sentiment rose in June, signalling a rebound in the EZ composite PMI after two straight declines.
- Advance hard data suggest that GDP growth will slow regardless…
- ...We continue to look for EZ GDP to stagnate this quarter, after the 0.6% q/q rise in Q1.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The BTP-Bund spread has held broadly steady at around 100bp so far this year.
- We still see scope for further narrowing in 2025, to 70bp, implying BTPs trading inside OATs in France.
- Risks are broadly balanced, with German stimulus a downside and further trade uncertainty an upside.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- EZ compensation per employee growth slowed in Q1, in line with easing negotiated wage growth.
- Other measures out in the coming days are likely to also show slower wage growth in Q1.
- We suspect wage growth will now plateau in the 2.5%-to-3.0% range, remaining historically high.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Fastest growth in eleven quarters thanks to tariff-front-running-led jump in Irish GDP.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- A drop in EZ headline inflation to 2.0% in May should be enough to pull a 25bp ECB rate cut over the line.
- The ECB’s 2026 HICP forecasts likely will determine whether doves get rates cut to 1.75% over summer.
- German retail sales fell in April, but the upturn in EZ real M1 growth accelerated further.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- EZ GDP was propelled higher in Q1 on the back of an upwardly revised Irish GDP figure...
- ...This was, in turn, down to tariff front-running practices, which will almost surely reverse in Q2.
- We are cutting our forecast for EZ Q2 GDP, but the strength in Q1 means our 2025 call is still up a tad.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: PMI still paints a picture of underlying weakness in construction.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Surprisingly strong, but the details are volatile.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The ECB cut the deposit rate by 25bp to 2.0%, as expected, but Ms. Lagarde signalled this is it.
- We still see a final 25bp cut, to 1.75%—now in September—but we’re less certain than before.
- The ECB’s new forecasts are very dovish on inflation and likely will have to be revised up in due course.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: A rough start to Q2; little sign of tariff front running supporting industry.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: All set for doves to take charge of ECB policy over the summer.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- EZ sovereigns have been largely spared in the global bond-market rout, but French bonds remain fragile.
- Foreigners own more than half of government bonds in France, with Japanese savings a key swing factor.
- We think Japan owns around €165B-worth of French government bonds, or 5% of French GDP.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
