Euro area inflation soars in March

In March the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) for the euro area increased sharply, by 7.5% year on year, compared with 5.8% in February. Inflation is being driven primarily by soaring energy prices across Europe, with industrial goods prices rising by 14.5% year on year, according to seasonally adjusted data from the European Central Bank (ECB). However, core inflation, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, also reached an all-time high in March, at 3.2%, equivalent to a 1.1% month-on-month increase..

What does the Ukraine crisis mean for the US?

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will have an important impact on the US economic and political outlook this year. .

China’s credit accelerates under further policy support

On April 11th the People’s Bank of China (PBC, the central bank) released data showing stronger than expected credit growth. Renminbi bank loan issuance in March rose to Rmb3.1trn (US$487.4bn)..

ASEAN strives to stay neutral as US-China tension rises

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) held its foreign ministers’ meeting (and associated meetings) in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, on August 2nd‑6th..

Europe’s bleak midwinter

Europe is heading for an energy supply crunch this winter. EIU’s latest white paper report examines which economies are most vulnerable to gas supply shortages and how governments throughout the region are preparing for the winter energy squeeze. .

Preparing for cross-Strait relations to stay on the brink

China’s unprecedented large-scale military exercises near Taiwan signify a foreboding change of the status quo, and are not a one‑off incident..

Big tech: resilient despite macroeconomic headwinds

Big tech companies are not immune to the current macroeconomic slowdown. In the quarter that ended June 2022, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft all reported their softest results in over a year..

Chinese power problems affirm EIU’s forecast downgrade

Droughts across the provinces of Sichuan and Chongqing since mid-August have prompted power rationing, which threatens to affect industrial supply chains at a time of rising economic fragility. .

Saudi Arabia set to be world’s fastest-growing major economy

Saudi Arabia will be the world’s fastest-growing major economy in 2022, outperforming the dynamic Asian giants of China, India, Indonesia and South Korea, as well as the struggling G7 and other major emerging economies. .

A closer look at the global trade landscape

The US’s influence in global trade stems from its role as the world’s largest consumer market. Because of its import-focused economy, the US has maintained significant trade deficits for more than 40 years. .