NEW ZEALAND: Westpac Consumer Confidence Signals Spending Outlook Remains Soft
Jun-18 02:45
Westpac Q2 consumer confidence picked up to 91.2 from 89.2 in Q1, while the number of pessimists declined they continue to outnumber optimists with the breakeven-index 100. Sentiment also remains below Q4 2024’s 97.5. Households remain cautious about the outlook despite 225bp of RBNZ easing given heightened global uncertainty, an unbalanced recovery and a soft labour market.
- While most regions saw a rise in consumer confidence, only one posted a reading above 100.
- Present conditions remained weak at 81.7 up from 80.2 with the assessment of current financial conditions falling to -27 from -24.1. Westpac notes that finances are being impacted by rises in living costs. Q1 CPI inflation rose 2.5% y/y up from 2.2% while May data showed food and electricity inflation rising further.
- The outlook is more positive with expected conditions rising 2.3 points to 97.5, still below the 10-year average, and the expected financial situation improving 2.6 points to 7.4.
- It is still not a “good time to buy” a major item but it improved 6.1 points to -9.5 but the 10-year average is at +4.5. Recent consumption data have been lacklustre and show that households remain cautious. The Westpac survey found that a net 31% have reduced discretionary spending.
NZ consumer outlook
Source: MNI - Market News/LSEG
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CHINA: Hard to See Significant Tariff Impacts in April Data
May-19 02:17
- April data releases showed limited impact from the trade war.
- April retail sales did decline to +5.1% (from +5.9% in March) yet remains above the 1 year average of +3.6% and the 5 year average of +4.5%.
- In what could be front running tariffs, industrial production beat expectations rising +6.1%, ahead of forecasts of +5.7%
- Investments in Fixed Assets (excluding rural households) rose +4.0%, moderately lower than March's result of +4.2%
- The ongoing malaise in the property sector shows limited signs of improving (as witnessed by the release of home prices earlier today) with the April Property Investment YTD YoY printing at -10.3% where it has remained since 2023.
- Residential property sales YTD YoY declined -1.9%, higher than March's result of -0.4%
- China's surveyed jobless rate was steady at +5.1%
AUSSIE BONDS: Subdued Session Ahead Of Tomorrow's RBA Policy Decision
May-19 02:12
ACGBs (YM -1.0 & XM -3.0) are modestly cheaper on a data-light Sydney session ahead of tomorrow’s RBA Policy Decision.
- Cash US tsys have twist-steepened in today’s Asia-Pac session, with yields 2.5bps lower to 2.5bps higher, as the market continues to digest late Friday news that Moody's Ratings downgraded the US credit score.
- “The move follows downgrades by Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, with Moody's citing a decline in fiscal metrics that can no longer be counterbalanced by the US' economic and financial strengths." (per BBG)
- Cash ACGBs are 1-3bps cheaper with the AU-US 10-year yield differential at flat.
- The bills strip little changed.
- RBA-dated OIS pricing is little changed across meetings today. A 25bp rate cut in May is given a 94% probability, with a cumulative 76bps of easing priced by year-end (based on an effective cash rate of 4.09%).
- (AFR) “The consumer price index for the March quarter was a good enough result to warrant a 25 basis point policy rate cut at the May Reserve Bank board meeting, but that is about it.” (see BBG link)
- This week, the AOFM plans to sell A$1200mn of the 4.25% 21 December 2035 bond on Wednesday and A$800mn of the 2.75% 21 November 2028 bond on Friday.
MNI: CHINA APR INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT +6.1% Y/Y VS MEDIAN +5.7% Y/Y: NBS
May-19 02:00
- CHINA APR INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT +6.1% Y/Y VS MEDIAN +5.7% Y/Y: NBS
- CHINA JAN-APR INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT +6.4% Y/Y VS JAN-MAR +6.5% Y/Y
- CHINA APR RETAIL SALES +5.1% Y/Y VS MEDIAN +5.9% Y/Y
- CHINA JAN-APR RETAIL SALES +4.7% Y/Y VS JAN-MAR +4.6% Y/Y
- CHINA YTD FIXED-ASSET INVESTMENT +4.0% Y/Y VS MEDIAN +4.2% Y/Y
- CHINA YTD PROPERTY INVESTMENT -10.3% Y/Y VS MEDIAN -10.0% Y/Y
- CHINA APR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE +5.1% VS MAR +5.2%
