Brazil Economic Outlook - 3Q18 - BBVA Research

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Brazil Economic Outlook - 3Q18 - BBVA Research
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 1

Brazil Economic
Outlook
3Q18
July 2018
Key messages

 Increased financial tensions in emerging markets,
 including Brazil, in line with the process of withdrawal of
 monetary stimuli in the United States and protectionist threats.
 At local level, tensions have been fueled by political uncertainty
 and the fiscal imbroglio. The relative strength of the Brazilian
 external accounts has prevented the situation from becoming
 even more difficult.

 Growth prospects deteriorate: the recovery process will be more gradual than previously
 expected. Financial volatility, the negative effects of exchange rate depreciation on inflation
 and thus on the ability of monetary policy to stimulate the economy, doubts about whether
 the next government will face fiscal problems and the consequences of the recent truckers’
 strike, among other factors, make it more likely that growth in 2018 and 2019 will be 1.6%
 and 2.4%, respectively, instead of 2.1% and 3.0% as previously expected.
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 _/ 3

Contents

01 Global environment: global growth continues,
     but risks are intensifying

02 Brazil: deterioration of the prospects for
     economic growth

03 Brazil: forecast table
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 _/ 4

                    01
               Global environment:
global growth continues, but risks are intensifying
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18   /5

Global growth continues, but risks are intensifying

01                                  02                                 03
The pace of global expansion is     Increased protectionism            Increase in the price of oil
being maintained, but is less       At the moment, its impact          Higher inflation and drag on
synchronized                        on growth is limited, but it       growth in oil-importing countries
Growth is robust in the US due      could be greater if the
to the fiscal stimulus and stable   measures under discussion
in China, but it has been reduced   were to be implemented
in Europe

04                                  05                                 06
Different pace of monetary          More volatility in emerging        Global risks are intensifying
normalization in Europe and         markets                            The possibility of a trade war
the United States                   Increased financial tensions due   comes together with greater
Strengthening of the dollar         to increased financing costs and   risks in emerging economies
and tightening of global            protectionist threats              and in Europe
financial conditions
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18   /6

 Robust global economy despite growing uncertainty

World GDP growth
(Forecasts based on BBVA-GAIN, % QoQ)
1.2
                                                                                                              Global growth continues,
                                                                                                              supported by private
                                                                                                              consumption and investment,
1.0                                                                                                           but with growing differences
                                                                                                              by region

0.8                                                                                                           World trade continues to show
                                                                                                              a positive trend, although it is
                                                                                                              losing momentum and still
0.6
                                                                                                              does not reflect
                                                                                                              the protectionist escalation
0.4
                                                                                                              Confidence indicators show
                   Dec-13

                                     Dec-14

                                                        Dec-15

                                                                          Dec-16

                                                                                            Dec-17
      Jun-13

                            Jun-14

                                               Jun-15

                                                                 Jun-16

                                                                                   Jun-17

                                                                                                     Jun-18
                                                                                                              some moderation, but remain
                                                                                                              at high levels
               CI 20%                         CI 40%                           CI 60%
               Point Estimates                Period average

Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18   /7

 Limited effect of approved tariff increases, but significant
 if those being discussed are implemented

Effect on GDP growth of US tariff increases
and the response by other countries
(2018-19, pp)
                                                                                                                   The tariff increases approved by
 0.00                                                                                                              the US would have a limited direct
                                                                                                                   impact. Indirect effects, via
-0.05
                                                                                                                   economic confidence and financial
-0.10                                                                                                              channel, could be felt in 2H18
-0.15
                                                                                                                   With a protectionist escalation,
-0.20                                                                                                              the negative effect on growth
-0.25                                                                                                              would also be significant in
                                                                                                                   the US
-0.30

-0.35                                                                                                              The effect, smaller in Europe,
                                                                                                                   would differ by country and would,
-0.40
                                                                                                                   above all, affect Germany and the
-0.45                                                                                                              countries in Eastern Europe
                       Current measures                             Measures under discussion

