Estonia's consumer price inflation moderated slightly in April after rising in the previous month. Consumer prices climbed 3.4 percent yearly in April, slower than the 3.6 percent rise in March. The overall increase in consumer prices was due to the continued rapid rise in diesel fuel and petrol costs caused by the armed conflicts in the Middle East.
Germany's industrial production declined unexpectedly in March as the war in the Middle East started to take its toll on industrial activity, official data revealed Friday. Industrial output dropped 0.7 percent in March, marking the second consecutive monthly decline, Destatis reported.
Finland's industrial production expanded at the fastest pace in more than three-and-a-half years. Industrial output climbed 7.3 percent year-over-year in March, following a 5.3 percent rebound in February. Output produced in the mining and quarrying sector logged a strong growth of 12.8 percent, and manufacturing production recorded an increase of 5.9 percent.
Industrial production and foreign trade from Germany and house prices from the UK are the top economic news due on Friday. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis releases Germany's industrial output and foreign trade figures. Economists forecast industrial output to grow 0.4 percent on a monthly basis in March, in contrast to the 0.3 percent fall in February.
Cyprus' consumer price inflation accelerated in April to the highest level in nearly two years. The consumer price index climbed 2.8 percent year-on-year in April, faster than the 1.2 percent increase in March. Housing and utility costs rebounded 2.7 percent annually after falling 1.9 percent a month ago. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 1.7 percent.
Slovakia's foreign trade surplus increased in March from a year ago as exports rose amid a fall in imports. The trade balance showed a surplus of EUR 591.5 million in March, up from EUR 386.5 million in the corresponding month last year. Exports increased 0.5 percent, while imports continued to fall by 1.6 percent.
The UK construction sector logged a faster contraction in April amid rapid acceleration in cost inflation. The construction Purchasing Managers' Index declined to 39.7 in April from 45.6 in March. New business fell at the fastest pace since November 2025 due to subdued demand conditions and a subsequent lack of new work to replace completed projects.
Germany's construction activity contracted at the sharpest pace in 13 months in March as Middle East tensions impact overall industry performance, survey data from S&P Global showed Thursday. The construction Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 42.1 in April from 48.0 in March. The score was the lowest...
Ireland's unemployment rate decreased in April after remaining stable in the previous two months. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent in April from March's stable rate of 5.0 percent. In the corresponding month last year, the rate was 4.6 percent. There were 140,300 unemployed people in April compared to 146,200 in the previous month.
France's foreign trade deficit increased in March as imports grew faster than exports. The trade gap widened to EUR 6.9 billion in March from EUR 5.5 billion in February. The expected deficit was EUR 5.6 billion. Exports posted a monthly increase of 1.0 percent in March, while imports climbed at a comparatively faster pace of 3.2 percent.
Norway's central bank raised its benchmark rate unexpectedly by a quarter-point on Thursday as the war in the Middle East pushed up inflation and raised substantial uncertainty about the economic outlook. The Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee of Norges Bank decided to raise the policy rate to 4.25 percent from 4.0 percent.
Hungary's retail sales expanded at the quickest pace in nearly four years in March. Retail sales climbed a calendar-adjusted 8.2 percent yearly in March, faster than the 3.8 percent growth in the prior month. The acceleration in growth was mainly driven by a 20.6 percent jump in sales of automotive fuel. The annual sales growth in non-food products quickened to 8.4 percent from 5.0 percent.
Eurozone retail sales dropped marginally in March as reduced food and auto fuel sales were partially offset by the increased non-food product sales, official data revealed Thursday. Retail sales dropped 0.1 percent on a monthly basis in March, marking the third consecutive fall, Eurostat reported....
The Czech Republic's industrial output growth moderated further in March to the lowest level in six months. Industrial production rose a working-day-adjusted 0.9 percent year-on-year in March, slower than the 1.3 percent increase in February. The trade surplus rose to 31.9 billion in March from CZK 28.1 billion in the corresponding month last year.
Switzerland's unemployment rate decreased further in April to the lowest level in five months. The unadjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.0 percent in April from 3.1 percent in March. In the corresponding month last year, the jobless rate was 2.8 percent. There were 146,902 unemployed people in April compared to 146,255 in the prior month.
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.