- Thai CPI surprised marginally to the upside in July, with headline rate rising to 0.8% and core to 0.5%.
- The mean-reversion up in food prices should see inflation return temporarily to target-range until Q1.
- Core inflation is likely to remain under 1%, though; the weak economy will keep this gauge anchored.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- In one line: Imported inflation puts pressure on commodity inflation.
Moorthy Krshnan (Senior Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
First BSP rate cut delayed to October
The net trade story will be painful for the Philippines' upcoming Q2 GDP report
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- We now expect the BSP to wait until October to cut rates, as inflation re-breached the target in July.
- Taiwanese inflation, up slightly in July, should start to benefit from friendly base effects from August.
- Singaporean retail sales growth continued to deteriorate in June on weaker volumes.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Indonesian GDP growth barely changed in Q2, at 5.1%, despite the U-turn in election spend.
- Capex was the main cushion on a quarterly basis, but dark clouds are still building over consumption.
- The correction in food prices has run its course, but food disinflation still has plenty of room to run.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
Machinery capex bump cushions the unwinding of election spending in Indonesia
Fall in discretionary spending sends Singaporean sales growth back into the red
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- SG property prices remain high despite multiple rounds of cooling measures from the government...
- ... As market supply is still suffering from pandemic-era shortages and robust demand.
- The risk of additional measures remains elevated since price growth is likely to remain strong.
Moorthy Krshnan (Senior Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- In one line: Export-led manufacturing recovery powers investment growth.
Moorthy Krshnan (Senior Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Q2 GDP growth in Taiwan surprised to the upside, coming in at 5.1%, after 6.6% in Q1...
- ...Benefiting from higher external demand for AI-related manufacturing and investment.
- We now expect stronger 2024 GDP growth, at 4.1%, compared to 3.7% previously.
Moorthy Krshnan (Senior Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- The output price sub-indices of India’s July PMIs spike d, but it would be premature to raise a red flag.
- Indonesia’s July CPI should see inflation falling below the 2.5% target, on further food disinflation.
- We look for a small drop in ASEAN’s July PMI, as a couple of the big exporters look overstretched.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
A big bounce in net goods trade will help Thailand's Q2 GDP
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- India’s final 2024/25 budget sees a smaller 4.9%-of-GDP deficit than the 5.1% interim target…
- …But this ‘improvement’ is largely because of a better starting point and the RBI’s dividend.
- The real good news is a more realistic tax estimate and a continuation of the focus on capex.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- In one line: Stronger real wage growth supports pick up in June retail sales.
Moorthy Krshnan (Senior Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Headline inflation in Singapore fell sharply in June, mainly benefiting from lower COE prices...
- ...But the stickiness of core inflation should keep the MAS from loosening policy for the rest of 2024.
- Taiwanese retail sales growth picked up in June, but weak real wage growth is clouding the H2 outlook.
Moorthy Krshnan (Senior Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
MALAYSIA'S AND VIETNAM’S ‘HOT’ Q2 IN CONTEXT
- …FOOD PRICE PRESSURES IN INDIA ARE REBUILDING; UGH
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Malaysia’s advance GDP growth print for Q2 was much stronger than consensus, at 5.8%...
- ... As construction activity picked up and stronger external demand boosted manufacturing growth.
- We still see GDP growth in 2024 at 5.2%, higher than the government’s forecast of 4-to -5%.
Moorthy Krshnan (Senior Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
Base effects dominate Malaysian trade figures in June
Moorthy Krshnan (Senior Asia Economist)Emerging Asia