     World        US        China        Eurozone
                                                                                                                   The growth of global GDP could
                                                                                                                   be reduced by around 0.2 pp just
                                                                                                                   due to the trade channel

Measures announced: tariff increase to 25% on steel, 10% on aluminium and 25% on Chinese imports for a value
of US$50 billion.
Measures under discussion: Tariff increases up to 20% on cars and Chinese imports for a value of US$200 billion.
Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18   /8

 The rise in the price of oil will push inflation
 upwards and could weigh down growth

Upward revision of the price of oil and inflation
(%)
                                                                             The increase is due to a reduction
10                               3.0                                         in supply. The price will remain
                                                                             relatively stable in 2018 and 2019
 8                               2.5

                                 2.0
                                                                             Higher inflation in the euro zone,
 6                                                                           although below the target, while
                                 1.5                                         core inflation will increase
 4                                                                           gradually from very low levels
                                 1.0
 2                                                                           In the USA the impact will be
                                 0.5
                                                                             lower, but inflation will remain
 0                               0.0                                         above the target in 2018-19

-2                               -0.5                                        The exit strategy of the Fed and
          2018            2019           2018      2019      2018     2019   the ECB is reinforced
                  Brent                 Eurozone inflation    US inflation

     April 2018     July 2018

Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18    /9

 Fed and ECB return to conventional monetary
 policy each at a different pace

                           Assessment                      Interest rates
                                                                                                           3.25%
                                                                                             0.55%

                        Reduction of US$450    The pace of rate                       1.5%         2.00%

                        billion in 2018        hikes accelerates             0.75%

                                               in 2018
                                                                             2016    2017    2018      2019

                                                                                                      0.25%

                        Gradual ending of QE   Delay in rate hikes
                        between September      until September 2019           0%      0%      0%

                        and December 2018                                    2016    2017    2018      2019

Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18   / 10

 The strength of the US dollar and higher interest
 rates are causing an adjustment in emerging markets

EUR-USD exchange rate and BBVA index of
financial tensions in emerging markets
                                                                                                                 The most vulnerable countries are
                                                                                                          1.00
 2.0                                                                                                             those with the greatest trade
                                                                                                          1.05   deficit and the greatest need for
 1.5
 1.0
                                                                                                          1.10   external financing
                                                                                                          1.15
 0.5                                                                                                             Shift towards a tightening of
 0.0                                                                                                      1.20   monetary policy in emerging
-0.5                                                                                                      1.25   countries (except China) to avoid
                                                                                                                 further depreciation of their
-1.0                                                                                                      1.30
                                                                                                                 currencies
-1.5                                                                                                      1.35
-2.0                                                                                                      1.40
                                                                                                                 The increase in financial tensions
                                                                                                                 also reflects the intensification of
                Sep-13

                                  Sep-14

                                                    Sep-15

                                                                      Sep-16

                                                                                        Sep-17
       Mar-13

                         Mar-14

                                           Mar-15

                                                             Mar-16

                                                                               Mar-17

                                                                                                 Mar-18
                                                                                                                 trade disputes

          Financial stress in emerging markets
          EURUSD (RHS, inverted)

Source: BBVA Research based on Bloomberg
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18   / 11

 Protectionism and political factors lead
 to a growing risk aversion

Risk appetite/aversion indicator
                                                                                             Investor sentiment has shifted
 1.0
                                                                                             from a framework of risk-taking
                                                                                             (and even a certain complacency)
 0.5                                                                                         to one of risk aversion
                                                                   "Risk-on mood"
                                                                                             The change is causing a rotation
 0.0                                                                                         of flows between assets: from
                                                                                             emerging markets to developed
-0.5                                                                                         ones, and from equities to bonds
                                                   "Risk-off mood"                           Trade tensions could lead to an
-1.0                                                                                         environment of flight towards
                                                                                             quality
-1.5
                        Apr-17

