Spain's foreign trade deficit decreased somewhat in February from a year ago, as imports fell faster than exports. The trade deficit dropped to EUR 3.3 billion in February from EUR 3.4 billion in the corresponding month last year. In January, there was a shortfall of EUR 4.0 billion. Exports logged an annual fall of 0.8 percent, and imports were 1.1 percent lower.
Switzerland's foreign trade surplus decreased at the end of the first quarter as exports fell amid an increase in imports. The trade balance registered a surplus of CHF 2.7 billion in March, down from CHF 4.3 billion in February. In real terms, exports fell 3.4 percent monthly in March, while imports climbed by 3.1 percent. Imports of chemical and pharmaceutical products alone surged 10.0 percent.
The UK unemployment rate dropped and wage growth eased in the three months to February. The jobless rate stood at 4.9 percent in the December to February period, down from 5.2 percent in the previous three-month period. The annual growth in employees' average earnings, excluding bonuses, eased to 3.8 percent from 4.1 percent. Including bonuses, the yearly growth also softened to 3.6 percent.
New Zealand will on Tuesday release Q1 numbers for consumer prices, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In the previous three months, inflation was up 0.6 percent on quarter and 3.1 percent on year. Taiwan will see March data for export orders; in February, export orders...
Luxembourg's unemployment rate held steady for the second straight month in March. The seasonally adjusted jobless rate came in at 6.3 percent in March, the same as in the previous two months. In the corresponding month last year, the rate was 5.9 percent. The number of unemployed people was 20,381 compared to 20,193 in the previous month.
Portugal's producer prices stalled in March, ending the 14-month sequence of decline amid energy price fluctuations. The producer price index remained unchanged in March, following a 3.5 percent decrease in the previous month. The annual decline in energy prices eased significantly from 18.8 percent to 0.6 percent due to the impact of the Middle East war, which pushed up oil prices.
Italy's construction output expanded for the first time in four months in February. Construction production advanced 0.5 percent month-on-month in February, reversing a 1.1 percent decrease in the previous month. The annual outcome was also a rebound of 1.4 percent versus a 0.4 percent renewed fall in January.
Eurozone construction production contracted for the second straight month in February. Construction output dropped 0.2 percent monthly in February, slower than the 1.3 percent decrease in January. The overall downturn was due to a 0.3 percent fall in specialized construction activities. On an annual basis, the decline in construction output eased to 1.9 percent from 4.1 percent.
Czech Republic's industrial producer prices declined at a slower pace in March. The industrial producer price index decreased 1.1 percent yearly as expected in March, following a 2.9 percent drop in February. Prices have been falling since February 2025. Among sectors, mining and quarrying prices rebounded 0.4 percent after falling 1.5 percent in February.
The Malaysian foreign trade surplus decreased somewhat in March from a year ago as imports grew faster than exports. The trade surplus dropped to MYR 24.5 billion in March from MYR 24.8 billion in the same month last year. Exports climbed 8.3 percent year-on-year in March, and imports logged a double-digit growth of 10.4 percent.
Germany's producer prices declined at the slowest pace in a year in March amid energy price fluctuations caused by the war in the Middle East. Producer prices logged an annual fall of 0.2 percent in March, following a 3.3 percent decrease seen in February. On a monthly basis, producer prices showed a renewed increase of 2.5 percent versus a 0.5 percent decline in February.
Japan's tertiary activity index decreased in February after recovering in the previous month. The seasonally adjusted tertiary activity index fell 0.4 percent on a monthly basis, reversing a 2.0 percent increase in January, which was the first increase in three months. Retail trade, wholesale trade, utilities, transport and postal activities, and business-related services saw declines.
New Zealand posted a seasonally adjusted merchandise trade surplus of NZ$698 million in March, Statistics New Zealand said on Monday. That beat expectations for a trade surplus of NZ$175 million following the downwardly revised NZ$365 deficit in February (originally -NZ$257 million). Exports rose...
New Zealand will on Monday release March figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In February, imports were worth NZ#6.89 billion and exports were at NZ$6.63 billion for a trade deficit of NZ$257 million. Malaysia will provide...
Eurozone exports decreased for the second straight month in February, data from Eurostat showed Friday. Exports decreased 6.7 percent year-on-year in February, slower than the 7.7 percent fall in January. Likewise, imports dropped 2.2 percent from a year ago, following a 7.8 percent decrease in...
April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.