UK mortgage approvals rose unexpectedly in March, reaching a four-month high, while consumer credit logged its fastest growth since early 2024, official data showed Friday. The number of mortgages approved in March rose to 63,531 from 62,708 in the previous month, the Bank of England reported. Approvals were forecast to fall to 60,000.
The UK manufacturing activity growth reached a near four-year high in April, driven by improvements in production, orders and employment, survey data from S&P Global showed Friday. The final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to a 47-month high of 53.7 in April from 51.0 in the previous month. The flash score was 53.6.
UK house prices logged a faster growth in April despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising energy prices, data published by Nationwide Building Society showed Friday. House prices grew by more-than-expected 3.0 percent on a yearly basis in April, following an increase of 2.2 percent in March. Prices were expected to rise again by 2.2 percent.
Ireland's manufacturing activity grew at the fastest pace since May 2022, underpinned by increased output, new business and employment gains, survey data from S&P Global showed Friday. The AIB manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 54.9 in April from 53.7 in the previous month. The expansion...
Mortgage approvals and final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' survey results from the UK are due on Friday. At 2.00 am ET, UK Nationwide house price data is due. House prices are forecast to grow 2.2 percent on a yearly basis in April, the same rate of growth as seen in March.
Hungary's economy expanded at a faster pace in the first quarter of 2026. On an unadjusted basis, gross domestic product rose 1.7 percent annually in the March quarter, following a 0.8 percent expansion in the fourth quarter. The main contributor to the annual GDP growth was services, and performance of industry also positively contributed after a long period of time.
Portugal's economy expanded at a faster pace in the first quarter, while consumer price inflation rose to the highest level in more than two-and-a-half years. Gross domestic product, or GDP, advanced 2.3 percent yearly in the March quarter, faster than the 1.9 percent rise in the fourth quarter. Consumer price inflation climbed to 3.4 percent in April from 2.7 percent in March
The European Central Bank left its interest rates unchanged on Thursday, as expected, even as policymakers expressed increasing concern over the impact of the surging energy prices and the intensifying war in the Middle East.
The Bank of England left its key interest rate unchanged on Thursday but cautioned that there is a risk of material second-round effects from the energy price shock, caused by the war in the Middle East, which could lead to future rate hikes. The BoE Monetary Policy Committee, led by Governor Andrew Bailey, voted 8-1 to hold the bank rate at 3.75 percent.
Austria's economy expanded in the first quarter of 2026 after remaining stagnant in the previous quarter. Gross domestic product advanced 0.2 percent sequentially, following a flat change in the fourth quarter. Consumer price inflation edged higher to a 4-month high of 3.3 percent in April from 3.2 percent in March.
The euro area unemployment rate dropped marginally in March, data from Eurostat showed Thursday. The unemployment rate slid to 6.2 percent in March, in line with forecast, from 6.3 percent in February. The number of unemployed decreased 63,000 from the previous month to 10.984 million. Compared...
Spain's economy logged a softer growth in the first quarter, provisional estimate from the statistical office INE showed Thursday. Gross domestic product grew 0.6 percent from the fourth quarter. This was slower than the 0.8 percent expansion seen in the previous quarter but faster than the expected...
A measure signaling future turning points in the Swiss economy increased in April, though the outlook remains muted. The economic barometer rose to 97.9 in April from a revised 95.6 in March. However, it continued to stay below its medium-term average of 100. The indicators for manufacturing, for other services, and for private consumption show particularly positive developments.
The Bank of England maintained its key interest rate on Thursday but cautioned that there is a risk of material second-round effects from the energy price shock. The Monetary Policy Committee voted 8-1 to hold the bank rate at 3.75 percent. The current rate remains at the lowest since June 2023. Previously, the BoE had reduced the rate by 25 basis points each in August and November last year.
Italy's economic growth moderated slightly in the first quarter, while inflation accelerated to the highest level in more than two-and-a-half years amid higher energy costs. Gross domestic product advanced 0.2 percent sequentially, slower than the 0.3 percent increase in the fourth quarter. Consumer price inflation quickened to 2.8 percent in April from 1.7 percent in March.
May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.