                                          Oct-17

                                                                       Apr-18
                                 Jul-17

                                                                                    Jul-18
        Jan-17

                                                          Jan-18

       Average from 2014 (max and min)

Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18   / 12

 Stable growth in the US,
 but a slowdown in other areas

         USA

   2018     2019                           Eurozone
  2.8 2.8
                                           2018   2019
                                                                                            China
                                           2.0 1.7
                                                                                          2018   2019

                                                                                         6.3 6.0
               Mexico

           2018     2019

           2.6 2.0

                           South America
                                                           Turkey
                                                                                                        World
                            2018   2019
    Up                     0.9 2.1                       2018   2019
                                                                                                    2018   2019
    Unchanged                                            3.8 3.0                                  3.8 3.8
    Down

Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research - Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18   / 13

 Global risks: the main one is a trade war, but those
 associated with emerging economies and Europe are increasing

                                                        CHINA
                                                          High indebtedness: more contained but still high
                                                          Protectionism: upwards (retaliation) with possible impact on
                                                          domestic policies (financial stability, reforms)

                                     USA        CHINA   USA
                                                          Protectionism: upwards
                                           EZ             The Fed exit strategy: high.Aggressive rate hikes in the face of a
 Short-term probability

                                                          temporary increase in inflation
                                                          Signs of over-valuation of certain financial assets

                              EM
                                                        EUROZONE
                                                          Political uncertainty: on the upswing, led by Italy. Brexit: risk of a
                                                          rough departure
                                                          Protectionism: on the upside with a focus on the auto sector
                                                          Exit strategy by the ECB: on the downside (delay of rate hikes)
                          Severity

                                                        EMERGING ECONOMIES
                                                          Upward. Global risks and domestic vulnerabilities in some countries
                                                          are raising the risk of a systemic crisis

Sourcce: BBVA Research
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 _/ 14

        02 Brazil:
deterioration of the growth
prospects of the economy
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 15

Recent financial tensions helped put an end to the excessive
optimism of the markets with regard to Brazil

BBVA index of financial tensions                                                                                                                                                   Currency depreciation in emerging countries (*)
(average since Jan-06 = 0)                                                                                                                                                         (percentage change)
4,5                                                                                                                                                                                50

                                                                                                           News of recording in
3,5                                                                                                       which Temer allegedly                                                    40
                                Rousseff's                                                                   endorses bribes
                             impeachment                                                                                                                      Recent               30
2,5                               process                                                                                                                   turbulence

                                                                                                                                                                                   20
1,5

                                                                                                                                                                                   10
0,5

                                                                                                                                                                                     0
-0,5
                                                                                                                                                                                   -10

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Turkey

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Chile

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Peru
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Colombia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Mexico
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Brazil

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Russia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Poland

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Ukraine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Hungary

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               India

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Indonesia
                                                                                                                                                                                           Argentina

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Malaysia
-1,5
                                                                                                 Jul-16
                Apr-14
                         Jul-14

                                                    Apr-15
                                                             Jul-15

                                                                                        Apr-16

                                                                                                                            Apr-17
                                                                                                                                     Jul-17

                                                                                                                                                                Apr-18
                                                                                                                                                                         Jul-18
                                  Oct-14

                                                                      Oct-15

                                                                                                          Oct-16

                                                                                                                                              Oct-17
                                           Jan-15

                                                                                                                                                       Jan-18
       Jan-14

                                                                               Jan-16

                                                                                                                   Jan-17

           Brazil                          Emerging Economies                                                                                                                            Last three months                         Year-to-date

                                                                                                                                                                                   (*) A positive value indicates a depreciation of the local currency. Data up until 13 July.
Source: BBVA Research                                                                                                                                                              Source: Bloomberg

