Europe real estate market update—20 July 2020

The consensus expectation was for a growth of 5.5% month-on-month. However, GDP data released this week showed that optimism was misplaced, as the economy grew just 1.8% month-on-month and contracted 24% compared to the same period last year.

While many manufacturing and construction firms restarted work, most of the service sector remained shuttered, resulting in only a mild pickup in activity with a rise of only 0.9% month-on-month in May after a 18.9% decline in April. Sterling tumbled by over 1% against the USD following data over concerns that a no-deal Brexit coupled with a lackluster recovery will leave the UK economy lagging other G10 countries for years to come.

The direction of inflation in the UK is a hotly debated topic – with much disagreement among economists as to whether COVID-19, and the policy response, will be a deflationary event or inflationary. What we do know is that the short-term data is not wholly representative given the change in buying patterns and consumer consumption during lockdown. The Consumer Price Index unexpectedly ticked up to 0.6% in June, a slight increase from 0.5% in May, mainly driven by higher prices for games and clothing, despite most items that contribute towards the CPI index showing disinflation.

Further, the recent cut in the VAT rate for the hospitality sector, and the Chancellor’s discount voucher for meals out, will have an impact on inflation through the summer months – some estimates indicating it could fall by 0.7 - 0.9 ppts – taking it just below zero. There is no expectation that inflationary pressures will start to build in the coming 12-24 months.

Headline data on the labour market shows that unemployment is stable, with the rate unchanged at 3.9% in the three months to April. However, given the number of workers still on furlough, nine million workers are still being paid by the state, and adding in those self-employed who are also still on government schemes, this is around 35% of the UK’s total workforce. Until these schemes are completely wound down, the true picture of the labour market is being masked. Forecasts for unemployment range from 7% to 12% by mid-2021.

In the European markets, the ECB has taken drastic action to provide significant amounts of liquidity and cheap financing to Eurozone banks which seems to be having the right impact. The policy has also successfully narrowed the spread between the borrowing costs for Germany and more heavily indebted nations from as high as 300 bps in March to 180 bps in July. Having almost doubled the size of their Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program at their last meeting, the ECB confirmed at its monetary policy meeting held on Thursday 16 July that they are in no hurry to change policy and increase their stimulus package. As expected the ECB kept borrowing rates at 0.00% and the deposit at -0.50%. Rates are expected to remain at the current levels until there is a clear and sustained increase in inflation toward their target of close to 2%. While it is far from a case of job done for the central bank, the pressure is now on the Eurozone’s politicians to agree on a fiscal stimulus package to boost the bloc’s economy.

Early this month, Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank, kept its interest rate unchanged at 0% which is expected to remain unchanged until 2023. The Riksbank was the first among the five central banks (the ECB, the Danish NationalBank, the Swiss National Bank, and the Bank of Japan) to introduce negative rates in 2015, setting the repurchase rate to -0.50%. The Riksbank was also the first to reverse its decision and re-entered positive territory in December 2019 citing the potential long-term behavioural change of economic agents and the associated negative effects. Whilst it is still too early to assess the impact of negative rates on Sweden’s economy, central banks and economists around the world will undoubtedly be watching very carefully.

One topic which was the dominant headline, but has been sidelined by COVID-19, is the status of Brexit negotiations. A number of differences remain between the UK and EU, with little progress made in the latest round of negotiations. The fifth round begins this week ahead of a short summer recess until 17 August when the next round begins. Last month, the UK’s top Brexit Official, Michael Grove, confirmed that the UK will not be asking for more time to reach a deal with the EU.

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