GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

The current account surplus in Q421 increased to 6.6bn USD up from 4.9bn in Q321. In all of 2021, the surplus reached 22.5bn (similar to 2020) or 4.7% of GDP. In Q421 the service account surplus continued to expand on strong hi-tech exports by 1.2bn while the trade deficit remained stable. Net FD...

The fallout from a faraway war

PHILIPPINES · In Brief · 10 Mar 2022

Below updates are intended to give readers a better sense of how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is affecting the local economy. Gas stations carried out this week their heftiest price increase so far this year, bringing gasoline prices about 20% above December 2021 levels. The upward adjustments wi...

Russia’s inflation accelerates in February and early March, higher numbers yet to come

RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 09 Mar 2022

Rosstat reported that the m-o-m inflation in February reached 1.17%, which brought the y-o-y and YTD inflation to 9.15% and 2.17%. In seven days ending March 4, inflation w-o-w was reported at 2.22%, and the MTD inflation reached 1.26% as Rosstat split the w-o-w inflation between the two months. ...

February inflation and budget deficit both look bad... but could have been much worse indeed

HUNGARY · In Brief · 09 Mar 2022

CPI-inflation rose further to 8.3% yoy in February from 7.9% yoy in the previous month. Prices rose by 1.1% in February alone. High inflation is pretty much broad-based now, with 69% of the consumer basket with at least 5% yoy increases. Core inflation was also up, to 8.1% yoy from January's 7.4%...

Russia bans large scale currency transactions

CIS POLITICS · In Brief · 09 Mar 2022

On March 8 Russia banned foreign currency sales. This is an attempt to hold up the value of the currency. This law will last until September 9 2022 and then be reviewed. Those with any foreign currency accounts can withdraw USD 10 000 and only in USD not other currencies.The official rate is 120 ...

Political poll summary for the 2022 elections

COLOMBIA · Report · 09 Mar 2022

In this slide presentation, we report on the most recent polling data in anticipation of the upcoming March 13 and May 29 elections in Colombia. This data includes vote intentions for political coalitions in the March 13 elections, vote intentions for presidential candidates in the May 29 electio...

The 14th day of war: “green corridor” for civilians amid counterattack prospects

UKRAINE · In Brief · 09 Mar 2022

“Russian army is not strong, it’s just long” – it’s a popular joke in nowadays perfectly depicting what is going on at the frontline. Every time Russians approach positions of Ukrainian forces – they are destroyed and then Ukrainian soldiers sit patiently awaiting new portions of Russians coming....

The fuel issue remains the main matter on the agenda, the STF will judge the PDT’s case on the Clean Record Law, and a new presidential poll will be published today

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 09 Mar 2022

Between the two bills on the fuel issue, PLP 11 has more support in the Senate than PL 1472. The governors, as well as the rapporteur, Senator Jean Paul Prates, support the bill that deals with the price stabilization fund — PL 1472. President Bolsonaro will meet with Ciro Nogueira, Paulo Guedes,...

What is Maduro's bet?

VENEZUELA · Report · 09 Mar 2022

As soon as the invasion of Ukraine began, Maduro proclaimed his allegiance to Russia with extreme subservience, contrary to the overwhelming majority of nations that repudiated it or at least avoided condemning it, such as Cuba, Nicaragua, and other Russian partners. In the immediate term, ris...

Armenia benefits from Russian businesses relocating there

CIS POLITICS · In Brief · 09 Mar 2022

Stringent Western sanctions are causing Russian businesses to move to the Caucasian former Soviet republic. Most people in Armenia can speak fluent Russian and the country is very friendly with Moscow. Russians have visa free entry to Armenia. Armenia is also a transit country for flying to the E...

The South African economy rebounded strongly in 2021

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 08 Mar 2022

Real GDP figures released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) today indicate that South Africa’s economy grew positively in the final quarter of 2021 following its contraction during the third quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2021, real GDP recorded a growth rate of 1.2% q/q, an indication...

Zelensky open to compromise

CIS POLITICS · In Brief · 08 Mar 2022 · 2 responses

The Ukrainian President said he is prepared to consider recognizing Crimea as Russian and independence for the Luhansk and Donetsk Republics, he said on March 7. However, he rejected ultimatums. Moscow said it would instantly end the war if Ukraine agreed to its demands. This includes neutrality ...

The fuel issue remains on the agenda, Bolsonaro announces a new program aimed at helping women, and a demonstration is being called against the government’s environmental policies

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 08 Mar 2022

At 3 p.m., a meeting has been scheduled between Ciro Nogueira, Paulo Guedes, Bento Albuquerque, Roberto Campos Neto, and Joaquim Silva e Luna to discuss the fuel issue. The political wing of the government is concerned that the increase in the price of oil due to the war in Ukraine will be passed...

Russia’s pandemic/political update: The point of no return is reached

RUSSIA ECONOMICS · Report · 08 Mar 2022

It looks as though the pandemic has become less of an issue as Russia’s daily COVID-19 incidence rate fell to below 70K on March 8 from around 200K a month before. People almost stopped getting vaccinated, and the relative unimportance of pandemic-related issues became even more vivid for ordinar...

The MNB will need more robust action, the government is doing what it can

HUNGARY · In Brief · 07 Mar 2022

With the forint at EURHUF 395-400 today and down by 10% since the start of the war, it looks like the MNB will have to intensify tightening efforts this week. Unless the ECB provides extra help to the MNB to protect the forint, which may be wishful thinking on our part, the sterilisation rate wil...