   Until a few months ago, the markets seemed to be                                                                                                                                Despite the interventions of the Central Bank (BCB), the
  ignoring the risks related to the increase in interest                                                                                                                            real has been among the currencies most affected by
     rates in developed countries as well as those                                                                                                                                 recent turbulence. The Sao Paulo Stock Exchange has
   associated with political and fiscal uncertainty in                                                                                                                            shrunk 9% and the country risk increased 19% (up to 298
                          Brazil.                                                                                                                                                                bps) in the last three months
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 16

Recent financial volatility: triggered by global factors,
fueled by local factors

Currency depreciation: weights of global and
local factors in the year-to-date
                                                 The increases in interest rates in
                                                 the United States and protectionism
                                                 threats were the main triggers of the
                                                 recent correction in financial assets
                                        10%      prices in emerging economies,
                                                 including the depreciation
                                                 of the exchange rate in Brazil

                                                 The exchange rate depreciation was
                                                 sharper in Brazil than in other regions.
                                                 Although the external indicators of
                                                 the Brazilian economy are relatively
                                                 positive, some local factors have
                                                 significantly contributed to weaken
                                                 the Brazilian real

                               90%               Among these local factors are:
                                                 •   increased political uncertainty
                                                 •   the fiscal imbroglio

   Global factors       Local factors

Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 17

Political uncertainty: the race for the presidency
is still fairly wide open

Presidential poll
(conducted between 21-24 June 2018)
                                                                                                      There are still many candidates with
35
                                                                                                      possibilities of winning the presidential
                                                                                                      elections in October
30
                                                                                                      The biggest favourite would probably be
25                                                                                                    Lula, who for judicial reasons is unlikely
                                                                                                      to be able to run as a candidate
20                                                                                                    Polls show that the proportion of blank
                                                                                                      and spoiled ballot papers could be
15                                                                                                    exceptionally high

                                                                                                      This, as well as the historically low
10
                                                                                                      approval of the current government,
                                                                                                      is reinforcing the perception of social
 5                                                                                                    weariness and repudiation of the
                                                                                                      political class
 0
                                                             Others *
          J. Bolsonaro

                         Marina S.

                                     C. Gomes

                                                                                          Undecided
                                                G. Alckmin

                                                                        Blank / spoiled

                                                                                            voters

* Sum of the candidates with less than 5% of voting intention.
Source: CNI/IBOPE
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 18

   Political uncertainty fuels doubts about whether the structural deterioration
   of public accounts will be reversed in the coming years

   Primary expenses and revenues                                (*)   Breakdown of primary expenses (*)
   (% of GDP)                                                         (% of total expenses)
   21                                                                 100
                                                                      90                                    22                    20
   20                                                                                28
                                                                      80
   19                                                                 70                                    12                    14
                                                                                      6
                                                                      60
   18                                                                                                                             22
                                                                                                            26
                                                                      50             30
   17                                                                 40
                                                                      30
   16
                                                                      20                                    40                    44
                                                                                     35
   15                                                                 10

   14                                                                   0
                                                                                    1997                   2007                  2017
   13                                                                   Discretionary expenses
         1997
         1998
         1999
         2000
         2001
         2002
         2003
         2004
         2005
         2006
         2007
         2008
         2009
         2010
         2011
         2012
         2013
         2014
         2015
         2016
         2017

                                                                        Non-discretionary expenses: others
                                                                        Non-discretionary expenses: wages
          Primary expenses             Primary revenue                  Non-discretionary expenses: social security

   (*) Primary expenses and income of the federal government.         (*) Federal government expenses.
   Source: IPEADATA, BBVA Research                                    Source: IPEADATA, BBVA Research

   The tax increases and controls on spending (including the                   Public expenditure remains high, largely due to
  introduction of a ceiling on its growth) announced in recent                   the increase in the expenses in which the
years have been insufficient to reverse the negative fiscal trends.              government has no discretionary power to
 Public debt, for example, continues to rise (77% of GDP in May)              reduce, as is the case of social security expenses
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 19

How to deal with the fiscal imbroglio? There are no easy solutions...

