UK inflation slowed more than expected in November, strengthening the call for an interest rate reduction this week, official data revealed on Wednesday. The consumer price index rose 3.2 percent year-on-year, slower than the 3.6 percent increase in October, the Office for National Statistics said. Inflation was forecast to ease marginally to 3.5 percent.
German business confidence deteriorated to a seven-month low in December as companies were more pessimistic about the first half of next year, survey data from the Munich-based ifo Institute showed on Wednesday. The business climate index dropped to 87.6 in December from 88.0 in November. The score was expected to rise to 88.2.
The British pound weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Wednesday, after U.K. inflation slowed more than expected in November. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the consumer price index rose 3.2 percent year-on-year, slower than the 3.6 percent...
Thailand's central bank lowered its key interest rate by a quarter-point on Wednesday as economic growth is forecast to moderate further amid subdued inflation. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Thailand unanimously decided to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 percent from 1.50 percent. Previously, the bank had lowered the policy rate by 25 basis points each in August.
Inflation figures from the UK and the euro area, as well as business confidence data from Germany, are scheduled for release on Wednesday, marking a busy day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics releases UK consumer and producer prices data. Inflation is seen easing to 3.5 percent in November from 3.6 percent in October.
The Commerce Department released a report on Tuesday showing business inventories in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of September. The report said business inventories rose by 0.2 percent in September after coming in unchanged in August.
A report released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday showed retail sales in the U.S. were roughly flat in the month of October. The Commerce Department said retail sales were virtually unchanged in October after inching up by a downwardly revised 0.1 percent in September. Economists had expected retail sales to rise by 0.2 percent.
Employment in the U.S. increased by more than expected in the month of November, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Tuesday, although the job growth followed a notable decrease in employment in October. The report said non-farm payroll employment climbed by 64,000 jobs in November after tumbling by 105,000 jobs in October.
The euro area private sector growth eased in December as the manufacturing sector contracted and the services activity logged a weaker expansion, a flash survey compiled by S&P Global showed on Tuesday. The HCOB composite output index, which measures overall private sector activity, dipped to 51.9 in December from a final reading of 52.8 in November.
The British pound strengthened against other major currencies in the European session on Tuesday, after the UK PMI showed an improvement in the private sector for the month of December. Data from S&P Global showed that the flash UK composite output index was 52.1, higher than the consensus of 51.6...
German economic sentiment strengthened to a five-month high in December as analysts expect the expansive fiscal policy to support economic recovery, the financial market survey conducted by the think tank ZEW showed Tuesday. The economic sentiment index advanced to 45.8 in December from 38.5 in the previous month, reaching the highest since last July. The score was seen at 38.4.
The Japanese yen strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday, as traders speculate that the Bank of Japan or the BoJ is likely to increase its interest rate in the policy meeting held this week. Markets fully anticipate that the BOJ will hike interest rates by a quarter...
The antipodean currencies such as the Australia and the New Zealand dollars weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday amid increasing risk-off mood by the investors, with continued weakness in energy stocks as well as technology stocks on uncertainty remains about AI spending...
The UK unemployment rate rose slightly in the three months to October, the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday. The jobless rate climbed to 5.1 percent in the three months to October from 5.0 percent in the preceding period. In the three months to October, average earnings excluding bonuses grew 4.6 percent from the prior year, which was slightly faster than the forecast of 4.5 percent.
Upcoming Eurozone and UK Flash Purchasing Managers' survey results will be in focus on Tuesday. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics will release the UK unemployment data. The jobless rate is forecast to rise to 5.1 percent in the three months to October from 5.0 percent in the preceding period.
December 12, 2025 15:14 ET Central bank decisions dominated the economic news flow this week led by the Federal Reserve. Trade data from the U.S. also gained attention. The Canadian and Swiss central banks also announced their interest rate decisions. Inflation data from China was in focus as the country released the latest consumer price and producer price data.