Consumer sentiment in the U.S. rebounded by less than previously estimates in the month of December, according to revised data released by the University of Michigan on Friday. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index for December was downwardly revised to 52.9 from a preliminary reading of 53.3. Economists had expected the index to be upwardly revised to 53.4.
Existing home sales in the U.S. saw a modest increase in the month of November, the National Association of Realtors revealed in a report released on Friday. NAR said existing home sales rose by 0.5 percent to an annual rate of 4.13 million in November after jumping by 1.5 percent to an upwardly revised rate of 4.10 million in October.
The declining trend in German producer prices deepened in November. Producer prices dropped 2.3 percent year-on-year in November, faster than the 1.8 percent fall in the prior month. Moreover, this was the quickest decline since April 2024, when prices decreased 3.3 percent. A 9.0 percent plunge in energy prices largely drove the decline amid cheaper costs for natural gas and electricity.
Russia's central bank cut its interest rate by 50 basis points on Friday but reiterated that it will maintain policy tight to bring inflation back to the target. The Board of Directors, led by Governor Elvira Nabiullina, decided to cut the key rate to 16.00 percent from 16.50 percent. The decision matched market expectations. The bank has lowered the interest rate by 400 basis points since Jun
France's producer prices increased for the first time in four months in November. Producer prices in the domestic market rose 1.1 percent on a monthly basis, following a flat change in October. Further, this was the fastest growth in one year. On a yearly basis, producer prices in the home market decreased at a faster pace of 3.3 percent in November versus a 0.8 percent decline in October.
Italy's current account surplus rose to EUR 3.5 billion in October from EUR 3.3 billion corresponding month last year. The capital account surplus rose to EUR 585 million in October from EUR 479 million. Data showed that the financial account surplus rose notably to EUR 11.3 billion from EUR 1.5 billion in October 2024.
The euro area current account surplus rose to a three-month high in October, figures from the European Central Bank showed on Friday. The current account surplus rose to EUR 25.7 billion in October from EUR 23.6 billion in September. The surplus hit the highest since July, when it was EUR 28.8 billion....
The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark rate by a quarter-point to the highest level in three decades as inflation continued to remain above the target and hinted at further hikes. The policy board, headed by Ueda Kazuo decided, by a unanimous vote, to hike the uncollateralized overnight call rate to "around 0.75 percent" from "around 0.5 percent."
Italy's consumer confidence showed some resilience at the end of the year, while composite business confidence improved further to the highest level in nearly two years. Consumer sentiment rose to 96.6 in December from 95.0 in the previous month. The composite business confidence index climbed to 96.5 in December from 96.1 in November, driven by the market services sector.
The UK budget deficit hit the lowest for the month of November in four years, the Office for National Statistics reported Friday. Public sector net borrowing decreased to GBP 11.7 billion in November from GBP 13.6 billion in the previous year. This was the lowest November borrowing since 2021. In...
UK retail sales dropped unexpectedly in November as the Black Friday effect was slightly weaker than usual, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Friday. Retail sales dropped marginally by 0.1 percent in November from a month ago. The decline confounded expectations for an increase of 0.3 percent but this was slower than October's 0.9 percent decrease.
German consumer confidence is set to drop at the start of the year 2026 as rising inflation fears weigh on income expectations and purchase decisions, monthly survey data published jointly by NIQ/GfK and the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions showed Friday. The forward-looking consumer confidence index fell to -26.9 in January from revised -23.4 in December.
Sweden's economic confidence improved for the sixth straight month in December to the highest level in nearly three-and-half years. The economic tendency index rose to 103.7 in December from 101.5 in the previous month. Moreover, this was the highest reading since July 2022. Manufacturing was the sector where the confidence indicator increased the most, rising to 103.8 from 100.8 in November.
Turkish consumers expressed a more pessimistic attitude in December. The consumer confidence index dropped to 83.5 in December from 85.0 in November. A reading below 100 indicates a pessimistic outlook. The index measuring the current financial situation dropped to 67.9 from 69.6 a month ago. Similarly, the outlook for the general economic situation weakened to 78.2 from 79.6 in the prior month.
Sweden's retail sales expanded in November after a slight fall in the previous month. Retail sales rose a seasonally and working-day adjusted 1.1 percent month-on-month in November, reversing a 0.2 percent decrease in October, which was the first fall in five months. Sales of durables grew 1.4 percent over the month, and those of consumables increased 0.7 percent.
December 19, 2025 15:10 ET U.S. inflation data and interest rate decisions by major central banks were the highlights of this busy week for economics news flow. Employment data and survey results on the housing markets also gained attention in the U.S. In Europe, the European Central Bank and Bank of England announced their policy decisions and macroeconomic projections.