01                                                                02
By increasing taxation?                                           By reducing public spending?
The level of taxation in Brazil is already excessively high.      Taking into account the high level of public spending, it may
Raising taxes is a politically costly option that, in addition,   be the best alternative in economic terms. In any case, the
would damage the competitiveness of the private sector.           margin to cut costs without a reform of social security or a
A privatization programme could be an alternative, but            reform to reduce the proportion of non-discretionary spending
would have a high political cost and a relatively limited         is very low. These reforms require a government with a high
fiscal impact. Another option would be to reduce the fiscal       level of political capital: both Dilma Rousseff and Michel
benefits granted to specific sectors of the economy               Temer tried unsuccessfully to adopt measures in this
                                                                  direction...

03                                                                04
By increasing economic                                            By yielding to the temptation to increase
growth?                                                           inflation to facilitate payment of the debt?
A significant increase in growth would increase                   Without an independent management of monetary policy by
the collection of taxes and improve the public accounts, as       the central bank, there could be a temptation to increase
was observed between 2004 and 2013. However, an                   inflation to facilitate the payment of non-indexed public debt.
expansion stimulated by external factors now seems                It would be a dangerous alternative, with potentially very
unlikely given the moderation of the Chinese economy and          negative results, as shown by Brazil’s economic history...
of commodity markets. An expansion based on internal
factors is difficult if reforms that increase productivity are
not made and if the fiscal imbroglio is not faced
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 20

Measures to improve the fiscal situation are expected from 2019,
but an ambitious reform of social security seems less likely

Fiscal balance (*)
(% of GDP)
                                                                                                 Given the political uncertainty, it is
 0
                                                                                                 difficult to foresee how the fiscal
                                                                                                 problem will be faced in the future
 -2
                                                                                                 The next government is likely to
                                                                                                 announce measures to increase taxes
 -4                                                                                              and reduce spending to calm the
                                                                                                 markets and to meet fiscal objectives,
                                                                                                 which could even be relaxed
 -6
                                                                                                 An ambitious reform of social security is
                                                                                                 less likely
 -8
                                                                                                 So is a scenario of fiscal inaction, given
                                                                                                 its high economic cost (increase in
-10                                                                                              financing costs and inflation, a more
                                                                                                 depreciated exchange rate, lower GDP
-12
                                                                                                 growth, etc.)
                                          2018 (f)

                                                     2019 (f)

                                                                2020 (f)

                                                                           2021 (f)

                                                                                      2022 (f)
       2014

               2015

                         2016

                                2017

  Primary result      Interest payments        Total fiscal result
(*) (f) = forecasts.
Source: BCB, BBVA Research
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 21

Having the external accounts under control has prevented
recent volatility from becoming even more marked

External indicators for selected
emerging economies
(Current account balance and reserves / external debt ratio)                                          While political uncertainty and
                                                                                                      fiscal problems contributed to recent
        +                   0,80
                                                                                                      financial tensions, the relatively good
                                                     India
                                                                                 Russia               state of the external accounts prevented
                            0,70                                                                      an even more difficult scenario

                            0,60                                                                      Brazil has US$382 billion in international
                                                                   Brazil
                                                                                                      reserves, equivalent to 19% of GDP or
 Reserves / external debt

                            0,50                                                                      350% of short-term external debt
                                                                                    Malaysia

                                                                                                      The current account deficit is currently
          ratio

                                                                Peru
                            0,40
                                       Colombia    Mexico                                             low (0.6% of GDP), lower than direct
                                                                                                      foreign investment in the country (3.1%
                            0,30                    Indonesia          Poland
                                     Argentina                                                        in May)

                            0,20
                                                     Chile
                                                                                    Hungary           We expect the external deficit to remain
                                   Turkey
                                                  Ukraine                                             at low levels (0.3% of GDP in 2018 and
                            0,10
                                                                                                      1.4% of GDP in 2019), in line with a
                                                                                                      depreciated exchange rate and weak
                                                                                                      domestic demand
-

