Obtain the data you need to make the most informed decisions by accessing our extensive portfolio of information, analytics, and expertise. Sign in to the product or service center of your choice.
The following is an extract from IHS Markit's latest Week
Ahead Economic Preview. For the full report, please click on the
'Download Full Report' link.
Fed FOMC, BoE, BoJ, BI, CBC meetings, US and China production
data
The week ahead will see an abundance of central bank meetings
across the US, UK, Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan. Retail sales and
industrial production data will also be due from the US and China.
The UK meanwhile releases employment data for February while Japan
and the eurozone issue inflation figures.
Central bankers will be making their moves to tackle inflation
in the coming week starting with the US Fed, which is expected to
kickstart its rate hike cycle. While a 25-basis point hike had been
well-telegraphed, the path forward remains less certain amid
Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The latest
IHS Markit Investment Manager Index revealed that US equity
investor risk appetite had slumped on the back of geopolitical
and macroeconomic concerns, while many retained the view that more
tightening than currently signalled may be on the way due to a
protracted supply chain crisis. As such, the Fed's projections and
stance will be closely studied in the coming week.
Meanwhile the BoE and CBC are expected to join the Fed in
lifting policy rates in the coming week. A rate hike in March will
mark the third consecutive meeting in which the UK central bank
raises rates, a move to tackle inflation with January consumer
price inflation now at the highest in 30 years. Taiwan CBC is
likewise set to commence hiking of rates but could keep it gradual
amid external uncertainties. In all cases, however, policymaker
reaction to the Ukraine war remains a key element of
uncertainty.
Over in the data docket, the US and China both release retail
sales and industrial production data for February. Japan, Canada
and final eurozone inflation data will also be closely watched for
the pre-Ukraine crisis picture on prices. Eurozone industrial
production and UK labour market data are also key diary events.
Central banks meet amid high uncertainty
Economic forecasts of growth and inflation have been largely
made redundant by the invasion of Ukraine, posing downside risks to
growth while adding to inflationary pressures. Growth is invariably
being affected by sanctions as well as the likely hit to business
confidence from the war.
However, European supply chains are also again being
disrupted adding to downside growth risks but also exacerbating
inflationary pressures, the latter already hit by soaring energy
prices. PMI data showed that, although some supply chain
disruptions were starting to ease in February, rising energy and
staff costs had pushed prices higher at a rate approaching prior
record highs. Envy not, therefore, the central banks that meet in
the coming week to determine the correct path for monetary policy
in this environment.
Global PMI prices and inflation
Central bank policy vs. PMI output and price
gauges
Key diary events
Monday 14 Mar
India CPI and WPI Inflation (Feb)
Tuesday 15 Mar
Australia RBA Meeting Minutes (Mar)
South Korea Export Growth Revised (Feb)
Australia Home Price Index (Q4)
China (Mainland) Retail Sales, Industrial Output, Urban Investment
(Feb)
Indonesia Trade Balance (Feb)
United Kingdom Labour Market Report (Feb)
Germany ZEW Economic Sentiment (Mar)
Eurozone Industrial Production (Jan)
United States PPI Final Demand (Feb)
Canada Manufacturing Sales (Jan)
Wednesday 16 Mar
New Zealand Current Account (Q4)
Japan Trade Balance (Feb)
United States Retail Sales (Feb)
Canada CPI Inflation (Feb)
Canada Wholesale Trade (Jan)
United States Business Inventories (Jan)
United States NAHB Housing Market Index (Mar)
United States Fed Funds Target Rate (16 Mar)
Thursday 17 Mar
Japan Machinery Orders (Jan)
Australia Employment and Unemployment Rate (Feb)
Singapore Non-Oil Exports (Feb)
Taiwan Discount Rate (Q1)
Eurozone HICP (Feb, final)
United Kingdom BOE Bank Rate (Mar)
United States Housing Starts (Feb)
United States Initial Jobless Claims
United States Philly Fed Business Index (Mar)
United States Industrial Production (Feb)
United States Capacity Utilization (Feb)
Indonesia 7-Day Reverse Repo (Mar)
Friday 18 Mar
India Market Holiday
New Zealand GDP Prod Based (Q4)
Japan CPI (Feb)
Japan BOJ Rate Decision (18 Mar)
Malaysia Trade (Feb)
Canada Retail Sales (Jan)
United States Existing Home Sales (Feb)
What to watch
North America: Fed FOMC meeting, US retail sales,
industrial production, Canada inflation data
The US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will be held
15-16 March with the meeting statement, economic projections and
Fed chair Powell's presser to follow. The Fed is widely expected to
kickstart their rate hike cycle in the March meeting, commencing
with a 25 basis points (bps) increase, despite the uncertainties
caused by the Ukraine invasion. This had been well communicated by
Fed chair Powell in his latest testimony to Congress alongside
signals that the FOMC will soon announce plans for shrinking the
Fed's balance sheet. The Fed's updated dot plot and views towards
the balance sheet will be closely scrutinised by the market for
future policy clues.
February US retail sales and industrial production figures will
also be due, with growth of both expected to slow month-on-month
according to consensus.
Europe: BoE meeting, UK employment figures, German ZEW
survey, eurozone industrial production, final CPI data
The Bank of England convenes for the second time this year and
is expected to deliver their third consecutive 25 bps hike. At
least one more hike is expected in 2022, likely at the May meeting.
The BoE's rate hike cycle has been one aimed at taming above-target
inflation with February PMI data backing the impetus, seeing solid
output growth and accelerating price inflation.
Asia-Pacific: BoJ, BI, CBC meetings, China retail sales,
industrial output, Japan CPI
APAC central banks across Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan also
updates their monetary policy settings in the coming week, with the
Taiwan CBC expected to commence hiking rates in the March meeting
to reflect the US monetary policy tightening and higher local
import costs, though keeping the path of rate increases gradual
amid external uncertainties.
Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI™) data are compiled by IHS Markit for more than 40 economies worldwide. The monthly data are derived from surveys of senior executives at private sector companies, and are available only via subscription. The PMI dataset features a headline number, which indicates the overall health of an economy, and sub-indices, which provide insights into other key economic drivers such as GDP, inflation, exports, capacity utilization, employment and inventories. The PMI data are used by financial and corporate professionals to better understand where economies and markets are headed, and to uncover opportunities.