The PBoC leaves the MLF rate unchanged, despite the April credit data dip
Duncan WrigleyChina+
The PBoC leaves the MLF rate unchanged, despite the April credit data dip
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- 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
- Indonesian export growth rose back up above zero in April for the first time in 11 months, to 1.7%…
- …But this was mostly thanks to favourable technicalities; exports are still broadly stagnating.
- A durable return to positive growth should ensue in H2, in large part due to commodity prices.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- GDP growth in the Eurozone rebounded at the start of 2024, matching the initial estimate.
- A fall in German construction will weigh on EZ growth in Q2, but the overall upturn will continue.
- EZ employment growth slowed in Q1, but surveys suggest the worst is now over.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- We see the MPC continuing quantitative tightening at its current £100B-per-year pace in 2024/25.
- The MPC has said explicitly that it does not see rate cuts and QT as contradictory.
- Reserves will not reach ‘equilibrium’ until 2026, even with QT at a £100B-per-year pace.
Elliott Laidman Doak (Senior UK Economist)UK
An improvement, but small businesses are still under pressure.
Oliver Allen (Senior US Economist)US
- In one line: Falling energy prices improve trade deficit.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
- In one line: A 13-month high, as upstream deflationary forces wane.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
In one line: Soft, but beware the risk of a snap-back in services inflation in May.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
Will the Q1 strength in Indonesian sales carry over to Q2?
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- 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
- Inflation in India continued to slip trivially in April, but we see some positive underlying trends in food.
- The RBI has a narrow window to start easing in Q3, with the room allowed by low core CPI set to vanish.
- Indonesian retail sales saw a promising Q1 revival, but hold judgement until Ramadan effects wane.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- 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
- China consumer prices rose in April, after volatility in Q1 caused by holidays and base effects.
- The CPI changes were driven by higher energy and core inflation, but domestic demand was still feeble.
- The PBoC will use “flexible, precise and effective” monetary policy to promote reflation.
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
- Indeed data show that EZ wage growth slowed further in April; a win for ECB doves.
- Catalonia election led to a win for PSC; can it garner a coalition to avoid a repeat election in the autumn?
- German services inflation will rise in May, as the Deutschland ticket falls out of the year-over-year rate.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Sharply falling LFS employment suggests the labour market is easing quickly.
- But those data are misleading, and PAYE jobs will be revised up; the labour market is easing gradually.
- The MPC needs to brace for another strong pay gain in April, but will likely cut in June nonetheless.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
- The consensus forecast for a 0.2% rise in the April core PPI is well-grounded, but big surprises are common.
- Tight credit is weighing heavily on small businesses; we expect another dip in the NFIB survey in April.
- NY Fed data suggest consumers are becoming more worried about job losses, pointing to higher layoffs.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
