British retail sales declined last month as bad weather undermined demand for clothes, while takings at grocers were hit by lower food prices and Easter closures.
US consumers' expectations for inflation fell in March following a rebound from record lows in the prior month, adding to the uncertainty over how quickly the Fed can proceed with interest rate increases in the coming months.
German politicians and officials have repeatedly brutally castigated the European Central Bank for its monetary policy, with the latest critics coming from the outspoken German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.
Canada's labour market enjoyed a steep increase in new jobs in March that unexpectedly pushed down the unemployment rate and provided another clue that the Canadian economy could be regaining steam.
Machinery orders plunged in Japan in February, offsetting most of January's unprecedented gains, in further signs the world's third biggest economy may need more stimulus.
British industrial production unexpectedly dropped in February, suggesting that the sector may drag on growth for a second straight quarter.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen said that the US central bank did not make a mistake in hiking interest rates in December, a move that was followed by massive turbulence in financial markets and further weakening of the global economy.
Canada's building permits increased the most in over two years in February, as the oil-rich Alberta province reported a surprise construction boom, driven by strong demand for commercial buildings.
Japan posted a 20th current-account surplus in a row, helping an economy that has been struggling to recover from a contraction in the final quarter of 2015.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen said that the US central bank did not make a mistake in hiking interest rates in December, a move that was followed by massive turbulence in financial markets and further weakening of the global economy.
The largest increase in migration in a century has helped support New Zealand's economic growth, but has also boosted the labour force, keeping a lid on wage inflation, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Geoff Bascand said.
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda reiterated the central bank's readiness to take additional monetary easing steps if needed to reach its 2% inflation goal.
Fed policy makers signalled an interest-rate hike in April is unlikely, minutes of the March policy meeting showed, confirming market's growing anticipation that the US central bank will act cautiously until the global economy regains steam.
Activity in China's service sector rose in March, but employment declined for the first time in over 2.5 years, sending mixed signals on the health of a sector which officials are relying on to offset prolonged weakness in manufacturing.
Canada's trade deficit swelled in February more than expected amid the sharpest decline in exports in almost seven years.
The UK's services sector recovered only slightly in March from a three-year low in February, as worries about the global economy, government spending cuts and the EU membership referendum took their toll on the British economy.
The US trade balance ballooned in February to the highest level un six months as a surge in imports exceeded a slight pickup in overseas shipments.
The private sector in the Euro bloc expanded less than expected in March, while retail sales surprised to the upside, rising for the fourth consecutive months in February.
The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the official cash rate at a record low 2% for a 10th consecutive meeting, but warned that the recent strong rise in the Australian Dollar could "complicate" the economy's transition.
The housebuilding activity in Britain remained steady in March, against economists' expectations for a slight drop.
After a small rebound in January, new orders for US factory goods declined in February and business spending on capital goods was much weaker than initially estimated, the latest sign that economic growth remained weak in the first quarter.
Unemployment across the Euro zone declined slightly in February, but the gauge remained well above the pre-crisis level of 7.5%.
China's manufacturing activity improved in March, easing concerns over health of the world's second biggest economy suggesting ongoing stimulus measures are starting to support growth.
Australia's retail sales stood unchanged in February, indicating consumer spending is unlikely to add as much to GDP growth in the March quarter as it did in the previous final quarter of 2015.