- Mexico’s Q1 GDP upward revision masks the underlying economic slowdown; rate cuts are badly needed.
- Pre-election spending will fuel short-term growth, despite rising public debt and economic challenges.
- Core inflation is easing in May, allowing a still-hawkish Banxico to consider rate cuts next month.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- Ignore the rise in the composite PMI in May it has been a poor guide to GDP growth since the pandemic...
- ...The failure of the employment index to reverse April's plunge adds to signs of slowing payroll growth.
- We look for a small rise in core capital goods shipments in April, due to a calendar quirk, not an improving trend.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- S&P's employment index has a poor long-term correlation with payrolls, but markets are paying attention now.
- Leading indicators leave us looking for an above-consensus 230K initial claims print today.
- "Various" FOMC members signalled willingness to hike in the minutes, but the data has moved on since then.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- US - GDP growth is set to slow—but not collapse—squeezing down inflation
- EUROZONE - Sticky services inflation still the key threat to the outlook for rates
- UK - Sticking to June rate cut, as MPC words lately matter more than data
- CHINA+ - China’s activity data mixed, ahead of incoming support policies
- EM ASIA - Why you shouldn’t hang your hat on Thailand’s Q1 GDP surprise
- LATAM - Brazil’s activity index rebounds in Q1, but risks looming for H2
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)Global
- We see existing home sales unchanged last month, but the outlook for the rest of Q2 is dim.
- The May rise in Manheim used car prices looks like a blip; sluggish sales will lead to a further margin squeeze.
- Fed minutes unlikely to change market perceptions about easing timing.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Mixed signals in Colombia’s Q1 GDP, as strong consumption clashes with weak investment.
- Policy uncertainty under President Petro is stifling the investment recovery; the outlook remains bleak.
- The more than 30% collapse in capex since Petro took office highlights the hit, amid high interest rates.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
PAYROLL GROWTH IS SET TO SLOW SHARPLY…
- …THE FED WILL RESPOND, BUT WHEN?
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Our Homebase model points to an initial estimate of a subpar 150K rise in private payrolls in May.
- The Redbook measure of year-over-year growth in retail sales has been remarkably strong lately...
- ...But it has often overstated the trend in the official retail sales data in the recent past; we think it is again.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Chile’s economy gained traction in Q1, thanks mainly to improving domestic demand.
- Falling inflation and lower interest rates are gradually supporting the upturn, but downside risks remain.
- The recovery will likely lose speed but won’t collapse; further monetary policy normalisation will help.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- The lagged effect of tight credit and high rates is starting to bite; we're cutting our 2024 and 2025 forecasts.
- The small business sector is under pressure, and consumers are starting to wobble.
- Sustained slow growth will push unemployment up and inflation down; yields will drop, and stocks will struggle.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Brazil’s real GDP rebounded in Q1, thanks mainly to improving domestic demand, but risks loom for H2.
- Fiscal challenges, a weakening external backdrop and bad weather conditions have clouded the outlook.
- COPOM minutes reinforce the hawkish stance, despite a split vote, and cite fiscal risks to inflation.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
Not definitive, but consistent with the idea that the trend is starting to rise.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The manufacturing sector continues to disappoint and a sustained recovery still looks some way off.
- April's pick-up in import prices likely will have a near-zero impact on core goods CPI inflation.
- The failure of housing starts and claims fully to reverse recent adverse shifts suggest interest rates are too high.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
A broad-based slowdown, pointing to a 0.24% core PCE print.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Underlying services inflation slowed in April; momentum in rents and auto insurance prices will fade.
- The CPI and PPI data suggest the core PCE deflator rose by 0.23%, the smallest increase since December.
- April's retail sales report supports the case for a slowdown in consumption growth.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- We are merely nudging up our forecast for the April core CPI to 0.37%, from 0.35%, following the PPI data.
- Short-term movements in many equivalent PPI and CPI components are weakly correlated.
- We also look today for a 0.4% rise in total retail sales, consistent with near-zero real consumption growth.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Peru’s BCRP cut the policy rate by 25bp to 5.75% and delivered a dovish shift in the inflation outlook.
- Further easing will depend on inflation dynamics and its determinants; US Fed policy will also play a role.
- Inflation in Chile surprised to the upside in April, which will force the BCCh to act with more caution.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- US - Initial claims better at flagging labor market upturns than downturns
- EUROZONE - Rise in food inflation in April not the start of a new trend
- UK - June is live after MPC chops inflation forecasts
- CHINA+ - April data likely to show tentative improvement in China’s recovery
- EM ASIA - Weak consumers still point to a 2024 slowdown in the Philippines
- LATAM - Banxico keeps rates on hold and strikes a more hawkish tone
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)Global