                            0,00
                                -6,0 -5,0 -4,0 -3,0 -2,0 -1,0 0,0          1,0    2,0     3,0   4,0
                                                  Current account
                               -                    (% of GDP)                                  +
Source: : BBVA Research, BIS, IIF, IMF, World Bank, National sources
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 22

The exchange rate will remain at more depreciated levels
than those observed up until a few months ago

Exchange rate
(Real / US dollar)
                                                                       The depreciation of the real has
3.7
                                                                       been stronger than we expected,
                                                                       despite the fact that the central bank
                                                                       has intervened heavily through the
3.6
                                                                       sale of f exchange rate swaps.

                                                                       There is little margin for the real,
3.5                                                                    which is at around 3.85 per US
                                                                       dollar, to appreciate in the short term.
                                                                       Volatility will remain high at least until
3.4                                                                    the October presidential elections

                                                                       The reduction of uncertainty after the
3.3                                                                    elections and the possible positive
                                                                       signals of the new government on
                                                                       the fiscal issue should allow some
3.2                                                                    appreciation of the exchange rate
                                                                       from the end of the year on

3.1
             2016             2017           2018 (f)       2019 (f)

      Current forecasts   Previous forecasts (April 2018)

Source: : BBVA Research
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 23

The exchange depreciation will generate greater
inflationary pressures

Effect on the inflation rate of a 10%                       Degree of pass-through over the last years                                                                                                                         (*)

depreciation of the exchange rate                           (in %)
(cumulative effect, in basis points)
0.6                                                          4.0

                                                             3.8
0.5

                                                             3.6
0.4
                                                             3.4
0.3
                                                             3.2

0.2
                                                             3.0

0.1                                                          2.8

                                                             2.6
0.0

                                                                                     Sep-12

                                                                                                                Sep-13

                                                                                                                                           Sep-14

                                                                                                                                                                      Sep-15

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Sep-16

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sep-17
                                                                            May-12

                                                                                                       May-13

                                                                                                                                  May-14

                                                                                                                                                             May-15

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   May-17
                                                                                                                                                                                        May-16
                                                                   Jan-12

                                                                                              Jan-13

                                                                                                                         Jan-14

                                                                                                                                                    Jan-15

                                                                                                                                                                               Jan-16

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jan-17

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Jan-18
        Q1       Q2     Q3    Q4        Q5   Q6   Q7   Q8
                             quarters
                                                            (*) Coefficient associated with external prices / exchange rate obtained from the
                                                            estimation of a Phillips Curve for Brazil
Source: BBVA Research                                       Source: BBVA Research

Our estimates suggest that in the current environment a                     They also show that the degree of pass-through in
     10% depreciation in the exchange rate has an                             Brazil is currently lower than 2 or 3 years ago,
     accumulated effect on inflation of almost 0.6                          although higher than in the previous period (from
        percentage points in a 12-month period                                               2012 to mid-2015)
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 24

Inflation on the upside

Inflation: IPCA
(in %, end of period)
                                                                     Inflation, which remained below 3.0%
7
                                                                     between January and May, reached
                                                                     4.4% in June, largely due to the
6                                                                    shortages caused by the truckers’ strike

                                                                     Taking this into account, as well as the
5                                                                    heavy depreciation of the exchange rate
                                                                     and the higher price of oil, among other
                                                                     factors, we have adjusted our inflation
4
                                                                     forecasts upwards, from 3.7% to 4.5%
                                                                     in 2018 and from 4.5% to 4.7% in 2019
3

2

1

0
          2016             2017            2018 (f)       2019 (f)

    Current forecasts   Previous forecasts (April 2018)

Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 25

Less expansionary monetary policy

Interest rates: SELIC
(in %, end of period)
                                                                     The exchange rate depreciation has
16
                                                                     caused the BCB to keep interest rates at
                                                                     6.50% instead of cutting them by 25 bps
14                                                                   in June

