U.S. April CPI - Little tariff pass-through so far

May 13, 2025 1:02 PM UTC

April CPI is on the low side of expectations at 0.2% both overall and ex food and energy, showing a loss of inflationary momentum since a strong start to the year in January, despite the imposition of tariffs. The core rate was up 0.24% before rounding, with the overall pace 0.22%, so the surprise i

Markets: Less U.S. Recession Risk, But Trade Headwinds

May 13, 2025 9:38 AM UTC

Though we had expected a U.S./China trade truce, the terms are more favorable to U.S. growth than we anticipated.  Combined with the UK framework deal, we have revised down the probability of a U.S. recession from 35% to 20%.  In turn we have revised up the end 2025 and end 2026 S&P500 forecasts t

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.

Trump Tariffs: China and UK Precedents

May 12, 2025 8:02 AM UTC

 The U.S./China have announced major reductions in reciprocal tariffs to 10% with other measures postponed for 90 days.  Though the U.S. is still imposing an extra 20% due to fentanyl, China will likely make some moves that could also help to reduce this.  This is in line with our previous thinki

U.S. Fed's Barr - Fears tariffs could lead to persistent inflation

May 9, 2025 11:53 AM UTC

Fed's Barr fears both higher unemployment and persistent inflation as a consequence of the tariffs, comments that we see as on the hawkish side.

Household Divergence Into the Downturn?

May 9, 2025 10:55 AM UTC

Overall, the shock faced by the U.S. from tariffs is a negative supply shock, which can then be followed by job losses and restrained income and consumption growth.  This 2 round can be amplified if a hard landing is seen and quickens job losses, which would really hurt low income households. Howev

USD flows: Trump lifts equites and USD, though signals are mixed

May 8, 2025 4:09 PM UTC

The US-UK trade deal is underwhelming, if welcome. Trump’s suggestion that tariffs on China could be lowered if talks scheduled this weekend go well is giving the USD a more significant lift, though Trump continues to give mixed signals, making tariff threats alongside a suggestion that equities b

FOMC Likely to Remain Cautious Unless Economy Falls into Recession

May 7, 2025 7:43 PM UTC

Fed’s Powell made clear that with high uncertainty the Fed is in no position to move rates at this point, though how long that will persist is unclear. We see no reason to adjust our existing Fed call of only one easing in 2025, by 25bps in December, and two more in 2026. This would take the Fed F

U.S. Fed's Powell - Still in wait and see mode

May 7, 2025 6:46 PM UTC

Fed's Powell has provided no real surprises yet, in no hurry to move on rates while leaving options open.

FOMC leaves rates unchanged, sees increased risk on both sides of mandate

May 7, 2025 6:15 PM UTC

The FOMC has left rates unchanged at 4.25-4.5% as expected.  The main change in the statement is to note that the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have both risen, which gives little insight on any policy bias though suggests that the Fed could be responsive to data going forward.

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%.

Tariff Man

May 6, 2025 8:45 AM UTC

  With the U.S. equity market having rebounded, President Donald Trump instinct on tariffs have seen threats of pharma tariffs and a 100% tariff on non U.S. films. Slow progress is also reported on bilateral deals, despite White House PR spin.  However, Trump will see pressure rising from three so

Markets: China Truce Hopes and More Data

May 5, 2025 8:05 AM UTC

The direction of travel is towards a U.S./China truce followed by postponing/cancelling most reciprocal tariffs and then trade negotiations. While the markets could cheer this as good news, incoming economic data in May and June is the most critical issue.  We still see the U.S. imposing an average

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.

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

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

Preview: Due May 2 - U.S. April Employment (Non-Farm Payrolls) - Few clear signals for labor market weakness

May 1, 2025 12:57 PM UTC

We expect a 145k increase in April’s non-farm payroll, with 135k in the private sector, the latter equal to the Q1 average. Initial claims were showing no signs of labor market weakness in the payroll survey week, with a bounce in the latest week not yet a clear change in trend. We expect unemploy

U.S. Equities: Vulnerabilities Remain

May 1, 2025 10:25 AM UTC

 We are concerned that valuations remain high and inconsistent with nominal and real government bond yields going into a growth slowdown as tariffs hit the U.S. economy.  Our baseline is for the S&P500 to fall to 5000-5200 mid-year before recovering to 5500 by end 2025. The 10yr budget bill is lik

