Romania's economy logged a renewed contraction in the first quarter of 2026, while consumer price inflation accelerated further in April to the highest level in three years. GDP declined an unadjusted 1.7 percent annually in the March quarter, reversing a 0.2 percent rise in the preceding three-month period. Consumer price inflation climbed to 10.7 percent in April from 9.9 percent in March.
Eurozone industrial production grew at a steady pace in March, Eurostat reported Wednesday. Industrial output grew 0.2 percent on a monthly basis in March, matching the growth rate seen in February. Production was forecast to grow 0.3 percent. The monthly fall reflects a sharp 4.5 percent fall...
The euro area economy expanded marginally, as initially estimated, in the first quarter, data from Eurostat showed Wednesday. Gross domestic product grew 0.1 percent sequentially, in line with estimate, slower than the 0.2 percent expansion seen in the fourth quarter. On a yearly basis, GDP growth...
The Slovakian economy grew at a slightly slower pace in the first quarter. Gross domestic product rose an unadjusted 0.9 percent year-on-year in the March quarter, following a 1.0 percent increase in the prior quarter. The overall growth was driven by household final consumption expenditure and a positive foreign trade balance, while investment showed a decline.
The Czech Republic's consumer price inflation accelerated as initially estimated in April to the highest level in six months amid higher transport charges. Consumer prices climbed 2.5 percent year-over-year in April, faster than the 1.9 percent increase in March. Transport charges grew 8.7 percent annually in April amid a 24.6 percent surge in costs for fuels and lubricants.
Sweden's consumer prices decreased for the first time in six years as initially estimated in April amid a sharp fall in food costs. The consumer price index, or CPI, dropped 0.1 percent year-over-year in April, reversing March's increase of 0.5 percent. Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages alone declined 5.7 percent, and those of housing and utilities were 0.1 percent less expensive.
Finland's consumer price inflation accelerated in April to the highest level in nearly two years, driven primarily by higher transport charges amid rising fuel prices. The consumer price index rose 1.5 percent year-over-year in April, faster than the 1.3 percent increase in March. Further, a similar inflation rate was last seen in May 2024.
France's consumer price inflation rose to its highest level since mid-2024 in April, driven primarily by sharp acceleration in energy prices, final data from the statistical office INSEE showed Wednesday. Consumer price inflation rose to 2.2 percent in April, in line with the flash estimate, and up...
France's unemployment rate rose to the highest level in five years in the first quarter, data from the statistical office INSEE showed Wednesday. The ILO jobless rate unexpectedly rose to 8.1 percent in the first quarter, marking the highest since the first quarter of 2021. The unemployment rate was...
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.
Germany's wholesale prices grew at the fastest pace since early 2023 in April as the war in the Middle East lifted energy and raw material prices, Destatis reported Wednesday. Wholesale prices increased 6.3 percent on a yearly basis in April, following March's 4.1 percent increase. The latest inflation...
Flash quarterly national accounts and industrial production from the euro area and final inflation from France are due on Wednesday. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's wholesale prices for April. Wholesale prices are forecast to rise 1.8 percent on a monthly basis after rising 2.7 percent in March.
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...
Continuing this week's series of announcements of the results of its long-term securities auctions, the Treasury Department on Tuesday revealed this month's auction of $42 billion worth of ten-year notes attracted below average demand. The ten-year note auction drew a high yield of 4.468 percent and...
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.