Conditions in manufacturing have deteriorated for the fourth consecutive month, which can undoubtedly be viewed as a negative signal for the economy when looking ahead. Although below the expansionary threshold, the PMI is nowhere near the depressed 2023 levels. Should the hard times continue, an adverse effect on growth in 2026 is a possibility
The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to hold rates steady. Other highlights of the week include key data on China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines
Eurozone retail sales declined by 0.1% in August compared to July. This sales trend has been roughly flat since April. The worried eurozone consumer is seemingly shying away from the shopping street despite improvements in purchasing power across the bloc
Following a second quarter still heavily impacted by the introduction of new US tariffs, early data for the third quarter points to a very mild improvement, though sectoral contributions remain uneven. Today’s confidence indicators for September appear to support this view
South Korea’s latest fiscal stimulus contributed to improved consumer sentiment and greater growth momentum. But these effects may prove temporary. Even so, the Bank of Korea will stand pat later this week, as it focuses more on housing prices.
Retail sales in July rose by 4.8%YoY in Poland, rebounding from June’s weaker 2.2% figure. The June dip was a one-off weakness and most likely reflected a temporary shift in consumer spending from goods to services, driven by increased travel and hospitality outlays during the Corpus Christi long weekend
At face value, the UK's 0.3% second-quarter growth performance looks reasonable amid a flurry of global and domestic headwinds. But this is largely concentrated in components not intrinsically linked to underlying economic performance, and the Bank of England will take these figures with a pinch of salt. We expect growth to slow in the second half
The other main event overnight has been the RBA’s latest policy meeting. The RBA decided to leave their policy rate unchanged at 4.10% as expected after delivering the first rate cut in the easing cycle at the previous meeting in February.
