UK Economy continues to falter

Further signs of drop in consumer activity

Car sales in the UK fell by 5.6% in 2017 as the consumer continued to exhibit concerns over the effect that Brexit will have on the economy, rising interest rates increasing the cost of mortgages and the gap between wages and prices growing.

Mark Carney the Governor of the Bank of England had been both surprised and delighted by the strength of consumer confidence and retail sales data as the man in the street continued to support the economy despite the various headwinds that it faced.

During the fourth quarter it became clear that the rate hike was potentially “the straw that broke the camel’s back” as far as that support was concerned. Most measures of consumer activity showed a downturn as inflation continued to rise despite the hike, yet the rate of pay increases remained static.

The pound still recovered 50% of its fall on the previous day versus the dollar as the currency market continued to sift through the themes that will be the main drivers in Q1 ‘18. It reached a high of 1.3560 versus the dollar and has continued to rally overnight to 1.3577. While Brexit is not making headlines, the pound will lack direction as the UK’s departure from the EU remains the single primary driver of all aspects of the economy including the currency.

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Euro Rally resumes as dollar reverses gains

Early in a new year it is often difficult to “get a handle” on what traders will see as the major influences on currencies (unless there is a Brexit shaped elephant in the room!). Thus, it has been proved with the dollar and euro this week. The chart of the dollar index (which is dominated by the single currency), has seen two down days and one up day of virtually identical proportions. Yesterday was an up day for the euro as traders begin to accept that the interest rate differential between the two major currencies would not grow into the chasm that was feared over the past twelve months as the Fed. became far more hawkish than the ECB.

While Mario Draghi will never be described as a hawk, his colleagues on the ECB, presumably providing advance guidance on his behalf, are starting to talk up the possibility of an earlier than had been anticipated withdrawal of the Asset Purchase Scheme as a prelude to higher rates across the Eurozone.

The Euro rose to 1.2090 yesterday and has managed to hang onto those gains, without managing to break resistance at 1.2120, overnight. The Euro is now well supported above the 1.2000 level which is providing the base for a rally as economic activity in the Eurozone picks up.

Macroeconomic data to provide early clues

Today’s data releases will go some way to providing tangible evidence of the themes that will drive both the dollar and euro in the early part of the year. First, pan-eurozone inflation data will be released. This is expected to show that the rise in inflation in Germany hasn’t yet filtered through to the rest of the region. The year on year rate of price rises is expected to have risen by 1.4% in December a marginal fall from the 1.5% recorded in November.

This is in line with expectations and should only have a limited effect on the Euro. A fall to 1.3% would see a fall for the Euro but an upside surprise would have a far significant and lasting effect.

Following the data releases in Europe, the U.S. will release its final employment report for 2017. This headline data has been relatively strong through the year as the economy has consistently delivered positive numbers.

Although the headline NFP is the most eagerly awaited number of the month, the devil is in the detail and it is the growth in hourly earnings that provides the Fed. with the most vital piece in its monetary policy jigsaw. Growth in pay has been constant at around 2.5% and until that number is closer to 3% it is hard to see inflation feeding through into consumer prices.