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July 25, 2008

Preliminary UK Q2 GDP Confirms Slowing Economy
by Victoria Marklew

Today's preliminary Q2 GDP report from the UK showed real growth slowing to 0.2% on the quarter and 1.6% on the year, the weakest in three years and down from 0.3% and 2.3%, respectively, in Q1. A marked fall in construction output, the result of weakness in private house building, was largely to blame - down 0.7% on the quarter. However, the slowdown in the dominant service sector was also notable, with growth of just 0.4% on the quarter and 2.1% on the year, the weakest annual growth in 16 years.

Chart 1

This report will add to expectations that the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee will leave interest rates on hold for the next few months.

Easing Credit Growth in Euro-zone

Today's ECB data on credit and money supply showed that the pace of loan growth to the private sector is easing, coming in at 9.8% on the year in June, versus 10.5% in May.

Chart 2

In addition, the headline rate of growth in M3 money supply fell to an annual 9.5% in June from 10.0% the month before.

Chart 3

While the pace of credit and monetary expansion is still high for a slowing economy, the fact that they are easing all-but guarantees that the European Central Bank (ECB) won't be making any more rate hikes in the second half of this year.

Victoria Marklew
The Northern Trust Company
Economic Research Department
"The economics of what is, rather than what you might like it to be."
50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60675

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Northern Trust Company. The Northern Trust Company does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein, such information is subject to change and is not intended to influence your investment decisions.

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