Portugal's producer prices logged a renewed increase in April at the fastest pace in just over three years amid a surge in energy costs. The producer price index climbed 3.8 percent, following a flat change in March, ending a 14-month period of decline. Moreover, the latest growth rate was the quickest since March 2023, when prices rose 4.6 percent.
Labour productivity in the United Kingdom increased in the first quarter after falling in the previous quarter. The labor productivity, which is measured by output per hour worked, rose 0.9 percent quarterly in the three months ending March, reversing a 0.5 percent decrease in the fourth quarter of 2025. Based on output per worker, productivity also increased 0.2 percent.
Spain's foreign trade deficit decreased in March from a year ago, as exports grew faster than imports. The trade deficit dropped to EUR 4.4 billion in March from EUR 5.5 billion in the corresponding month last year. In February, there was a shortfall of EUR 3.3 billion. Exports climbed 5.1 percent annually in March, while imports grew at a comparatively slower pace of 1.6 percent.
The UK unemployment rate increased slightly in the three months to March. The jobless rate stood at 5.0 percent in the January to March period, up from 4.9 percent in the previous three-month period. The rate was expected to remain stable at 4.9 percent. The number of unemployed people totalled 1.806 million compared to 1.780 million in the December to February period.
Switzerland's economy grew at a faster pace in the first quarter, flash estimate from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, showed Monday. Gross domestic product expanded 0.5 percent in the first quarter from the previous quarter. This was faster than the 0.2 percent growth posted...
Italy's foreign trade surplus stayed unchanged at the end of the first quarter. The trade balance showed a surplus of EUR 4.71 billion in March, the same as in the corresponding month last year. The surplus decreased from EUR 4.98 billion in February. Exports climbed 7.4 percent annually in March, and imports were 8.0 percent higher.
Households in Turkey remained slightly less pessimistic in May. The consumer confidence index rose to 85.8 in May from 85.5 in April. Nonetheless, a score below 100 indicates a pessimistic outlook. The financial situation expectation of households over the next year improved, with the corresponding index rising to 87.9 from 87.5.
Consumer price inflation in Croatia increased as initially estimated in April to the highest level in two-and-a-half years. The consumer price index climbed 5.8 percent year-on-year in April, faster than the 4.8 percent rise in March. Inflation based on transportation accelerated sharply to 13.1 percent in April from 7.0 percent a month ago amid higher fuel costs.
Slovenia's GDP rose a non-seasonally adjusted 3.0 percent year-on-year, faster than the 2.0 percent increase in the previous quarter. The economy has been expanding since the second quarter of 2025. The expenditure breakdown showed that household consumption showed an increase of 2.7 percent, and general government expenditure was 3.9 percent higher.
Poland's consumer price inflation accelerated as initially estimated in April to the highest level in nearly a year. The consumer price index climbed 3.2 percent year-over-year in April, faster than the 3.0 percent increase in March. Moreover, this was the highest inflation rate since June 2025, when prices rose 4.1 percent. On a monthly basis, consumer prices moved up 0.6 percent.
Consumer price inflation in Italy increased slightly less than initially estimated in April to the highest level in more than two-and-a-half years. Consumer price inflation accelerated to 2.7 percent in April from March's 1.7 percent. The upward trend in inflation was primarily driven by a 9.6 percent growth in costs for non-regulated energy products, which fell 2.0 percent in March.
Estonia's unemployment rate increased in the first quarter. The jobless rate rose to 7.1 percent in the March quarter from 6.4 percent in the previous quarter. In the corresponding period last year, the rate was 8.6 percent. There were 52,200 unemployed people in the country, compared to 47,100 in the previous quarter.
Japan's machine tool orders expanded at an accelerated pace in April amid both strong domestic and foreign demand. Machine tool orders jumped 45.1 percent year-on-year in April, following a 28.0 percent growth in the previous month. Moreover, this was the tenth successive monthly rise. Domestic orders grew 43.4 percent from last year, and foreign demand was 45.7 percent higher.
Norway's foreign trade surplus increased sharply in April from a year ago as exports surged amid a fall in imports. The trade surplus rose to NOK 84.2 billion in April from NOK 53.2 billion in the same month last year. Meanwhile, the surplus decreased from NOK 96.4 billion in March. Exports grew 20.9 percent annually in April, while imports were 0.4 percent lower.
The European Central Bank may opt for an interest rate hike if the sustained rise in crude oil price raise energy costs and inflation expectations substantially, ECB Governing Council member and Bank of Latvia chief Martins Kazaks said on Thursday.
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.