European Economic News

The Czech economic confidence index improved to its highest level in seven months, while consumer confidence dropped for the first time in three months, survey results from the Czech Statistical Office showed on Friday. The economic sentiment rose to 93.9 in March from 91.7 in the previous month. Further,...

The UK private sector registered another increase in activity in March, reflecting robust performance by the service economy, flash survey results from S&P Global showed on Friday. The flash Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply composite output index posted 52.2 in March, down from February's eight-month high of 53.1 and economists' forecast of 52.7. Nonetheless, the reading was above the

Eurozone private sector logged the strongest growth in ten months in March underpinned by the robust expansion in services activity though the manufacturing sector remained stuck in the contraction zone. The flash composite output index rose more-than-expected to 54.1 in March from 52.0 in February, survey results from S&P Global showed Friday. The expected score was 51.9.

Sweden's producer price inflation eased for the third straight month in February to the lowest level in twenty-one months amid a slowdown energy prices, figures from Statistics Sweden showed on Friday. The producer price index climbed 9.3 percent year-on-year in February, slower than the 11.8 percent...

Finland's producer price inflation eased further in February to the lowest level in nearly two years, data from Statistics Finland showed on Friday. The producer price index climbed 9.2 percent year-over-year in February, slower than the 10.7 percent surge in the previous month. Further, the latest...

UK retail sales grew at the fastest pace in four months in February on robust non-food stores sales even as high inflation eats into households' purchasing power, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Friday. British consumers' confidence strengthened to a one-year high in March driven by the rising willingness to buy and improved assessment about the overall economy.

UK consumer sentiment improved further in March to its highest level in a year as Britons assessment of the economy and their willingness to make big purchases strengthened, survey results from the market research group GfK showed on Friday. The consumer confidence index rose to -36 in March from...

Corrects headline The Netherlands' economy expanded as initially estimated in the fourth quarter after remaining flat in the previous quarter, largely led by household and government consumption, the latest data from the Central Bureau of Statistics showed on Friday. Gross domestic product advanced...

Flash Purchasing Mangers' survey results from the euro area and the UK are due on Friday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 3.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics is scheduled to issue UK retail sales for February. Sales are forecast to grow 0.2 percent on month, slower than the 0.5 percent increase in January.

Turkey's central bank decided to maintain its key interest rate in its March meeting, as the committee assessed that the current monetary policy stance is adequate to support the necessary recovery in the aftermath of the earthquake by maintaining price stability and financial stability.

The Bank of England hiked its key rate for the eleventh consecutive session on Thursday as an unexpected rise in inflation outweighed concerns about the recent banking sector turbulence. The nine-member Monetary Policy Committee decided to lift the bank rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent. This was the highest rate since 2008.

Norway's central bank decided to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to curb inflation amid the tight labor market conditions and hinted at another rate hike in May and beyond. Norges Bank's Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee on Thursday unanimously decided to lift the policy rate to 3.00 percent from 2.75 percent.

The Bank of England hiked its key interest rate for the eleventh consecutive session on Thursday as an unexpected rise in inflation compelled policymakers to ignore the banking sector turmoil. The nine-member Monetary Policy Committee decided to lift the bank rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent....

Switzerland's central bank lifted its policy rate again on Thursday as policymakers remained focused on inflationary pressures even as the recent developments in the financial market raised concerns over the credentials of the Swiss banking sector. The Swiss National Bank raised its policy rate by 0.5 percentage points to 1.50 percent. The outcome of the meeting was in line with expectations.

Poland's unemployment rate remained stable in February, figures from the statistical office showed on Thursday. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.5 percent in February, in line with expectations. In the same month last year, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent. The number of registered...