The value of core machinery orders in Japan was up a seasonally adjusted 8.7 percent on month in April, the Cabinet Office said on Wednesday - coming in at 1,098.5 billion yen. That exceeded expectations for an increase of 1.2 percent following the 9.4 percent drop in March. On a yearly basis,...
Japan posted a merchandise trade deficit of 378.673 billion yen in May, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday. That beat expectations for a shortfall of 564.6 billion yen following the downwardly revised 299.3 billion yen surplus in April (originally 301.9 billion). Exports climbed 17.0 percent...
New Zealand posted a seasonally adjusted current account deficit of NZ$4.6 billion in the first quarter (NZ$1.01 billion unadjusted), Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday. The current account deficit for the year ended March 2026 narrowed to NZ$16.3 billion (3.6 percent of GDP) compared with a...
Japan will on Wednesday release April figures for core machinery orders and May numbers for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Core machinery orders are expected to rise 2.1 percent on month and 9.3 percent on year after sinking 9.4 percent...
The Bank of Japan decided to raise its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point to its highest level in 31 years, and to halt government bond purchase reductions next year. The policy board of BoJ voted 7-1 to raise the interest rate to 1.00 percent from 0.75 percent. The board signaled its commitment to further monetary policy tightening to support its price stability target.
Hong Kong's unemployment rate held steady in the three months ending in May. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in at 3.7 percent in March to May, the same as in the February to April period. Similarly, the underemployment rate stayed unchanged at 1.5 percent. Total employment fell by around 8,700 to 3.639 million.
China's retail sales declined for the first time since 2022 on subdued domestic demand and fixed asset investment logged a sharper-than-expected fall, while industrial production remained a bright spot, official data revealed Tuesday. Retail sales decreased 0.6 percent from a year ago in May, the National Bureau of Statistics reported.
The Reserve Bank of Australia left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Tuesday as policymakers evaluate the effects of three consecutive rate hikes and the impact of oil supply disruption. The policy board, governed by Michele Bullock, unanimously voted to hold the cash rate target at 4.35 percent. The bank had lifted the policy rate by 25 basis points each in February, March and May.
The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point on Tuesday, to its highest level since 1995. The policy board of BoJ voted 7-1 to raise the interest rate to 1.00 percent from 0.75 percent.
The Reserve Bank of Australia will wrap up its monetary policy meeting on Tuesday and then announce its decision on interest rates, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The RBA is expected to keep its benchmark lending rate steady at 4.35 percent. The Bank of Japan will also...
India's wholesale price inflation accelerated further in May, largely driven by higher costs for crude oil caused by the impact of the Middle East war. The wholesale price index climbed 9.68 percent year-over-year in May, faster than the 8.26 percent rise in April, according to the revised series of WPI with a new base year 2022-23.
Japan's tertiary activity index increased for the first time in three months in April. The seasonally adjusted tertiary activity index rose 1.3 percent on a monthly basis, reversing a 0.6 percent decrease in March. Among industries, finance and insurance, information and communications, wholesale trade, living and amusement-related services increased.
South Korea is on Monday scheduled to release May numbers for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In April, imports were up 20.8 percent on year and exports rose an annual 53.2 percent for a trade surplus of $26.95 billion. New Zealand...
India's consumer price inflation accelerated less than expected in May to the highest level in sixteen months amid higher food costs. The consumer price index registered an increase of 3.93 percent on a yearly basis in May, faster than the 3.48 percent rise in April. Food inflation quickened to 4.78 percent from 4.20 percent. Charges for transport services for goods surged 7.63 percent.
Hong Kong's industrial production expanded at a slower pace in the first quarter of 2026. The index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole climbed 3.1 percent annually in the first quarter, following a 5.8 percent rebound in the fourth quarter. Production of textiles and wearing apparel fell at a stable pace of 4.7 percent.
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.