In line with expectations the Bank of England kept monetary policy unchanged after its first meeting in 2015, amid cooling inflation, which fell to the lowest level in 12 years, and softer growth at the end of 2014 and going into 2015.
Minutes of the latest FOMC meeting were scarce on new information, showing once again that the Fed opted out to remain patient in beginning to normalize the monetary policy.
Retail sales in the Euro zone rose more than expected for the second consecutive month in November, adding to signs that plummeting oil prices are underpinning purchases of other goods and helping to prop up economic growth in the region.
Canada's merchandise trade gap widened in November, as exports declined the most since January 2012 amid falling oil prices, Statistics Canada said.
Shop prices in the UK remained in deflationary territory in December, but fell at a slightly slower pace, while food prices climbed after declining for the first time on record in November, according to the British Retail Consortium.
US private companies created more jobs than expected in December, adding to signs the job market kept momentum at the end of the year, and bringing annual hiring to 2.5 million for 2014, according to payroll processor ADP.
The Euro zone slipped into deflation, as consumer prices fell more than expected due to plummeting oil prices, according to the flash estimate by Eurostat.
Activity in China's services sector rose at the fastest pace in three months in December, reflecting an economic resilience outside the country's manufacturing and property sectors.
The British services sector lost steam at the end of 2014, growing at the slowest clip in 19 months, adding to fears the UK economy is slowing.
US services sector activity rose at the slowest pace in six months in December, sparking concerns over the economic outlook heading into 2015.
The Euro zone economy ended 2014 with the poorest performance for over a year as further decline in prices across the region failed to boost business activity, increasing pressure on the European Central Bank to deploy additional stimulus.
Australia's trade deficit came in better than expected, as stronger export volumes helped temper falling commodity prices.
Activity in the British construction sector rose at the slowest pace in 17 months in December, but housebuilding remained robust, with residential construction enjoying the strongest year since at least 1997.
Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said that the timing of monetary policy normalization is not as important as the overall pace of rate lifts.
Inflation in Germany fell to the lowest level in more than five years, increasing pressure on the European Central Bank to deploy fresh stimulus measures to avert deflation in the currency bloc.
Activity in China's manufacturing sector slowed to the lowest level since June 2013 in December amid weaker demand from overseas at the end of the year, according to the government's official data.
Britain's manufacturing sector growth slowed to the lowest level in three months in December, adding to doubts about success of the government's efforts to rebalance the UK economy away from property, services and consumer spending.
Activity in the US factories lost steam in December, but manufacturers were optimistic entering 2015, believing that the slowdown in growth would be temporary.
Euro zone manufacturing remained sluggish in December, keeping pressure on the European Central Bank to deploy fresh stimulus to underpin moribund economy.
Activity in China's manufacturing sector contracted for the first time since May, fuelling concerns about the resilience of the world's second biggest economy.
The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, but the underlying trend remained consisted with sustained strength in the jobs market.
Britain's house prices continue to ease in December amid signs of the housing market cooling from the previous record levels, according to Nationwide Building Society.
US consumer confidence edged up in December, as households became more optimistic about the domestic economy amid falling oil prices, which make families feel more confident about their finances, as well as ameliorating jobs market, which is set to provide the most job vacancies in 15 years.
Italy's Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan shared an upbeat outlook by saying that the slowdown in the Euro zone's third biggest economy has ended.