Italy's consumer confidence decreased for the second straight month in April to the lowest level in more than three years. Consumer sentiment dropped to 90.8 in April from 92.6 in the previous month. A score below 100 indicates a pessimistic outlook. The composite business confidence indicator worsened to a 6-month low of 95.2 in April from 97.3 a month ago.
Spain's harmonized inflation accelerated in April due to higher energy prices amid the Iran war, flash data from the statistical office INE revealed Wednesday. The harmonized index of consumer prices posted an annual increase of 3.5 percent, which was faster than the 3.4 percent rise seen in March....
Norway's retail sales decreased for the second straight month in March, though marginally. The volume of retail dropped a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent month-on-month in March, slower than the 1.1 percent decrease in February. The overall decrease was mainly driven by 8.8 percent lower sales in automotive fuel.
Estonia's retail sales growth rebounded at the end of the first quarter. The volume of retail sales climbed 6.9 percent annually in March, faster than the 4.8 percent increase in February. In January, sales growth was 8.2 percent. Retail sales of non-food products surged 10.1 percent from last year, and those of automotive fuel in specialized stores were 14.8 percent higher.
Sweden's economy contracted unexpectedly in the first quarter of 2026. Gross domestic product fell 0.2 percent sequentially in the first quarter, reversing a 0.5 percent rise in the fourth quarter. Further, this was the first decline since the second quarter of 2025. Retail sales grew at a faster pace of 6.2 percent annually in March, after a 2.2 percent gain in February.
Flash inflation from Germany and economic sentiment from the euro area are the top economic news due on Wednesday. At 3.00 am ET, Spain's statistical office INE publishes flash inflation data for April. Consumer price inflation is forecast to edge up to 3.5 percent from 3.4 percent in March.
Australia's consumer prices inflation accelerated at the fastest pace since 2023, driven by increases in housing and transport costs, data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Wednesday. Consumer prices increased 4.6 percent on a yearly basis in March, marking the strongest inflation since September 2023.
Australia will on Wednesday release Q1 figures 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 3.6 percent on year, while the trimmed mean was up 0.9 percent on quarter and 3.4 percent on year...
Euro area consumers' inflation expectations for the one year ahead and those for the three-year horizon surged in March as crude oil price continue to rise due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, results of a monthly survey by the European Central Bank showed on Tuesday.
The Treasury Department finished off this week's series of announcements of the results of its long-term securities auctions on Tuesday, revealing this month's auction of $44 billion worth of seven-year notes attracted average demand. The seven-year note auction drew a high yield of 4.175 percent...
Despite spiking gasoline prices, the Conference Board released a report on Tuesday showing an unexpected improvement in U.S. consumer confidence in the month of April. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index crept up to 92.8 in April from an upwardly revised 92.2 in March.
India's industrial output growth moderated less than expected in March to the lowest level in four months. Industrial production advanced 4.1 percent year-over-year in March, following a downwardly revised 5.1 percent expansion in February. The annual growth in manufacturing output softened to 4.3 percent from 5.9 percent, and electricity production rose at a weaker pace of 0.8 percent.
Austria's factory growth moderated in April amid renewed contractions in output and new orders due to the growing impact of the Middle East War on prices and supply chain conditions. The UniCredit Bank Austria Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index dropped to 51.2 in April from 52.4 in March. Both output and new orders decreased for the first time in three months.
Eurozone banks plan to tighten credit standards in the second quarter amid geopolitical tensions, energy developments and higher funding costs, the Bank Lending Survey results from the European Central Bank showed Tuesday. Loan approval criteria for enterprises, households for house purchases and...
UK shop price inflation softened in April, driven primarily by increased discounting across clothing, furniture and DIY goods, the British Retail Consortium reported Tuesday. The shop price index rose 1.0 percent in April from a year ago, following March's 1.2 percent increase. Non-food prices...
April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.