- French households celebrate falling inflation, but confidence-sapping tax hikes loom on the horizon.
- France’s deficit will hit 6% of GDP soon without corrective action; markets won’t let that slide.
- Spending cuts alone won’t reduce the deficit in France, tax hikes will be needed too.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The EZ PMIs plunged in September, as the boost from the Summer Olympics ended.
- Our EZ Nowcast for Q3 GDP looks ugly, but we think it is misleadingly pessimistic at this point.
- The ECB will consider an October rate cut if non-energy goods inflation stays subdued in September.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- INSEE survey data show further signs of stabilisation in September but remain soft overall.
- The Summer Olympics boosted Q3 GDP growth in France, but a payback looms in Q4.
- We look for a big fall in the EZ PMIs today as the Olympics boost to French services reaches an end.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Better, but still consistent with weak growth in domestic demand.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Pushed down by a reversal in the primary income balance.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The Fed’s 50bp rate cut increases the chance of an ECB rate cut in October, but only marginally…
- …The bar remains high for a third ECB cut next month; September core goods inflation is key.
- The EZ current account surplus has rebounded, but it will roll over in due course.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Q3 carry-over looks o.k., but survey data remains depressed.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Services inflation revised down marginally; headline to fall further in September.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Falling energy inflation will pull headline HICP below 2% in September; we look for 1.8% year-over-year.
- Obsessing about services inflation is ‘so yesterday’; all eyes on non-energy goods in September and Q4.
- An October rate cut is back in play if core goods inflation fails to rebound in September.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: EZ trade pulled lower by imports in July; hourly labour cost growth remained elevated in Q2.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- Mr. Draghi's report on European competitiveness could help Italy and France in their EDP negotiations.
- We agree with Mr. Draghi's broad conclusions, but he is too upbeat on productivity and inflation.
- EZ hourly labour cost growth remained high in Q2, but stagnant profits point to lower inflation.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: Held down by falling energy inflation; the core firmed.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- One more ECB rate cut this year is a good baseline, but the probability of two has increased.
- Surveys point to downside risks for core inflation in France, but we still look for a rebound in Q4.
- The misery in EZ manufacturing continued at the start of Q3, despite a boost from Ireland.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
In one line: As expected; plenty to talk about on the press conference.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
- The ECB cut by 25bp as expected; an October cut is now a tall order, but a December cut is back on.
- The rise in the ECB’s core inflation forecast will prevent the Bank from being mugged by reality in Q4.
- Early signs show that the ECB is noticing the sustained weakness in EZ domestic demand.
Claus Vistesen (Chief Eurozone Economist)Eurozone
