In one line: Output stung by falling auto production; exports finish 2024 on a strong note.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Attempts by the ECB to persuade markets to give up focusing on the neutral rate are laudable, but futile.
- The ECB’s own forecasts suggest that the policy rate should stabilise at neutral, wherever that is.
- EZ industrial production fell sharply in December, but we look for a solid rebound in January.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Retail sales still rose in Q4, and further increases are likely.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Still pointing to underlying weakness in construction.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Signs of underlying strength, despite boost from major orders.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- House prices rose by around 3.5% in 2024, much stronger than we were anticipating…
- …A recovery in demand and still-subdued supply point to a further pick-up, supporting consumption.
- German industry ended 2024 on a better note than we expected, according to advance turnover data.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Poor, but output likely rebounded in January.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Bonds rallied yesterday on dovish headlines in the ECB’s wage tracker, but the details beg to differ.
- The EU is ready to strike back at US tariffs, but we still see a low risk of a prolonged tariff spat.
- ‘Habemus budget’ in France; industrial output fell in December, but it will rebound in January.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Swiss GDP likely rose by 0.9% in 2024, much better than the 0.2% decline in neighbouring Germany.
- The US has not said it will raise tariffs on Swiss imports, but an EU-US trade tiff will still hurt slightly.
- We continue to think the SNB easing cycle will end in March, though risks are tilted towards further easing.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Hot, but all eyes on tariffs this morning.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Likely underestimating Swiss GDP growth still, and pointing to weaker inflation.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- President Trump will soon impose tariffs on imports from the EU, but the details are still up in the air.
- A 10pp increase in tariffs on EU goods is all but fully factored in by the drop in EURUSD since Q3.
- EZ headline and core inflation beat the consensus in January; still no perfect landing at 2% in sight.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Unemployment is still rising; soft state CPIs can’t be extrapolated to the HICP.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Spanish retail was on fire in December.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Still (very) friendly to ECB doves.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: A poor finish to 2024, but probably not as bad as initially reported.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- We now see EZ headline inflation unchanged at 2.4% in January, with a 0.1pp dip in the core, to 2.6%.
- Selling price expectations are rising in Germany and France, but core inflation will dip further in Q1.
- Is the consumption recovery in the Eurozone finally kicking in? We think so.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: No signal on the level of the neutral rate.
Melanie Debono (Senior Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
