German unemployment increased by a non-seasonally adjusted 29,100 in August, bringing the number of unemployment to the highest since April this year. Currently, 2.905 million people are without a job. This is less than in August 2011. The most alarming signal from today’s report is the fact that the non-seasonally adjusted monthly increase is the highest August increase since 1993. A clear signal that the best times of the German labour market are over. In seasonally-adjusted terms, unemployment increased slightly, leaving the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate unchanged at 6.8%.
The strong labour market has been one of the main drivers of German growth in the first half of the year. Low unemployment, record high employment and wage increases supported private consumption and helped cushioning the industrial slowdown. Looking ahead, however, it is doubtful whether private consumption can really take over the baton as main growth driver for the German economy. Today’s numbers provide further evidence that the labour market is gradually losing steam and that the positive impact on the economy should peter out towards the end of the year. Employment expectations in the manufacturing sector have entered negative territory, most open vacancies are temporary jobs and several companies have reintroduced short-time work schemes. Obviously not the best climate for a new round of wage increases, consequently boding ill for private consumption..
The ongoing demographic change should keep a lid on any increase in German unemployment rates in the near future. However, it is hard to deny that the resilience of the German labour market is cracking up.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Ifo continues downward slide
The downward slide continues as German companies are increasingly becoming pessimistic about the future. The Ifo index continued its recent downward trend in August, dropping to 102.3, from 103.3 in July. This is the fourth consecutive drop, bringing the Ifo index to its lowest level since March 2010. With a sharp drop to 94.2, from 95.6 in July, the expectation component has now reached levels which in the past corresponded with recessions. The only upside in today’s Ifo report is that the drop in the current assessment component remained rather modest (to 111.2, from 111.6).
Exports and domestic consumption have shielded the German economy against the euro crisis virus up to now. This immunity, however, has been crumbling away quickly over recent months. The sharp drop in new orders from other Eurozone countries since the beginning of the year and continued inventory reductions have weakened the German industry. Moreover, as several companies have again started to introduce short-time work schemes support from the labour market should also diminish in the coming months. As a consequence, it looks as if the German economy will, at best, be treading water in the coming months. The latest batch of sentiment indicators even points to a contraction in the third quarter. However, let’s be clear, given the sound fundamentals of the economy, any contraction should hardly feel recessionary in Germany.
The still solid current assessment component of today’s Ifo report illustrates the relative strength of the economy. However, the headline figure and, above all, downbeat expectations clearly add to concerns that strong growth in the first half of the year was just the last flaring up of the new German Wirtschaftswunder.
Exports and domestic consumption have shielded the German economy against the euro crisis virus up to now. This immunity, however, has been crumbling away quickly over recent months. The sharp drop in new orders from other Eurozone countries since the beginning of the year and continued inventory reductions have weakened the German industry. Moreover, as several companies have again started to introduce short-time work schemes support from the labour market should also diminish in the coming months. As a consequence, it looks as if the German economy will, at best, be treading water in the coming months. The latest batch of sentiment indicators even points to a contraction in the third quarter. However, let’s be clear, given the sound fundamentals of the economy, any contraction should hardly feel recessionary in Germany.
The still solid current assessment component of today’s Ifo report illustrates the relative strength of the economy. However, the headline figure and, above all, downbeat expectations clearly add to concerns that strong growth in the first half of the year was just the last flaring up of the new German Wirtschaftswunder.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Solid German growth confirmed - curse or blessing for Merkel?
Solid growth confirmed. The second estimate of the
statistical office confirmed that the German economy defied the euro
crisis in the first half of the year. GDP growth in the Eurozone’s
biggest economy came in at 0.3% QoQ in the second quarter, from 0.5% in
1Q 2012. Growth was driven net exports, with exports up by 2.5% QoQ,
government (0.2% QoQ) and private consumption (0.4%). Investments were
down by 1.8% QoQ. German growth remains well-balanced but signs of
waning strength are increasing.
Looking ahead, however, there is a risk that the strong performance in the first half of the year was the last flaring up of the new German Wirtschaftswunder. The sharp drop in new orders from other Eurozone countries since the beginning of the year shows that the euro crisis has already reached the German economy. The safety net of richly filled order books and low inventories has become thinner very rapidly, not boding well for growth in the second half of the year. At the same time, low interest rates and wage increases should support domestic investment and consumption, partly offsetting the negative impact from weakening external demand. However, solid domestic demand can only cushion the slowdown of the economy but will not transform Germany into an economic island.
