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The following is an extract from IHS Markit's latest Week
Ahead Economic Preview. For the full report (including Special
Reports) please click on the 'Download Full Report' link.
Flash PMI surveys for the US, Eurozone, UK, Japan and
Australia
US claimant count, housing data and FOMC minutes
Eurozone consumer confidence
UK inflation, retail sales and jobs report
Thai GDP and central bank meeting
The key data in the week ahead are likely to be the flash PMI
surveys for May, which are released for the US, Eurozone, UK, Japan
and Australia. Covering both manufacturing and services, the
surveys will provide the first insights into whether these
economies have bottomed out after many countries started to ease
some of the restrictions designed to contain the COVID-19
outbreak.
April saw the US, Europe and Japan intensify their battles
against the pandemic by extending lockdowns which commenced in late
March, leading to record falls in business activity during the
month. With some restrictions being lifted in May, and companies
encouraged to restart work in many countries, there's hope that the
PMIs will have started to pick up again, albeit likely remaining in
contraction.
Analysts will meanwhile scrutinise the latest FOMC meeting
minutes after US policymakers reassured that it will "use its tools
and act as appropriate to support the economy". Since the meeting,
Fed Chair Powell has sought to rebuff suggestions that the US could
see negative rates, leaving many to view further QE and forward
guidance as the most likely potential stimulus tools.
In Europe, the PMIs have shown especially deep downturns in both
the UK and Eurozone, so May flash numbers will be particularly
awaited for brighter news, as will consumer confidence data. On the
other hand, official labour market and retail sales data for the UK
will be more backward looking, and therefore likely to darken the
overall picture.
In addition to the flash PMIs, Asia sees the release of
Thailand's GDP, which is expected to show the first decline for six
years and is likely to be accompanied by policy loosening from the
central bank. A rate cut may also be in the cards in Indonesia.
Various national trade reports are also eagerly awaited.
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.
