Hong Kong's foreign trade deficit decreased markedly in July from a year ago as exports grew faster than imports. The trade shortfall dropped to HK$4.9 billion in July from HK$34.1 billion in the same month last year. In June, the trade balance showed a deficit of HK$51.9 billion. Exports jumped 50.7 percent year-on-year in July, and imports also logged a strong growth of 41.0 percent.
Japan's leading index remained stable in June, slightly higher than seen in the flash estimate. The leading index, which measures future economic activity, came in at 116.5 in June, the same as in May, which was revised up from 116.4. The flash score for June was also 116.4. The coincident index that measures the current economic situation also strengthened to an 85-month high of 118.5.
The Reserve Bank of Australia will on Tuesday release the minutes from its August 11 monetary policy meeting, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. At the meeting, the RBA kept its benchmark lending rate steady at 4.35 percent following 25 basis point hikes in February, March...
Taiwan's hseasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in at 3.33 percent in July, the same as in the previous month. On an unadjusted basis, the jobless rate rose to a 1-year high of 3.39 percent in July from 3.34 percent in the previous month. Unemployment increased by 9,000 from the previous month to 409,000.
Singapore's consumer price inflation increased for the second straight month in July to the highest level in nearly two years. The consumer price index, or CPI, climbed 2.2 percent year-over-year in July, faster than the 1.9 percent rise in June. MAS core inflation also accelerated to 2.0 percent in July from 1.6 percent in June, led by higher costs for utilities and food.
The volume of retail sales in New Zealand was down a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent on quarter in the second quarter of 2026, Statistics New Zealand reported on Monday - coming in at NZ$26 billion. That missed forecasts for an increase of 0.1 percent and was down from 0.9 percent in the previous...
New Zealand will on Monday release Q2 figures for retail sales, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Retail sales are expected to slip 0.5 percent on quarter after rising 0.9 percent in the previous three months. Core retail sales are tipped to sink 0.6 percent on quarter after...
Japan's headline inflation accelerated to a seven-month high in July on rising food and energy prices, strengthening the expectations for a September interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan. Japan's private sector expanded at the fastest pace in six months in August driven by a steeper increase in new orders, survey data from S&P Global showed Friday.
India's private sector growth improved somewhat in August on the back of service sector expansion as manufacturing output grew at the weakest pace in five year. The HSBC flash composite output index rose to 54.6 in August from July's 52-month low of 54.3. Foreign orders rose solidly across the Indian private sector, but the rate of increase eased across both manufacturing and services.
Overall consumer prices in Japan were up 1.9 percent on year in July, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday. That exceeded expectations for an increase of 1.8 percent following the downwardly revised 1.6 percent gain in June (originally 1.7 percent. On a seasonally...
The manufacturing sector in Australia continued to expand in July, and at a steady pace, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Friday with a manufacturing purchasing managers index score of 52.0. That's unchanged from the June reading, and it remains above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that...
New Zealand posted a seasonally adjusted merchandise trade deficit of NZ$1.9 billion in July, Statistics New Zealand said on Friday/ That badly missed forecasts for a shortfall of NZ$175 million following the NZ$23 million deficit in June. Exports climbed 14 percent on year to NZ$7.4 billion, down...
Japan will on Friday release July figures for consumer prices, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In June, overall inflation was up 0.3 percent on month and 1.7 percent on year, while core CPI rose an annual 1.6 percent. Japan also will see preliminary August results for...
Producer prices in South Korea were down 0.4 percent on month in July, the Bank of Korea said on Friday - following the flat reading in June. Individually, prices for agricultural, forestry and marine products rose 1.5 percent on month, while manufacturing products added 0.5 percent, utilities slipped...
Taiwan's export order growth quickened for the second straight month in July. Export orders surged 61.9 percent year-over-year in July, faster than the 59.4 percent increase in June. Orders for information and communication products alone grew 89.5 percent from last year. On a monthly basis, export orders increased 2.8 percent
August 21, 2026 14:42 ET The minutes of the latest policy meeting of the Federal Reserve, housing market data and manufacturing sector survey results were the main news for the U.S. economy this week. In Europe, inflation data from the U.K. was the highlight, while consumer price data from Japan drew attention in Asia.