U.S. March Personal Income, Spending and Core PCE Prices confirm Q1 totals, March Pending Home Sales rebound

April 30, 2025 2:33 PM UTC

March’s personal income and spending report is largely old news with Q1 totals visible in the GDP report. Despite the upside surprise in the Q1 core PCE price index, March’s data was even softer than expected at unchanged, with the upside surprise in Q1 coming from an upward revision to February

U.S. Q1 GDP dips, Imports surge goes into inventories and business investment

April 30, 2025 1:07 PM UTC

The 0.3% decline in Q1 GDP is in line with expectations that were downgraded from a marginal increase after yesterday’s sharp rise in March’s advance goods trade deficit. A 3.5% rise in the core PCE price index is stronger than expected. While the Q1 data does not tell us very much about Q2, the

China South China Sea Tensions

April 30, 2025 10:30 AM UTC

We see recent China activity as part of the normal grey warfare for long-term influence in the South China sea.  It has involved the use of China coastguard and militia fishing boats rather than China PLA Navy, though the risk of escalation between the Philippines and China remains. China likely wa

Preview: Due April 30 - U.S. March Personal Income and Spending - Core PCE Prices to match weak Core CPI

April 29, 2025 2:49 PM UTC

March’s personal income and spending report will be largely old news by the time of the release, with Q1 totals due with the GDP report 90 minutes earlier. We expect a subdued 0.1% increase in the core PCE price index, a subdued 0.2% rise in personal income, but a strong 0.8% increase in personal

Preview: Due April 30 - U.S. Q1 GDP - A modest decline, but less steep than trade data implies

April 29, 2025 1:24 PM UTC

Q1 US GDP is subject to exceptional uncertainty with calculations based on the components suggesting a significant decline, largely due to a surge in imports. However with non-farm payrolls showing a 0.5% rise in aggregate hours worked a steep fall looks unlikely. We predict a modest GDP decline of

Preview: Due April 30 - U.S. Q1 Employment Cost Index - Slowing trend, though still above pre-pandemic pace

April 29, 2025 12:07 PM UTC

We look for the Q1 employment cost index (ECI) to increase by 0.8%, on the low side of recent trend. This would see yr/yr growth slow to 3.5%, the slowest since Q2 2021, from 3.8%. 

U.S. Treasuries: Economy v Foreign Investors

April 29, 2025 8:32 AM UTC

We have not revised down our baseline for 10yr yields (Figure 1) in 2025 and have pushed forecasts up 10bps in 2026.  We are concerned that foreign investors will be less willing to buy extra U.S. Treasuries.  Nevertheless, the economic slowdown, plus expectations that the CPI boost will be a temp

Continuum Economics Calendar May 2025

April 28, 2025 10:03 AM UTC

Data and Events Calendar May 2025.

US Exit: Lessons From Brexit?

April 28, 2025 8:05 AM UTC

Overall, the U.S. attempt to reshape global trade is unlikely to significantly improve its trade position, but the size and influence of the U.S. may mean it does not get hit in net exports volumes like the UK.  Even so, U.S. business investment could be restrained by ongoing uncertainty from the T

U.S/China Trade Standoff: Odds Remain Towards Truce

April 25, 2025 7:09 AM UTC

  On balance, our baseline still remains a U.S./China trade deal (55-60%) being reached, given Trump deal instincts; China desire for a deal and the economic disadvantage of an economic cold war to the U.S. when it is trying to reset trade with all countries.  Timeline is Q4 2025 or H1 2026. An al

USD Rebalancing: Some to EM?

April 24, 2025 8:30 AM UTC

Some portfolios rotations towards EM assets will likely be evident, as we see the USD decline is now extending and broadening.  However, flows will likely be selective, both given underwhelming EM performance in the last 5-10 years and the uncertainty over how much Trump will reduce reciprocal tari

U.S. Fed Beige Book Summary - Some signs of slowing on policy uncertainty

April 23, 2025 6:29 PM UTC

The latest Fed Beige Book shows activity little changed rather than increasing slightly while the labor market appears to have lost momentum. Inflationary pressures however persist. 

