- Pound (GBP) is falling after two days of gains
- Kantar showed UK grocery inflation rose 4.1% in May
- Euro (EUR) rises despite German unemployment numbers rising
- French consumer spending rose 0.3%
The Pound-Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate is falling after two days of gains. The pair rose by 0.08% in the previous session, settling on Tuesday at €1.1920. It traded between €1.1903 and €1.1947. At 09:30, GBP/EUR trades -0.1% at €1.1909.
The pound is edging lower against the euro and the US dollar after recent gains; however, in light of recent data the downside movement could be limited.
Figures today from Kantar showed that UK grocery inflation jumped 4.1% for the four weeks to May 18, marking its highest level since February last year. The data shows that consumers who are already facing higher household bills are coming under additional pressure.
Data last week showed that UK inflation was hotter than expected at 3.5%, while UK retail sales were also stronger than expected, at 1.2% month over month.
The data suggests that the Bank of England will be in no rush to cut interest rates further until the day to start to show the disinflation process progress again.
The EUR is rising despite dull Eurozone data, which strengthens the case for further ECB monetary policy easing.
Unemployment data from Germany showed the jobless rate remained at 6.3%, but unemployment rose by 34,000, well above the 11,000 expected by economists. These figures came after yesterday’s weak GfK consumer confidence index confirmed that the eurozone’s largest economy remains stagnant at best.
In France, consumer spending rose by 0.3% in April, up from a 1.1% decline in March but still below the expected 0.8% increase.
Q1 GDP confirmed 0.1% growth in line with the preliminary reading whilst payrolls decreased against expectations.
Meanwhile, eurozone data support comments by ECB policymakers that have pointed to further monetary easing ahead. Expectations are for another rate cut at June’s meeting, which could limit the euro’s upside.
