Austria's manufacturing activity expanded at a slightly faster pace in May, survey data from S&P Global showed Wednesday. The UniCredit Bank Austria manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 51.7 in May from 51.2 in the previous month. A score above 50.0 indicates expansion. The uptick in...
French consumer confidence fell to the lowest in more than three years in May, survey data from the statistical office INSEE showed Wednesday. The consumer sentiment index dropped more-than-expected to 82 in May from 84 in the previous month. This was the lowest since March 2023. The survey showed that the proportion of households believing it is a good time to make major purchases fell sharply.
Europe's new car registrations grew at a slower pace in April amid heightened geopolitical risks, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, or ACEA, showed Wednesday. New car registrations grew 5.1 percent year-on-year in April, slower than the 12.5 percent increase in March.
The European Central Bank "will do what is necessary" to bring inflation back to the 2 percent target, ECB policymaker and Bank of France Governor Villeroy de Galhau said in an interview to the broadcaster CNBC on Tuesday. "The data so far are telling that it's mainly a first-round effect, but we should be extremely vigilant about possible second-round effect," the policymaker said.
The Hungarian central bank left its key interest rates unchanged for a third policy session in a row on Tuesday, in line with expectations. The Monetary Council decided to hold the central bank base rate steady at 6.25 percent and the deposit interest rate at 5.25 percent, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank said in a statement. The lending rate was kept unchanged at 7.25 percent.
The jobless rate in Poland decreased slightly in April after remaining stable in the prior month. The unemployment rate came in at 6.0 percent in April, as expected, down from March's steady rate of 6.1 percent. In the corresponding month last year, the jobless rate was 5.2 percent. There were 934,300 unemployed people in April compared to 949,800 in the previous month.
Norway's unemployment rate decreased in April after remaining steady in the prior month. The seasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped to a 3-month low of 4.6 percent in April from March's stable rate of 4.9 percent. In the corresponding month last year, the rate was 4.4 percent. There were 142,000 unemployed people in April, down from 150,000 in the previous month.
Spain's producer prices increased at the fastest pace since late 2022 in April due to the sharp rise in energy prices, the statistical office INE said Tuesday. Producer prices grew 8.3 percent year-on-year in April, marking the strongest rise since December 2022. This followed a 3.1 percent rise...
Producer price inflation in Sweden increased further in April to the highest level in more than three years amid soaring energy costs. The producer price index climbed 4.7 percent year-on-year in April, faster than the 2.0 percent increase in March. Prices for energy-related products alone surged 27.0 percent from last year, and costs for capital goods increased only by 0.6 percent.
UK shop price inflation accelerated in May on rising non-food prices, the British Retail Consortium said Tuesday. The shop price index climbed 1.2 percent year-on-year in May, following April's 1.0 percent increase. Non-food prices advanced 0.5 percent, in contrast to the 0.1 percent fall in the...
Slovenia's industrial sentiment remained less negative in May. The manufacturing confidence rose to a 4-month high of -6 in May from -8 in the previous month. Among the components, the expected production and overall order book indicators improved, while the finished products stock indicator remained unchanged.
Poland's retail sales growth moderated in April after accelerating to the strongest level in nearly four years in March. At constant prices, retail sales advanced 1.3 percent annually in March, much slower than the 8.7 percent increase in March. Moreover, this was the weakest growth since the current sequence of increase began in April 2025.
Turkey's economic confidence remained less pessimistic in May. The economic sentiment index rose to 97.2 in May from 96.4 in April. However, any reading below 100 indicates a pessimistic outlook. Among components, morale for manufacturing strengthened to 101.0 from 98.6, and retail trade confidence rose to 112.5 from 111.6.
The Czech economy's confidence weakened further in May to the lowest level in nearly a year. The economic sentiment index dropped to 99.7 in May from 101.3 in April. Any score below 100 indicates a pessimistic outlook. Confidence among consumers decreased in April, with the consumer confidence index falling to 103.4 from 106.0 in April.
Finland's producer price inflation accelerated in April to the highest level in more than three years, led by higher prices of refined petroleum products and basic precious and other non-ferrous metals. The producer price index climbed 4.6 percent year-on-year in April, faster than the 2.6 percent rise in March. On a monthly basis, producer prices rebounded 1.2 percent.
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.