Oops... I missed this one... Russia's economy has defied sanctions in the two years since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022
So much so that the World Bank is now classifying Russia as a "high-income country." On Monday 1st of July, the World Bank announced it has upgraded Russia from an upper-middle-income country to a high-income country, according to a report from the financial institution's economists. "Economic activity in Russia was influenced by a large increase in military-related activity in 2023," World Bank economists wrote in their report. Last year, Russians earned $14,250 per person on a gross national income basis. The World Bank's upgrade confirms reports from Russia that suggest the growth is primarily driven by wartime activities that generate demand for military goods and services, making some sectors winners in Russia's wartime economy. Russia's trade jumped by nearly 7% last year, while activities in the financial sector and construction grew by 6.6% and 3.6%, respectively. This boosted Russia's real GDP — which is economic growth adjusted for inflation — by 3.6%. The development has made some poor Russians better off financially, complicating any calculus over how to end the war.
US GOVERNMENT SPENDS MONEY AS IF THERE IS A CRISIS:
US government spending as a % of GDP is now ~43%, in line with THE GREAT FINANCIAL CRISIS. This is just 1 % below World War II levels. Only the COVID crisis saw higher expenditures as a share of GDP of 54%... Source: BofA, Global Markets Investor
Latest US jobs numbers show economic momentum keeps cooling: Non-farm-payrolls rose by 206k jobs in June, ahead of 190k forecast.
However, 2 months net revisions were NEGATIVE with -110k. Moreover, government employment rose by a whopping 70k while PRIVATE employment with 136k was below estimates. Unemployment rate rose to 4.1% from 4.0% due to higher labor participation rate. Wage rose 3.9% YoY in line w/estimates. Bottom-line: these numbers seem to confirm our thesis that the US job market is NORMALIZING hence reinforcing the disinflation trend which will ultimately enable policy makers to NORMALIZE. More to come from our Chief Economist Adrien Pichoud... stay tuned... Source: Bloomberg, HolgerZ
Another new low for the Citigroup US surprises index on the back of poor macro numbers this week (ADP employment, ISM services, etc.)
Source: Bloomberg, Ronald-Peter Stoeferle, CMT, CFTe, MSTA
Italians make in real terms less today than they used to in 1990, one really needs to admire how calm they stay about it.
Chart: Michel A.Arouet, @heimbergecon
Good to know Mrs Lagarde...
ECB President Christine Lagarde said Tuesday that Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is not alone in keeping inflation high across the euro zone. “It’s not just Taylor Swift, you know,” Lagarde told CNBC’s Sara Eisen in Sintra, Portugal. “Others have come as well.” Terms such as “Swiftflation” and “Swiftonomics” emerged last year following a surge in spending on services such as hotels, flights and restaurants around her performances.
The price of a Big Mac vs. the US in selected countries
Source: Voronoi
According to BofA fund managers survey, the biggest tail risk is still higher inflation.
WHAT IF the true risk is UNDERESTIMATING the current disinflation trend? PCE numbers today will give us more clue about where inflation is going next? Source: Ryan Detrick