                                                                     They will most likely remain at 6.50%
12
                                                                     until the beginning of 2019, when
                                                                     inflationary pressures will force the BCB
10
                                                                     to start a monetary tightening cycle
                                                                     (earlier and more aggressive than
 8                                                                   previously expected)

                                                                     Guaranteeing the independence of the
 6
                                                                     BCB in the coming years will be
                                                                     fundamental: the level of debt and the
 4
                                                                     spending ceiling rule create certain
                                                                     incentives to increase inflation in an
 2                                                                   environment in which inflation targets are
                                                                     being cut (4.25% in 2019, 4.0% in 2020
 0                                                                   and 3.75% in 2021)
           2016              2017           2018 (f)      2019 (f)

  Current forecasts     Previous forecasts (April 2018)

Source: BBVA Research
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 26

The recent truckers’ strike has also had negative effects on
the economic environment...

Indicators of economic activity (*)
(change in %)
   0,0                                                                                            The truck drivers’ strike, caused by
                                                                                                  factors such as the increase in the
  -2,0                                                                                            price of fuel and supported by a large
                                                                                                  part of the population, generated a
  -4,0                                                                                            situation of shortages in the last days
                                                                                                  of May
  -6,0
                                                                                                  The situation caused a strong upswing
  -8,0                                                                                            in prices and a significant reduction in
                                                                                                  economic activity, which could be
-10,0                                                                                             reversed in the coming months to
                                                                                                  some extent
-12,0
                                                                                                  It is also possible that the episode
-14,0
                                                                                                  could negatively affect confidence
                                                                                                  during a more prolonged period,
-16,0
                                                                                                  hindering the recovery of the economy

-18,0
              Industrial         Retail sales          Consumer              Business
             production                                confidence           confidence
   Change in the last month            Change in the last three months
(*) Last month available: May, in the cases of industrial production and retail sales; June, in
the case of confidence indicators. Retail sales: broad indicator.
Source: IBGE, CNI and FGV
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 27

...there is, therefore, a series of factors contributing
to a deterioration of growth expectations in Brazil

        01                                    02
        Less                               Probable                                                   03
                                          slowdown                                             Lower growth
     favourable
                                             of the                                            than expected
       global
                                          Argentinian                                             in 1Q18
    environment
                                           economy

                                                                   05
                        04                                        Lower
                      Increased                                 probability
                       political                                 of fiscal
                     uncertainty                               reforms and
                                                               adjustments

        06                                                                                            09
      Greater                                                                                     Effects of
     financial                                                                                  the truckers’
     volatility                                                                                     strike

                                   07                       08
                               Higher                       Less
                              inflation                 expansionary
                                                          monetary
                                                           policy
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 28

  We have revised the growth forecasts for Brazil downwards;
  the recovery will be slower than previously expected

                                                                            3.0     %

                                  2.1   %
                                                                            (before)
                                                                                                       2.4      %
                                                                                                         (now)
                                  (before)            1.6    %
                                                        (now)
         1.0   %

         2017                                2018                                         2019

Despite the reduced optimism, the recovery of growth must continue,   Likewise, growth could slow if there is no
supported by relatively solid global demand, the performance of the     progress in resolving fiscal problems,
 agricultural sector, the expansive tone of monetary policy and the   mainly in the case of a further increase in
              adjustments made in previous years, etc.                           global risk aversion
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 29

The recovery of private consumption and investment will be
gradual, exports will continue to contribute positively

Growth of GDP and its components(*)
(%)

7,5

5,0

2,5

0,0

-2,5
                GDP                 Investment   Private consumption   Public consumption        Exports                 Imports

       2017   2018 (f)   2019 (f)

(*) (f) Forecasts.
Source: BBVA Research

  We have revised downwards our forecasts for                 Although we expect a lower contribution of domestic demand to
  private consumption and investments, in line                growth, the outlook for external demand is more favorable, due
  with the deterioration of the macroeconomic                  to the effects of greater depreciation of the exchange rate and
            picture in recent months                                 the lower pressure of domestic demand on imports
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 _/ 30

