The average of household spending in Japan was down 0.5 percent on year in April, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday - coming in at 328,969 yen. That beat forecasts for a decline of 1.5 percent following the 2.9 percent drop in March. On a seasonally adjusted monthly...
Japan will on Friday release April numbers for household spending, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Spending is expected to add 0.8 percent on month and fall 1.5 percent on year and sinking 1.3 percent on month and 2.9 percent on year in March. Japan also will see preliminary...
Australia's trade balance rebounded in April as exports logged notable growth, the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Thursday. The trade balance posted a surplus of A$1.79 billion in April, reversing a shortfall of A$1.02 billion in March, which was the first deficit since 2017. In April 2025,...
Australia will on Thursday release April numbers for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In March, imports were up 14.1 percent on month and exports slipped an annual 2.7 percent for a trade deficit of A$1.841 billion.
South Africa's private sector logged a marginal downturn in May, led by renewed falls in output and new orders amid inflationary pressures caused by the Middle East war. The purchasing managers' index for the private sector economy dropped to 49.6 in May from 51.6 in April. The weaker demand in May was attributed to the uncertainty caused by the war in the Middle East and rising fuel prices.
China's service sector grew at a faster pace in May as total activity and new business expanded at the fastest rates in three months, survey data from S&P Global showed Wednesday. The RatingDog services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 54.4 in May from 52.6 in the previous month.
India's services activity expanded at the fastest pace in six months, underpinned by continued growth in new business amid cooling inflationary pressures. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PMI climbed to 59.8 in May from 58.8 in April. The flash score was 58.9. The survey highlighted that output growth in May was boosted by healthy demand conditions and new client wins.
Australia's economic growth eased in the first quarter as consumers reduced spending amid rising interest rates, and cyclones weighed on mining and exports, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday. Gross domestic product grew 0.3 percent on a quarterly basis, much weaker than the 0.9 percent expansion seen in the fourth quarter and economists' forecast of 0.5 percent.
The services sector in Australia slipped into the red in May, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Wednesday with a services PMI score of 48.7. That's down from 50.7 in April and it falls beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction. Reduced demand, market...
The terms of trade in New Zealand sank a seasonally adjusted 2.0 percent on quarter in the first three months of 2026, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday. That missed expectations for a drop of 1.2 percent following the 3.7 percent increase in the three months prior. Export prices sank 2.7...
The total number of building permits issued in Zealand was up a seasonally adjusted 10.9 percent on month in April, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday - after slipping 08 percent in March. In April, there were 3,692 new dwellings consented, comprising 1,604 stand-alone houses, 1,530 townhouses,...
Australia will on Wednesday release Q1 numbers for gross domestic product, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. GDP is expected to rise 0.5 percent on quarter and 2.7 percent on year after gaining 0.8 percent on quarter and 2.6 percent on year in the three months prior. Australia...
Hong Kong's retail sales growth moderated for the second straight month in April. The value of retail sales grew 8.6 percent year-on-year in April, slower than the 12.8 percent surge in March. Sales of consumer durable goods continued to grow sharply by 26.2 percent from last year, and those of jewelry, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts rose by 19.8 percent.
The total number of building approvals issued in Australia was down a seasonally adjusted 3.4 percent on month in April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday - coming in at 16,710. Approvals for private sector houses dipped 1.0 percent on month to 10,088, while approvals for private...
Australia posted a seasonally adjusted current account deficit of A$27.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday. That missed forecasts for a shortfall of A$23.1 billion following the downwardly revised A$23.0 billion deficit in the previous three...
May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.