Producer prices in South Korea were up 1.6 percent on month in March, the Bank of Korea said on Wednesday - accelerating sharply from 0.6 percent in February. Individually, prices for agricultural, forestry and marine products tumbled 3.3 percent on month, while manufacturing products spiked 3.5 percent,...
Japan will on Wednesday release March figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Imports are expected to rise 7.1 percent on year, easing from 10.3 percent in February. Exports are called higher by an annual 11.0 percent, up from 4.0...
A report released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday showed business inventories in the U.S. increased by more than expected in the month of February. The Commerce Department said business inventories climbed by 0.4 percent in February following a revised unchanged reading in January.
Pending home sales in the U.S. increased by much more than expected in the month of March, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on Tuesday. NAR said its pending home sales index jumped by 1.5 percent to 73.7 in March after surging by 2.5 percent to an upwardly revised 72.6 in February.
Slovenia's producer price inflation moderated in March to the lowest level in six months. Industrial producer prices climbed 0.9 percent year-on-year in March, slower than the 1.5 percent increase in February. Prices have been rising since February 2025. Electricity prices were 3.4 percent cheaper, while mining and quarrying prices surged 10.2 percent
The Commerce Department released a report on Tuesday showing retail sales in the U.S. surged by more than expected in the month of March. The report said retail sales shot up by 1.7 percent in March after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in February.
The Commerce Department released a report on Tuesday showing retail sales in the U.S. surged by more than expected in the month of March. The report said retail sales shot up by 1.7 percent in March after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in February. Economists had expected retail sales...
Taiwan's export orders grew at the quickest pace in over sixteen years in March amid strong AI demand. Export orders surged 65.9 percent year-over-year in March, much faster than the 23.8 percent rise in February. Orders for information and communication products grew 120.9 percent from last year, primarily driven by strong demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing services.
Poland's industrial production expanded at the strongest pace in three-and-a-half years in March, while the declining trend in producer prices eased further. Industrial production advanced 9.4 percent year-over-year in March, faster than the 1.3 percent rebound in February. Producer prices fell 0.8 percent yearly in March, though slower than the 2.0 percent decrease a month ago.
Germany's economic confidence logged a further sharp decline in April to the lowest level in more than three years amid the consequences of the Middle East war. The investor sentiment index worsened to -17.2 from -0.5 in March. Economic expectations turned more negative in April as the impact of the Iran war on the German economy went beyond higher prices.
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.
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.