 03Brazil:
Forecast table
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 31

Forecasts for Brazil

                                           2016    2017              2018 (f)              2019 (f)

 GDP                                        -3,5    1.0                   1.6                   2.4

     Private consumption (%)                -4.3    0.9                   1.7                   1.8

     Public consumption (%)                 -0.1    -0.6                  -0.6                  -0.5

     Investment in fixed capital (%)       -10.3    -1.9                  2.9                   5.0

     Exports (%)                             1.9    5.7                   5.5                   6.8

     Imports (%)                           -10.2    5.5                   4.8                   4.2

 Unemployment rate (average)                11.3   12.7                  12.3                  11.0

 Inflation (end of period, YoY %)            6.3    2.9                   4.5                   4.7

 SELIC rate (end of period, YoY %)         13.75   7.00                  6.50                  10.0

 Exchange rate (end of period)              3.35   3.30                  3.65                  3.60

 Current account (% of GDP)                 -1.3    -0.5                  -0.3                  -1.4

 Public sector fiscal balance (% of GDP)    -9.0    -7.8                  -7.8                  -5.8

(f) Forecast
BBVA Research – Brazil Economic Outlook 3Q18 / 32

This report has been produced by the Latin America Unit
Head Economist, Latin America
Juan Manuel Ruiz
juan.ruiz@bbva.com

  Enestor Dos Santos                                            Cecilia Posadas
  enestor.dossantos@bbva.com                                    c.posadas@bbva.com

With the collaboration of:
  Global Macroeconomic Scenarios
  Miguel Jiménez
  mjimenezg@bbva.com

BBVA Research
Jorge Sicilia Serrano

  Macroeconomic Analysis                                                    Financial Systems and Regulation                                          Spain and Portugal                                                        South America
  Rafael Doménech                                                           Santiago Fernández de Lis                                                 Miguel Cardoso                                                            Juan Manuel Ruiz
  r.domenech@bbva.com                                                       sfernandezdelis@bbva.com                                                  miguel.cardoso@bbva.com                                                   juan.ruiz@bbva.com
     Digital Economy                                                           Digital Regulation and Trends                                          United States                                                               Argentina
     Alejandro Neut                                                            Álvaro Martín                                                          Nathaniel Karp                                                              Gloria Sorensen
     robertoalejandro.neut@bbva.com                                            alvaro.martin@bbva.com                                                 Nathaniel.karp@bbva.com                                                     gsorensen@bbva.com
     Global Macroeconomic Scenarios                                            Regulation                                                             Mexico                                                                      Colombia
     Miguel Jiménez                                                            Ana Rubio                                                              Carlos Serrano                                                              Juana Téllez
     mjimenezg@bbva.com                                                        arubiog@bbva.com                                                       carlos.serranoh@bbva.com                                                    juana.tellez@bbva.com
     Global Financial Markets                                                  Financial Systems                                                      Turkey, China and Big Data                                                  Economic Outlook
     Sonsoles Castillo                                                         Olga Cerqueira                                                         Álvaro Ortiz                                                                Hugo Perea
     s.castillo@bbva.com                                                       olga.gouveia@bbva.com                                                  alvaro.ortiz@bbva.com                                                       hperea@bbva.com
     Long-Term Global Modelling and Analysis                                                                                                          Turkey                                                                      Venezuela
     Julián Cubero                                                                                                                                    Álvaro Ortiz                                                                Julio Pineda
     juan.cubero@bbva.com                                                                                                                             alvaro.ortiz@bbva.com                                                       juliocesar.pineda@bbva.com
  Innovation and Processes                                                                                                                            Asia
  Oscar de las Peñas                                                                                                                                  Le Xia
  oscar.delaspena@bbva.com                                                                                                                            Le.xia@bbva.com

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