- The polls in Germany have stabilised, pointing to an inconclusive result in Sunday's vote.
- The SPD's Olaf Scholz likely will be Chancellor, but the route to a stable coalition isn't clear.
- All eyes on the combined tally of the SPD, the Greens, and Die Linke; +50% and bunds will suffer.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
Core inflation in the Eurozone is rising, but it's difficult to say how quickly, given one-off distortions.
Is the ECB preparing markets for a lift to inflation forecasts in Q4? That could be a forecast error.
Construction in the euro area seems to be stagnat- ing; supply-side constraints are to blame, in part.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- A cold winter will turn rising gas prices into a macroeconomic issue; Q4 risks are tilted to the downside.
- Car sales in the Eurozone aren't going anywhere, mirroring the slump in production.
- The EV transition is underway in Europe, but lack of timely infrastructure investment is a challenge.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Industry in the EZ seemingly got off to an OK start in Q3, but we doubt this is a turn in the trend.
- Italian output continues to shine, thanks to out-sized gains in less capital intensive industry...
- ...A correction may be on the way but strong business surveys mean that we remain optimistic.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- In one line: Barnstorming, but still distorted by one-off factors.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The ECB will slow the pace of PEPP in Q4, probably by around €20B, to €60-€70B per month.
- Bond yields fell as Ms. Lagarde spoke, but will the ECB's decision on PEPP in Q4 satisfy markets?
- The German trade surplus snapped back in July, as imports plunged; more of the same is coming.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- In one line: A rebound, finally, as imports cool.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- In one line: Decent, but probably not the beginning of a sustained upturn.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The July jump in German factory orders was driven entirely by major transport equipment.
- Industrial production in Germany rebounded in July, but we still think the trend is sideways.
- Spain should grow faster than elsewhere in Q3 and perhaps even Q4, but will continue to lag its peers
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- In one line: Solid, but driven almost exclusively by major export orders to non-EZ economies.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- EZ manufacturing output is still hampered by supply-side woes, but it's not all bad news.
- Unemployment in the EZ fell further at the start of Q3; we think the good news will keep coming.
- SPD's lead in the German polls is startling, but not yet a game-changer for the final outcome.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- In one line: Inevitable after the jump at the end of Q2.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- EZ inflation is running hot, and it will rise further in Q4; will markets and the ECB flinch?
- German unemployment fell further midway through Q3, and further improvement is in store.
- Consumers' spending, ex-services, in France dipped in July, but Q3 as a whole will be decent.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- In one line: More good news, and the recovery isn’t over yet.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Core inflation in the euro area rocketed in August, but we doubt that markets will notice.
- PEPP tapering is coming, but the overall tenor of the ECB's communication remains as dovish as ever.
- The EZ survey data are now softening, but that won't matter for GDP in Q3; for Q4, however, it might.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- European birth rates have rebounded since the end of the 1990s, but remain below replacement levels.
- The rebound in German marriage and birth rates stands out; not much sign of a rebound elsewhere.
- Women are still postponing having their first child; that will continue to hold back total fertility rates.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The second Q2 GDP estimate for the EZ will confirm the advance report while we are away.
- Detailed GDP data in Germany will show that consumers' spending rocketed in Q2.
- We look for soft surveys for August, but we still think Q3 as a whole will be great for the EZ economy.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- VAT base effects in core goods were the main driver of the July leap in German inflation.
- The yawning gap between national and HICP services inflation will close soon; the latter will rebound.
- We now see clear evidence of a reopening bump in hospitality prices; will it be sustained?
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: The national core is surging due to base effects; HICP core held back by low services inflation.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
The spread of the Delta variant seems to be slowing, at least in the Big Four EZ economies...
...But the threat of new variants looms, and booster shots elsewhere aren't providing promising signals.
We still think GDP growth in Q3 will be faster than Q2, but uncertainty is now rising for Q4.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
