India's trade deficit widened more than expected in April due to Middle East tensions and Strait of Hormuz blockade affecting both exports and imports, data from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry showed Friday. Exports of goods rose to $43.56 billion from $38.28 billion last year. Imports climbed...
Hong Kong's economy grew at a faster pace in the first quarter of 2026, as initially estimated. Gross domestic product advanced 5.9 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, faster than the 4.0 percent growth in the fourth quarter. The acceleration of growth in the March quarter was driven by the sustained strong performance in external trade and pickup in domestic demand.
Malaysia's economy expanded at a faster than estimated pace in the first quarter, underpinned by household spending and investment, data from the Department of Statistics showed Friday. Gross domestic product logged an annual growth of 5.4 percent, which was revised up from the initial estimate of 5.3 percent. This followed a revised 6.2 percent expansion in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Producer prices in Japan were up 2.3 percent on month in April, the Bank of Japan said on Friday. That was far higher than forecasts for an increase of 0.7 percent and up sharply from the upwardly revised 1.0 percent gain in March (originally 0.8 percent). On an annual basis, producer prices spiked...
The manufacturing sector in New Zealand continued to expand in April, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from BusinessNZ revealed on Friday with a Performance of Manufacturing Index score of 50.5. That's down from 52.8 in March, although it remains above the boom-or-bust line. The strongest...
Export prices in South Korea were up 7.1 percent on month in April, the Bank of Korea said on Friday - easing from 17.0 percent in March. Individually, export prices for agricultural, forestry and marine products was up 10.1 percent and manufacturing products rose 7.1 percent. Import prices were...
Hong Kong will on Friday release Q1 numbers for gross domestic product, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In the previous three months, GDP was up 2.9 percent on quarter and 5.9 percent on year. Malaysia will provide Q1 data for GDP and current account. GDP is expected...
India's wholesale price inflation accelerated sharply in April due to higher costs for crude oil caused by the impact of the Middle East war. The wholesale price index climbed 8.30 percent year-over-year in April, much faster than the 3.88 percent rise in March. The annual price growth in fuel and power quickened significantly to 24.71 percent from 1.05 percent.
Japan will on Thursday see M2 money stock numbers for April, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. M2 is expected to rise 1.9 percent on year, easing from 2.0 percent in March. Australia will see May results for the Westpac Consumer Sentiment Index and the inflation forecast...
A measure of the public assessment of the current situation of the Japanese economy weakened more-than-expected in April to the lowest level in more than four years. The current conditions index of the Economy Watchers' Survey dropped to 40.8 in April from 42.2 in March. Economists had forecast the index to fall to 41.6. Household activity-related measures declined 1.2 points to 40.5 in April.
Japan posted a current account surplus of 4.681 trillion yen in March, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday. That beat expectations for a surplus of 3.879 trillion yen and was up from 3.933 trillion yen in February. Imports were up 10.0 percent on year at 9.991 trillion yen and exports climbed...
Australia will on Wednesday release Q1 numbers for wage prices and home loans, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Wages are expected to have risen 0.8 percent on quarter and 3.3 percent on year after adding 0.8 percent on quarter and 3.4 percent on year in the previous three...
India's consumer price inflation rose slightly in April, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation said Tuesday. Consumer price inflation rose less-than-expected to 3.48 percent in April from 3.40 percent in March. Inflation was forecast to rise to 3.8 percent. At the same time,...
Malaysia's unemployment rate held steady at the end of the first quarter. The jobless rate came in at 2.9 percent in January, the same as in the previous month. In the corresponding month last year, the unemployment rate was 3.0 percent. There were 507,500 unemployed people in March compared to 506,900 in the prior month.
Japan's household spending declined for the fourth consecutive month in March despite rising wages, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said Tuesday. Household spending declined 2.9 percent on a yearly basis in March, sharper than the 1.8 percent fall in February. Spending has been...
May 08, 2026 15:50 ET Manufacturing and services sector survey results and labor market data from main economies were the highlight on the economics news front this week. Factory orders and jobs report dominated the news flow in the U.S. Similarly, industrial production data from German garnered attention in Europe. In Asia, purchasing managers’ survey results from China and the central bank decision from Australia were in focus.