- Japan’s Tankan for large manufacturers deteriorated for the first time in a year.
- The silver lining is optimism for the non-manufacturing sector, storming to its highest since 1991.
- Nothing in the survey will surprise the BoJ, and we expect interest rates to reach 0.20% by end-2024.
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
- The fall in Swiss inflation in March solidifies our view that more SNB rate cuts are on the way this year.
- EZ house prices fell in Q4 and were down by 1.1% in 2023 overall; we look for another 1% drop this year.
- The PMI adds to the evidence that Spain’s economic outperformance continued in Q1; we concur.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- We think GDP was unchanged month-to-month in February, after rising 0.2% in January.
- Poor weather likely weighed on construction, but services and manufacturing probably grew slightly.
- That would put GDP on track to rise 0.2-to-0.3% in Q1, above the MPC’s forecast of 0.1%.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
Cost pressures ease further for services companies
Oliver Allen (Senior US Economist)US
In one line: Staying where it's been for most of the past year.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
PMIs point to services sector buoyancy in China and Japan
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- The plunge in ISM services prices paid to a four-year low points to much slower core services inflation.
- Light vehicle sales slumped in Q1, dragging on overall consumption growth.
- Initial jobless claims likely rose modestly last week, but a sharp increase is likely in the coming months.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Brazilian Real — Domestic and external factors weighing
- Mexican Peso — Outperforming amid attractive carry
- Colombian Peso — Attractive carry, supportive oil dynamics
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- EZ inflation surprised to the downside in March, but not enough for the ECB to pull the trigger next week.
- Services inflation was sustained by the early Easter in March; it will come down sharply in April.
- We expect EZ headline inflation to stabilise around 2% from August through to Q1 next year.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- CPI inflation likely fell to 3.0% in March, from 3.4% in February, 0.1pp weaker than the MPC expects.
- Declines in food and core goods inflation account for most of the slowdown in March.
- Services inflation likely matched the MPC’s forecast of 5.8% in March.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
In one line: EZ inflation on track to undershoot the consensus tomorrow.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- In one line: Almost back to growth.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
- In one line:Consumer caution fading in response to lower interest rates.
Rob Wood (Chief UK Economist)UK
In one line: Japan’s Tokyo inflation ticks up in March, thanks to a smaller fall in energy prices
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
In one line: Manufacturing activity expands for the first time in 6 months
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
In one line: Still touch and go for the recovery in EZ industry.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Global
