星期四, 六月 11

US PPIs higher than expected; ECB ready to hike further if necessary

US: Initial jobless claims (June 6): 229k vs 220k expected (prior: 225k)

  • Continuing claims: 1795 k after 1771 k the prior week.

 

US: PPI (May): 1.1% m/m vs 0.7% expected (prior: 1.1% revised from 1.4%)

  • PPIs remained on a sustained monthly rise; energy prices were up by 10.7% m/m after 7.5% m/m prior month and services were up by 0.3% m/m (0.7% m/m prior month): while costs on trade have decreased, they rebounded for warehouses costs.
  • Core PPIs were up by 0.8% m/m after 0.5% m/m the prior month.
  • Yearly trend has rebounded from 5.7%y/y prior month to 6.5% y/y and on core PPIs from 4.4% to 5.1% y/y.

 

ECB Meeting: decisions to raise all major key rates by 25 bp; deposit rates now at 2.25%.

  • A unanimous decision has increased key rates by 25 bp because all inflation indicators have increased over the recent period; this was not an insurance hike, but a decision motivate by the mandate on inflation stability.
  • Uncertainties remain in place with both upside risk on inflation and downside risk on growth.
  • Further decisions on rates are data dependent and taken meeting by meeting; the ECB did not want to preset next moves in rates but seems ready to hike further if necessary.
  • Recent rises in core inflation and services are related to both direct and indirect pressures from energy, but Lagarde said no second-round effects were identified; otherwise, inflation expectations remained anchored on the medium term.
  • Lagarde answered to critics about this first hike by arguing that growth is still present in the area; the new ECB’s scenario expects 0.8% GDP growth in 2026, 1.2% in 2027 and 1.5% in 2028 (forecasts in line with consensus but higher than UBP scenario).
  • Inflation forecasts have been revised up: 3% in 2026 (2.5% core inflation), 2.3% in 2027 (core at 2.5%) and 2.0% in 2028 (2.2% on core inflation). The ECB expects a gradual return to 2% target only in 2028.
  • The inflation stability mandate has obliged to this first rates hike; the door is open to another rate hike, but communication refrains from being too hawkish and to pre-commit the other hike.
  • To avoid a second-rate hike, a much slower growth must be identified or a quick resolution of the Middle East conflict with lower oil prices and stable/lower core inflation. Rates in a 2-2.5% range could be seen as remaining in the neutral stance and not yet particularly restrictive.

 

Sweden: CPI (May): 0.9% m/m as expected (prior: -0.6%)

  • Final data confirmed the acceleration of inflation over the month.
  • Core inflation was up by 0.7% m/m after -0.6% m/m. Various sectors offered a significant monthly rise: housing utilities, household goods, leisure and hotels.
  • Yearly trend has rebounded from 0.8% y/y prior month to 1.5% y/y; core inflation was up by 0.5% y/y after 0% y/y prior month.

 

UK: RICS house price balance (May): -35% vs -32% expected (prior: -35% revised from -34%)

  • Opinions on housing stayed depressed over the month; opinions were less negative on current sales but more negative on prices and on new demand. Inventories have increased over the month.
星期三, 六月 10

US May headline inflation in line with expectations, while core inflation came slightly lower than expected

US: CPI (May): 0.5% m/m as expected (prior: 0.6%)

  • Inflation came in line with expectations, and core inflation was just below expectations up by 0.2% m/m vs 0.3% m/m expected (0.4% m/m prior month).
  • Inflation remained mainly driven by energy prices, up by 3.9% m/m (3.8% m/m prior month), due to gasoline prices up by 7% m/m (5.4% m/m prior month).
  • Good prices were down by 0.1% m/m after 0% prior month; the sector offered limited monthly changes at sub-sector level; on note: the modest rise in apparels (now less impacted by tariffs), balanced by decreasing prices of cars.
  • Services were up by 0.3% m/m after 0.5% m/m; rents have moderated, up by 0.3% m/m after 0.5% m/m prior month; transport costs have declined, except airfares up by 2.7% m/m (2.8% m/m prior month); other services were on the rise: medical, recreation, education-communication and personal services (finance).
  • Yearly trend was in line with expectations with headline up by 4.20% after 3.8% and core inflation modestly up to 2.9% y/y after 2.8%y/y.
  • Inflation has now exceeded 4% y/y as expected in our scenario, but spillover to the other sectors remained limited and core inflation stayed just below 3%; nevertheless, many sub sectors in services were on the rise over the month and could be under watch as yearly trend in services was up by 3.4% y/y (3.3% y/y prior month).

 

Italy: Industrial production (April): 0.5% m/m vs 0% expected (prior: 0.6% revised from 0.7%)

  • Production remains on a positive and sustained trend for capital goods and also on intermediate goods; On the opposite, production of consumer goods has decreased further, showing regular monthly declines over the past 6 months.
  • Production of energy has also contracted over the past 3 months.

 

Norway: CPI (May): 0.2% m/m vs 0.1% expected (prior: 0.4%)

  • Inflation data was mixed over the month; prices of transport and food have decreased over the month, while household goods, communication and restaurants-hotels were on the rise. Some tax cuts have helped to moderate inflation pressures. Core inflation was up by 0.4% m/m after 0.7% m/m prior month.
  • Yearly trend has declined on headline inflation from 3.4% y/y prior month to 3.1% y/y, while core inflation has accelerated from 3.2% y/y to 3.4% y/y.