Preview: Due May 2 - U.S. April Employment (Non-Farm Payrolls) - Few signals for labor market weakness

April 23, 2025 3:31 PM UTC

We expect a 145k increase in April’s non-farm payroll, with 135k in the private sector, the latter equal to the Q1 average, with initial claims showing no signs of labor market weakness. We expect unemployment to correct lower to 4.1% after a March rise to 4.2%, and an in line with trend 0.3% incr

Trump Under Pressure

April 23, 2025 7:15 AM UTC

A deteriorating economic; volatile financial markets and weakening approval ratings are all putting pressure on the Trump administration to do trade deals.  However, Trump instincts means he still likes tariffs, while negotiations will not be quick with China restraints and non-tariffs list desired

Preview: Due April 30 - U.S. Q1 GDP - A modest decline, but less steep than trade data implies

April 22, 2025 4:32 PM UTC

Q1 US GDP is subject to exceptional uncertainty with calculations based on the components suggesting a significant decline. The Atlanta Fed nowcast shows an annualized fall of 2.2% largely due to a surge in imports. However with non-farm payrolls showing a 0.5% rise in aggregate hours worked such a

Foreign Official U.S. Treasury Holders: The Kindness of Strangers

April 22, 2025 7:30 AM UTC

Official holdings of U.S. Treasuries show a mixed picture with China, Brazil and Saudi Arabia well off peak holdings. Two drivers of some of these country flows are the peak in global central bank FX reserve holdings in 2021 and an increased holdings of other currencies in the last decade.  Neverth

Preview: Due April 30 - U.S. March Personal Income and Spending - Core PCE Prices to match weak Core CPI

April 17, 2025 3:47 PM UTC

March’s personal income and spending report will be largely old news by the time of the release, with Q1 totals due with the GDP report 90 minutes earlier. We expect a subdued 0.1% increase in the core PCE price index, a subdued 0.2% rise in personal income, but a strong 0.8% increase in personal

Safe Havens Other Than the USD

April 17, 2025 8:30 AM UTC

The USD and U.S. Treasuries are currently not acting like safe havens, as the crisis is U.S. centric with the tariff debacle. 10yr Treasuries can regain safe haven status if a U.S. recession occurs, but U.S. equities are still clearly overvalued versus equity and equity-bond metrics.  We prefer Ind

U.S. Fed's Powell - May find dual mandate goals in tension

April 16, 2025 5:45 PM UTC

Fed's Powell continues to give a message of keeping policy steady near term.

U.S. March Retail Sales - Autos lead bounce ahead of tariffs

April 16, 2025 12:48 PM UTC

March retail sales with a gain of 1.4% is in line with expectations, led by a pre-tariff surge in auto sales. Gains of 0.5% ex auto and 0.8% ex auto and gasoline are on the firm side of expectations, though the control group, which contributes to GDP, was less impressive with a moderate rise of 0.4%

Preview: Due April 16 - U.S. March Retail Sales - Strong end to a subdued quarter

April 15, 2025 2:06 PM UTC

We expect US retail sales to rise by 1.3%, led by autos, in what will be a strong end to a subdued quarter. Ex autos we expect a moderate rise of 0.5% but ex autos and gasoline the rise we expect sales to rise by 0.8%.

Nervous U.S. Long Term Asset Holders

April 15, 2025 8:30 AM UTC

   Overall, foreign equity investors can no longer count on U.S. exceptionalism and could face lower long-term corporate earnings growth, which at a minimum will likely slow net inflows.  Bond investors also face ongoing policy volatility, which likely means a need for an extra risk premium – t

U.S. Fed's Waller - Would back a dovish approach if tariffs stay high

April 14, 2025 5:43 PM UTC

Fed's Waller suggest he would be more dovish if high tariffs persist, despite a likely inflation spike. 

U.S./China High Stakes Poker

April 14, 2025 7:30 AM UTC

The economic hit from a hard stop in U.S. imports/exports is too damaging for both sides and our baseline is still for a truce and de-escalation, in the coming weeks. This could be negotiations on a new trade deal with a more moderate reciprocal tariff on both sides and the extra reciprocal tariffs