For German chancellor Merkel, today’s growth numbers are not as comfortable as they might look as they complicate next steps in the euro crisis. To some extent, today’s numbers are both a blessing and a curse. German growth is still too strong to convince coalition partners and also the public opinion of waning crisis immunity. However, at the same time, growth is too weak to seriously label the German economy invincible. As a consequence, chancellor Merkel looks likely to continue with her gradual strategy toward conditional integration. When Merkel meets with French president Hollande today and Greek president Samaras tomorrow, no clear decisions should be expected. Even Samaras’ latest “you-get-your-money-back” initiative in German newspapers will not (yet) do the trick. Given latest comments, chancellor Merkel seems not entirely reluctant to give Greece more time but only if it does not cost more money. In our view, however, any significant German move will only come after the next Troika report and, of course, the ruling of the Constitutional Court on 12 September.
Looking ahead, however, there is a risk that the strong performance in the first half of the year was the last flaring up of the new German Wirtschaftswunder. The sharp drop in new orders from other Eurozone countries since the beginning of the year shows that the euro crisis has already reached the German economy. The safety net of richly filled order books and low inventories has become thinner very rapidly, not boding well for growth in the second half of the year. At the same time, low interest rates and wage increases should support domestic investment and consumption, partly offsetting the negative impact from weakening external demand. However, solid domestic demand can only cushion the slowdown of the economy but will not transform Germany into an economic island.
For German chancellor Merkel, today’s growth numbers are not as comfortable as they might look as they complicate next steps in the euro crisis. To some extent, today’s numbers are both a blessing and a curse. German growth is still too strong to convince coalition partners and also the public opinion of waning crisis immunity. However, at the same time, growth is too weak to seriously label the German economy invincible. As a consequence, chancellor Merkel looks likely to continue with her gradual strategy toward conditional integration. When Merkel meets with French president Hollande today and Greek president Samaras tomorrow, no clear decisions should be expected. Even Samaras’ latest “you-get-your-money-back” initiative in German newspapers will not (yet) do the trick. Given latest comments, chancellor Merkel seems not entirely reluctant to give Greece more time but only if it does not cost more money. In our view, however, any significant German move will only come after the next Troika report and, of course, the ruling of the Constitutional Court on 12 September.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Eurozone - Draghi misses out on Olympic medal
In a way, today’s ECB meeting had a lot in common with the last EU summit in June. The ECB did not deliver the big bazooka some market participants had hoped for. It only gave some hints at intentions and possible plans for the future. Much ado about nothing?
Of course, the macro-economic assessment was of lesser importance today. Obviously, the ECB has become somewhat more pessimistic about the economic outlook. While the ECB still expects a recovery of the economy; this recovery has now been labelled as “only very” gradual. Risks to the economic outlook remain to the downside. As regards inflation, they put somewhat more emphasis on the fact that inflation would continue to slow down in the coming month, dropping below 2% in 2013. Risks to the outlook for price developments remain, according to the ECB, broadly balanced. This latest slight downward revision of the ECB’s macro assessment and the fact that a rate cut was already discussed today, in our view, has opened the door further for another rate cut. It could already happen at the next meeting in September when the ECB staff will present its latest economic forecasts.
Expectations about big things to happen were high. Last week, ECB president Draghi had pushed himself into a very uncomfortable corner. The words that the ECB would “within our mandate the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro and believe me: it will be enough” had given rise to speculation about imminent ECB action. Clearly, today’s press conference was a cold shower for these expectations. The ECB did not present any new measures. In fact, ECB president Draghi stressed the well-known ECB stance that monetary policy could not solve the Eurozone debt crisis. Draghi actually repeated the old mantra that Eurozone policymakers needed “to push ahead with fiscal consolidation, structural reform and European institution-building with great determination.” However, Draghi’s comments also made clear that the ECB will not leave Eurozone governments standing alone in the rain.
