Hong Kong's unemployment rate held steady in the three months ending in April. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in at 3.7 percent in February to April, the same as in the January to March period. Without adjustment, the unemployment rate edged higher to 3.7 percent from 3.6 percent. The number of unemployed people was 139,200 compared to 136,600 in the January to March period.
Malaysia's consumer price inflation rose further in April to the highest level in one-and-half years. The consumer price index posted an annual increase of 1.9 percent after rising 1.7 percent in March. That was in line with expectations. Inflation based on transportation quickened to 4.1 percent from 1.6 percent, and that on information and communication rose to 2.0 percent from 1.4 percent.
Japan's industrial output decreased slightly less than initially estimated at the end of the first quarter. Industrial production dropped 0.4 percent monthly in March, slower than the 2.0 percent fall in February. In the flash estimate, the rate of decrease was 0.5 percent. Shipments fell 0.9 percent, and inventories and inventory ratios declined by 1.8 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.
Japan's gross domestic product expanded a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent on quarter in the first quarter of 2026, the Cabinet Office said in Tuesday's preliminary reading. That beat expectations for a gain of 0.4 percent and was up from the downwardly revised 0.2 percent increase in the three months...
Japan will on Tuesday release preliminary Q1 figures for gross domestic product, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. GDP is expected to add 0.4 percent on quarter and 1.7 percent on year, up from 0.3 percent on quarter and 1.3 percent on year in the three months prior. New...
China's industrial production and retail sales logged weaker-than-expected growth in April, and investment shrunk signaling an economic slowdown in the second quarter as the ongoing Middle East conflict strain supply chains and push energy prices higher, official data revealed Monday. Industrial production rose 4.1 percent year-on-year in April, the National Bureau of Statistics reported.
Thailand's economy grew more than expected in the first quarter, underpinned by resilient domestic demand and strong exports, while regional peers reported weaker growth due to the impact of the war in the Middle East. Gross domestic product logged an annual growth of 2.8 percent in the first quarter, the National Economic and Social Development Council said Monday.
China's industrial production and retail sales logged weaker-than-expected growth in April, official data revealed Monday. Industrial production rose 4.1 percent in April from the last year, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. The growth fell short of the expected rise of 6.0 percent and remained...
The services sector in New Zealand continued to contract in April, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from BusinessNZ revealed on Monday with a Performance of Services Index score of 48.9. That's up from the upwardly revised 46.2 (originally 46.0), although it remains beneath the boom-or-bust...
China is scheduled to release a raft of data on Monday, headlining a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic news. On tap are April figures for industrial production, retail sales, fixed asset investment and unemployment. Industrial production is expected to rise 5.9 percent on year, up from 5.7 percent...
India's trade deficit widened more than expected in April due to Middle East tensions and Strait of Hormuz blockade affecting both exports and imports, data from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry showed Friday. Exports of goods rose to $43.56 billion from $38.28 billion last year. Imports climbed...
Hong Kong's economy grew at a faster pace in the first quarter of 2026, as initially estimated. Gross domestic product advanced 5.9 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, faster than the 4.0 percent growth in the fourth quarter. The acceleration of growth in the March quarter was driven by the sustained strong performance in external trade and pickup in domestic demand.
Malaysia's economy expanded at a faster than estimated pace in the first quarter, underpinned by household spending and investment, data from the Department of Statistics showed Friday. Gross domestic product logged an annual growth of 5.4 percent, which was revised up from the initial estimate of 5.3 percent. This followed a revised 6.2 percent expansion in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Producer prices in Japan were up 2.3 percent on month in April, the Bank of Japan said on Friday. That was far higher than forecasts for an increase of 0.7 percent and up sharply from the upwardly revised 1.0 percent gain in March (originally 0.8 percent). On an annual basis, producer prices spiked...
The manufacturing sector in New Zealand continued to expand in April, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from BusinessNZ revealed on Friday with a Performance of Manufacturing Index score of 50.5. That's down from 52.8 in March, although it remains above the boom-or-bust line. The strongest...
May 15, 2026 15:25 ET Apart from the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair, the main news on the economics front this week included key price data from the U.S. and the first quarter economic growth figures from major economies. Both consumer prices and producer costs have started to reflect the effect of supply shocks due to the Middle East conflict. In Europe, GDP data was in focus, while inflation data from China dominated the news flow in Asia.