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Anxious relief, such was the mood in Washington DC last week during the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), from official and private sector participants alike. Relief that the global economy, and all its regional parts, are doing much better than expected in the Spring despite the US tariff shock. Anxiety that underneath the recent benign economy and markets, tectonic shifts are underway, still in their early stages and poorly understood.
Our nowcasts for Q3 2025 highlight resilient GDP growth in the Eurozone and France. In Italy and Germany, two economies that suffered a setback in Q2 after a very good Q1, we expect growth to strengthen in Q3 and more markedly in Q4. The UK, meanwhile, is expected to see growth slow in Q3 (after a very strong H1 2025), before rebounding in Q4. In the US, the Atlanta Fed's GDP Now suggests another upside surprise for Q3 growth (1% q/q), before a backlash and a sharp slowdown in Q4. In Japan and China, the slowdown would occur as early as Q3, after a good H1.
At a time when central banks are navigating between persistent inflation, economic slowdown, and unprecedented structural challenges, their room for maneuver has never been so closely scrutinized. Should they lower rates to support growth, maintain them to anchor inflation, or raise them in the face of unexpected shocks? Between balancing acts, threats to their independence, and regional divergences, the choices made by central bankers will shape the economy of tomorrow.
What are the common challenges and differences between the Fed, the ECB, the Bank of England, and the Bank of Japan? How are AI, climate change, and geopolitical tensions reshuffling the deck?
After the major upheaval of ‘Liberation Day’, the dust has settled somewhat. The level and scope of the new US tariffs are now largely known, and advanced economies are continuing to show resilience. Despite significant fluctuations in trade in the first half of the year, global trade has been braodly unaffected so far. The combination of headwinds (US tariffs, uncertainty) and tailwinds (low oil prices, Fed rate cuts, European measures) explains the gradual nature of the slowdown (in the US) and the recovery (in the Eurozone). The Eurozone is doing relatively well: with growth expected to strengthen and inflation under control, it is escaping the stagflationary scenario seen in the US, the UK and Japan.
US tariffs rose sharply in two stages: first in April, then following the signing of multiple trade agreements this summer. The impact of the first stage of this tariff increase is well known: trade flows to the United States were severely disrupted. However, global trade remains dynamic, particularly in Asia (a structural phenomenon) and Europe (which should benefit from internal momentum with the rebound of the German economy). The restructuring of trade flows (already underway with the rise of China) could accelerate as different countries seek elsewhere the opportunities lost in the United States.
A series of six charts showing key economic indicators (GDP, inflation, unemployment, current account balance, budget balance, public debt ratio) and comparing the situations of the major advanced economies.
What is the impact of the new US tariffs on the customs duties imposed on each country's exports as a whole? Estimates of the "average effective external tariff" show that the shock remains relatively limited for the European Union and the United Kingdom. The framework agreement signed on 27 July between the EU and the US imposes a uniform tariff of 15%, incorporating pre-existing tariffs, and includes a most-favoured-nation (MFN) clause for certain strategic sectors (aeronautics, certain pharmaceutical and chemical products).
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a major technological upheaval with far-reaching economic implications. This economic literature review is both a practical exercise (it was written using generative artificial intelligence tools) and an analytical exercise, as it provides an update on the effects of this technology based on two complementary areas: productivity and growth, as well as employment and labour market dynamics.This literature review was written with the help of generative artificial intelligence tools, including OpenAI’s model on Azure and an internal BNP Paribas language model. The bibliographic references used for the review were independently selected and a detailed plan was drawn up to structure the content