 

Sweden: Industrial production (April): 1.7% m/m (prior: 0.8% revised from 1.1%)

  • Production has rebounded in industry, up by 4.2% m/m after -1.6% m/m prior month; services were up by 0.2% m/m after 2.2% m/m prior month.
星期二, 六月 09

US: lower trade deficit (April) thanks to oil surplus; eroding May business sentiment among small firms

US: NFIB Small Business optimism (May): 95.3 vs 96 expected (prior: 95.9)

  • Business sentiment has marginally decreased over the month, contrary to consensus expectations.
  • Sentiment came slightly lower than prior month on future economic but remained stable on employment.
  • While costs are under pressure, selling prices were on the rise.
  • Disruption in supply chain was also mentioned as a constraint.

 

US: Trade balance (April): -55.9 bn USD vs -56.1 bn expected (prior: -56.6 bn revised from -60.3 bn)

  • Exports were up by 2.6% m/m after 2.0% m/m prior month and imports up by 2% m/m after 2.3% m/m prior month.
  • Exports were dynamic for capital and consumer goods; imports were up for capital goods and down over the month in other sectors.
  • The surplus in oil has increased over the month and helped to cover rising imports (Ai related).

 

US: Existing home sales (May): 4.17M vs 4.07M expected (prior: 4.04M revised from 4.02M)

  • Sales have rebounded over the month driven by higher sales of single-family houses.
  • Prices have increased to 1.9% y/y (0.9% y/y prior month).
  • Interesting to note that the share of first buyers have increased over the month.

 

US: Wholesale inventories (April): 0.6% m/m as expected (prior: 0.5%)

  • Inventories have increased in all various segments; total sales were up by 2.0% m/m, driven higher by sales of computers.

 

Germany: Industrial production (April): 0.4% m/m as expected (prior: -0.1% revised from -0.7%)

  • Manufacturing production was flat over the month after -0.5% m/m the prior month.
  • Production has decreased for capital goods while it was up for intermediate and consumer goods over the month.

 

Germany: Trade Balance (April): 14.5bn EUR vs 15.9bn expected (prior: 14.7bn revised from 14.3bn)

  • Exports were up by 0.9% m/m after 0.3% m/m prior month; imports were up by 1.2% m/m after 4.5% m/m prior month.
  • Exports were the most dynamic to Europe non-eurozone (up by 3% m/m), while they were up by 1.8% m/m to US and down by 3.5% m/m to China.
星期一, 六月 08

Germany: falling orders, except for intermediate goods (metals)

Germany: Factory orders (April): -3.8% m/m vs -2% expected (prior: 4.5% revised from 5%)

  • Orders have reversed after the large rebound seen the prior month.
  • Both foreign and domestic orders have contracted over the month, except domestic orders on consumers.
  • By sector, orders were up for intermediate goods (metals) and non-durable consumer goods, but they have contracted for equipment and durable consumer goods.
星期五, 六月 05

US strong job creations in May, but moderate wage growth and a stable unemployment ratio

US: Non-farm payrolls (May): 172k vs 88k expected (prior: 179k revised from 115k)

  • Payrolls were higher than expected and prior month data were strongly revised up. After revised data, payrolls have marginally decreased from the prior month.
  • Job creations were more positive than in prior month for manufacturing and construction and total creations in goods sectors were up by 28 k after 14 k prior month, and this could be related to improving momentum in PMI manufacturing.
  • Creations in services have decreased from the prior month (92 k after 163 k prior month) and the picture was more contrasted at sub-sector level.
  • Jobs have contracted for trade-transport, information and business services, but were in rebound for leisure (70 k after 30 k), government (52 k after 2 k) and remained positive in education-health (40 k after 54 k).
  • Unemployment ratio remained stable at 4.3% as expected; wage growth was up by 0.3% m/m (0.2% m/m prior month), but the yearly trend has declined from 3.6% y/y prior month to 3.4% y/y.
  • A firmer activity has created more jobs, and with a relatively more positive momentum in goods than in services. Labor is no more a concern for the Fed and stable unemployment ratio and moderate wage growth should give some reassure the Fed and help to concentrate on inflation risks.

 

France: Industrial production (April): 0.1% m/m vs -0.2% expected (prior: 1.4% revised from 1%)

  • Manufacturing production was up by 0.4% m/m after 1.3% m/m prior month.
  • Production in capital goods and intermediate goods was up by 0.7% m/m while energy and consumer goods production has contracted over the month.

 

Norway: Industrial production (April): 0.6% m/m (prior: -1.1% revised from -1.0%)

  • Manufacturing production was down by 0.9% m/m after 2.0% m/m prior month. Industrial activity was strong in oil sector, refineries and basic metals, while it has declined for machinery and equipment segments.

 

Eurozone: GDP (Q1-26): -0.1% q/q vs 0.1% expected (prior: 0.2%)

  • Q1 GDP has been revised down due to sharp negative revisions to Ireland GDP; Ireland was down by 12%q, due to lower international firms’ activity (-2% in first estimate).
  • Eurozone consumption was up by 0.2%q (0.4% in Q4-25), public consumption up by 0.5% q (0.6% q in Q4), but capex down by 0.3% q (0.8% q in Q4). Exports and imports were sharply down.
  • Excluding Ireland, GDP was up by 0.2%q, which still pointed to a relative resilience.

 

Turkey: CPI (May): 1.71% m/m vs 1.61% expected (prior: 4.18%)

  • Monthly inflation has slowed down from the prior month, but changes remained sustained; rises were strong for clothes, transport, housing and hotels-restaurants.
  • Yearly trend has accelerated from 32.37% y/y prior month to 32.61%; core inflation was up by 30.44% y/y after 29.83% y/y prior month.