Eurozone inflation matched the flash estimate in May, while core inflation accelerated beyond expectations, official data showed Wednesday. Inflation advanced to 3.2 percent, the strongest since September 2023, and remained unchanged from the estimate published on June 2. This followed April's 3.0 percent increase.
Despite transport cost pressures, UK consumer price inflation remained stable in May, ahead of the Bank of England's policy announcement on Thursday. Consumer prices registered an annual increase of 2.8 percent, the same rate as seen in April, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday. Prices were expected to climb 3.0 percent.
Hungary's average gross earnings growth eased to the lowest level in four months. Average gross earnings grew 9.0 percent annually in April, slower than the 9.2 percent growth in March. The average gross earnings were HUF 772,165 in April compared to HUF 779,752 in the previous month. Net earnings increased by 11.2 percent, and real earnings were 8.9 percent higher than a year earlier.
Slovakia's EU measure of inflation eased marginally in May as expected. The EU measure of the harmonized index of consumer prices, or HICP, rose 4.0 percent year-on-year in May, slower than the 4.1 percent increase in April. The annual price growth in food and non-alcoholic beverages softened to 0.3 percent from 1.0 percent, and that in health slowed to 4.4 percent from 4.8 percent.
Austria's consumer price inflation increased as estimated initially in May to the highest level in five months. The consumer price index climbed 3.7 percent year-over-year in May, faster than the 3.4 percent increase in April. Inflation based on transportation accelerated to 8.8 percent from 7.7 percent due to a 26.5 percent surge in fuel costs.
UK consumer price inflation remained stable in May, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday. Consumer prices registered an annual increase of 2.8 percent, the same rate as seen in April. Prices were expected to climb 3.0 percent. Meanwhile, core inflation rose to 2.6 percent from 2.5...
Consumer and producer prices data from the UK is top economic news due on Wednesday. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics releases UK consumer and producer prices for May. Inflation is expected to rise to 3.0 percent from 2.8 percent in April. Output price inflation is seen unchanged at 4.0 percent in May.
Economic sentiment in Germany returned to positive territory in June as financial market experts expect an end to the Iran conflict, survey results from the Mannheim-based Centre for European Economic Research, or ZEW, showed Tuesday. The ZEW indicator of economic sentiment advanced more-than-expected to 10.5 in June from -10.2 in the previous month. The score was seen at -5.8.
Consumer price inflation in Italy accelerated further in May to the highest level in more than two-and-a-half years, as estimated initially. Consumer price inflation accelerated to 3.2 percent in May from April's 2.7 percent. The rise in inflation was mainly influenced by the price developments in non-regulated energy products, which grew by 12.5 percent.
Turkey's retail sales growth moderated in April to the lowest level in just over a year. Retail sales rose 11.4 percent yearly in April, much slower than the 21.7 percent surge in March, which was the fastest growth since February 2024. Annual sales growth in non-food products, excluding fuel, slowed to 14.5 percent from 29.5 percent, and growth in food products improved to 7.6 percent.
The Czech Republic's industrial producer price inflation accelerated less-than-expected in May to the highest level in nearly one-and-a-half years. The industrial producer price index climbed 1.5 percent yearly in May, faster than the 1.0 percent renewed increase in April. Energy prices rose 2.5 percent, and those for intermediate goods were 3.5 percent higher.
Bulgaria's consumer price inflation accelerated slightly less than estimated in May to the highest level in more than two-and-a-half years. The consumer price index, or CPI, climbed 6.9 percent year-over-year in May, faster than the 6.8 percent rise in April. The rise in inflation was largely driven by a 21.6 percent jump in transportation costs.
Slovakia's consumer price inflation softened slightly in May. Consumer prices rose 3.8 percent annually in May, following a 3.9 percent increase in April. Inflation based on food and non-alcoholic beverages eased to 0.3 percent from 1.0 percent. On the other hand, transport inflation was 9.4 percent, which was the highest growth in three-and-a-half years.
Switzerland's producer and import prices decreased for the first time in three months in May. The producer and import price index posted a monthly decrease of 0.4 percent in May, reversing a 0.8 percent increase in April. The falling trend in May was mainly driven by lower costs for pharmaceutical products, petroleum and natural gas, and electricity.
Poland's consumer price inflation eased slightly in May from a 10-month high in the previous month as estimated earlier. The consumer price index climbed 3.1 percent year-over-year in May, slower than the 3.2 percent increase in April. The overall inflation in May was largely driven by a 5.6 percent growth in transport charges and a 5.0 percent spike in housing and utility costs.
June 19, 2026 16:46 ET Major central banks continued to dominate the economic news flow this week too, led by the Federal Reserve, as they announced their latest policy decisions. The Federal Reserve policy session was in focus as it was the first to be led by the new chief Kevin Warsh. In Europe, central banks of the U.K. and Switzerland announced their rate decisions. In Asia, the Bank of Japan drew attention for its policy moves, while data out of China threw some light on the state of the economy.