How? The ECB implicitly announced an SMP 2.0. Draghi said that “the Governing Council…may undertake outright market operations of a size adequate to reach its objective” [of maintaining price stability]. Nothing has been decided, yet, and the emphasis is on the word “may”. According to Draghi, the ECB will now investigate options and details of such an SMP 2.0 programme. One element of the investigations will be the issue of seniority. Moreover, according to the ECB, “adherence of governments to their commitments and the fulfilment by the EFSF/ESM of their role are necessary conditions.” It is obvious that the ECB will stick to a principle of strict conditionality. Unlimited bond purchases, therefore, look highly unlikely. However, combining conditionality to a measure which is officially meant to tackle problems with monetary policy transmission sounds somewhat contradictory.
What do we make of all of this? One, a rate cut at the September meeting looks highly possible. Two, the ECB will not engage in any ground-breaking measures like unlimited bond purchases. Three, ECB liquidity access for the ESM is out of the question right now but has not entirely been ruled out if the structure and tasks of the ESM have changed. Four, the ECB will stick to a principle of conditionality. For governments this means that they can only expect some ECB support if they send an official request to the EFSF/ESM.
All in all, the outcome of today’s ECB meeting had been less surprising or disillusioning without Draghi’s strong words last week. The ECB simply sticks to its well-known strategy. For Draghi, it was very hard to elegantly get out of such a self-inflicted dilemma. The ECB has to master a balancing act between keeping maximum pressure on Eurozone governments, while at the same time not disappointing markets. Draghi managed this split in only a very rough-and-ready manner. It will definitely not earn him an Olympic medal in gymnastics.
Of course, the macro-economic assessment was of lesser importance today. Obviously, the ECB has become somewhat more pessimistic about the economic outlook. While the ECB still expects a recovery of the economy; this recovery has now been labelled as “only very” gradual. Risks to the economic outlook remain to the downside. As regards inflation, they put somewhat more emphasis on the fact that inflation would continue to slow down in the coming month, dropping below 2% in 2013. Risks to the outlook for price developments remain, according to the ECB, broadly balanced. This latest slight downward revision of the ECB’s macro assessment and the fact that a rate cut was already discussed today, in our view, has opened the door further for another rate cut. It could already happen at the next meeting in September when the ECB staff will present its latest economic forecasts.
Expectations about big things to happen were high. Last week, ECB president Draghi had pushed himself into a very uncomfortable corner. The words that the ECB would “within our mandate the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro and believe me: it will be enough” had given rise to speculation about imminent ECB action. Clearly, today’s press conference was a cold shower for these expectations. The ECB did not present any new measures. In fact, ECB president Draghi stressed the well-known ECB stance that monetary policy could not solve the Eurozone debt crisis. Draghi actually repeated the old mantra that Eurozone policymakers needed “to push ahead with fiscal consolidation, structural reform and European institution-building with great determination.” However, Draghi’s comments also made clear that the ECB will not leave Eurozone governments standing alone in the rain.
How? The ECB implicitly announced an SMP 2.0. Draghi said that “the Governing Council…may undertake outright market operations of a size adequate to reach its objective” [of maintaining price stability]. Nothing has been decided, yet, and the emphasis is on the word “may”. According to Draghi, the ECB will now investigate options and details of such an SMP 2.0 programme. One element of the investigations will be the issue of seniority. Moreover, according to the ECB, “adherence of governments to their commitments and the fulfilment by the EFSF/ESM of their role are necessary conditions.” It is obvious that the ECB will stick to a principle of strict conditionality. Unlimited bond purchases, therefore, look highly unlikely. However, combining conditionality to a measure which is officially meant to tackle problems with monetary policy transmission sounds somewhat contradictory.
What do we make of all of this? One, a rate cut at the September meeting looks highly possible. Two, the ECB will not engage in any ground-breaking measures like unlimited bond purchases. Three, ECB liquidity access for the ESM is out of the question right now but has not entirely been ruled out if the structure and tasks of the ESM have changed. Four, the ECB will stick to a principle of conditionality. For governments this means that they can only expect some ECB support if they send an official request to the EFSF/ESM.
All in all, the outcome of today’s ECB meeting had been less surprising or disillusioning without Draghi’s strong words last week. The ECB simply sticks to its well-known strategy. For Draghi, it was very hard to elegantly get out of such a self-inflicted dilemma. The ECB has to master a balancing act between keeping maximum pressure on Eurozone governments, while at the same time not disappointing markets. Draghi managed this split in only a very rough-and-ready manner. It will definitely not earn him an Olympic medal in gymnastics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)