U.S. Budget Surplus rises in April, Tariffs only a modest proportion of that

May 12, 2025 6:36 PM UTC

April saw a strong budget surplus of $258,4bn, up from $208.5bn in April 2024, though the deficit in the fiscal year to date of $1048.7bn is up from $855.2bn in the seven months to April 2024, and the 12 month average has been above $2trillion for seven straight months. The deficit on FY 2024 was $1

UK CPI Preview (May 21): How Big and Durable a Surge?

May 12, 2025 2:32 PM UTC

The UK and the rest of the DM world are about to decouple, at least in terms of inflation, where the UK faces a surge, (largely home-grown) just as W European sees their respective inflation fall back to, if not below, targets.  Although relegated by current market ructions and tariff threats, the

Preview: Due May 22 - U.S. May S&P PMIs - Manufacturing to slip below neutral, Services to hold above

May 12, 2025 12:51 PM UTC

We expect May’s S and P PMIs to show slippage in manufacturing, to 49.5 from 50.2, but a correction higher on services, to 51.5 from 50.8. Underlying momentum in both series appears to be slowing, though this may fade if trade uncertainty is reduced.

Preview: Due May 13 - U.S. April CPI - Upside risk after a below trend March

May 12, 2025 12:02 PM UTC

We expect April CPI to increase by 0.3% overall and by 0.4% ex food and energy, the core rate reflecting a rebound from a below trend March as well as some impact from tariffs, though the extent of the tariff impact is highly uncertain. We see the core rate at 0.38% before rounding.

Preview: Due May 20 - Canada April CPI - To fall, but only on removal of carbon tax

May 9, 2025 2:09 PM UTC

We expect April Canadian CPI to fall to 1.6% yr/yr from 2.3% with the fall entirely due to the April 1 removal of a carbon tax which the Bank of Canada estimates will reduce inflation by 0.7%, largely in gasoline. We expect the Bank of Canada’s core rates to be unchanged from March.

A Windfall with Caveats: RBI’s Likely Record Dividend

May 9, 2025 2:00 PM UTC

India is set to receive a record INR 3–3.5tn dividend from the RBI, offering a fiscal cushion amid softening tax revenues and rising geopolitical tensions with Pakistan. While this windfall may help the government stick to its 4.4% fiscal deficit target for FY26, it also highlights India’s growi

Canada April Employment - Private sector detail weak

May 9, 2025 12:48 PM UTC

Canada’s April employment gain is modest at 7.4k, and whole full time employment was up by 31.5k there was also a 37.1k increase in public administration. This makes the report on balance weak, particularly with unemployment rising to 6.9% from 6.7%.

India CPI Preview: Cooling Prices, Warming Room for Rate Cuts

May 9, 2025 9:48 AM UTC

India’s retail inflation likely fell to 3.2% in April, its lowest since 2019, driven by a sharp decline in food prices. The benign inflation print strengthens the case for another RBI rate cut as growth momentum softens. 

UK GDP Preview (May 15): Q1 GDP Jumps But Underlying Picture Nearer Zero

May 9, 2025 9:32 AM UTC

We see the surprise and sizeable February GDP jump consolidating in the March GDP release with a flat m/m reading, this coming after that 0.5% jump (Figure 1).  But there are downside risks given the possible (marked) correction back that may occur after what seems to be a very erratic February jum

U.S. Initial Claims correct lower, Unit Labor Costs see a strong quarter

May 8, 2025 12:53 PM UTC

Initial claims at 227k from 241k have reversed most but not all of a spike last week blamed on temporary factors in New York, while continued claims have seen only a partial correction of a sharp preceding rise. A 5.7% increase in Q1 unit labor costs is stronger than expected but above trend.

Brazil: Reaching the Rate Peak

May 8, 2025 6:43 AM UTC

Forward guidance from the BCB after the 50bps hike to 14.75% suggests that we are close to a rate peak, with inflation concerns now cited on both sides.  The disinflationary impact of Trump tariffs on global trade and commodity prices is now being watched, as BCB members have signaled over the last

Preview: Due May 15 - U.S. April PPI - A stronger month after a weak March

May 6, 2025 5:05 PM UTC

We expect April PPI to bounce from a weak March with a 0.3% rise overall and a 0.4% increase ex food and energy. Ex food, energy and trade, we expect a rise of 0.3%. Tariffs are likely to continue supporting goods prices while services are likely to correct from a weak March.

Preview: Due May 13 - U.S. April CPI - Upside risk after a below trend March

May 6, 2025 3:49 PM UTC

We expect April CPI to increase by 0.3% overall and by 0.4% ex food and energy, the core rate reflecting a rebound from a below trend March as well as some impact from tariffs, though the extent of the tariff impact is highly uncertain. We see the core rate at 0.38% before rounding.

US March trade deficit surges as service export weakness adds to pre-tariff strength in goods imports

May 6, 2025 1:04 PM UTC

March’s record US trade deficit of $140.5bn is even higher than expected though consistent with the assumptions of the Q1 GDP report. Exports surged by 4.4% ahead of the April 2 tariff announcement while exports rose by a marginal 0.2%.

Annual Inflation Slightly Decreased in April Despite MoM Hit 3.0% Due to High FX Pass Through

May 5, 2025 10:15 AM UTC

Bottom line: Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) announced on May 5 that the inflation softened to 37.9% y/y in April from 38.1% y/y in March. We think monetary tightening and suppressed wages helped relieve the price pressure despite hikes in electricity and natural gas prices in April, and curre

Preview: Due May 15 - U.S. April Retail Sales - Autos to correct lower, but underlying momentum to persist

May 2, 2025 6:22 PM UTC

After a strong 1.5% increase in March, we expect retail sales to rise by only 0.1% in April, though gains of 0.4% ex autos and 0.5% ex autos and gasoline should show that the consumer still has some underlying momentum, despite plunging consumer confidence.

Preview: Due May 16 - U.S. April Housing Starts and Permits - Trend has little direction

May 2, 2025 5:00 PM UTC

We expect April housing starts to rise by 5.7% to 1400k after a fall of 11.4% in March, while permits fall by 0.5% to 1460k after a 0.5% increase in March. While starts have been more volatile than permits in recent months, trend continues to have little direction. 

FOMC Preview for May 7: No change with future policy left data-dependent

May 2, 2025 3:47 PM UTC

In the current exceptionally uncertain environment, the FOMC looks set to keep rates unchanged at 4.25-4.5% at its May 7 meeting, and give little away on future policy. This meeting will not see the dots updated. Chairman Powell however at the press conference is likely to signal that future meeting

Preview: Due May 5 - U.S. April ISM Services - A correction higher within a weakening picture

May 2, 2025 2:44 PM UTC

We expect April’s ISM services index to correct higher to 51.5 after March saw a fall to a 9-month low of 50.8 from 53.5 in February. 

U.S. April Employment - Suggests economy where Fed wants it, but can it persist?

May 2, 2025 12:57 PM UTC

April’s non-farm payroll with a 177k increase is on the firm side of expectations and shows the labor market remained solid in early April, but the upside surprise is offset by 58k in net downward revisions. Unemployment was unchanged at 4.2% as expected but a below consensus 0.2% rise in average