“In God we trust, all others bring data.” That economics-themed variation on a famous US dollar bill-linked aphorism is as well known in some circles as the original. And while the past month has seen a parade of talking heads flooding cable business news channels with predictions, wiser heads turn to analysts with their noses buried firmly in the numbers for signs of what the new year will bring.

With global growth broadly expected to remain firm, if unspectacular — though there were a few jitters among economists over central banks withdrawing stimulus — let us examine where some of the top research shops in finance see the pitfalls and potential to come.