Australian trade balance improved significantly in February, reaching the lowest level in more than a year, as exporters received higher prices for their commodities, while imports declined.
The newly-appointed Governor of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, is struggling to build a consensus ahead of his first central bank board meeting on April 3-4, adding to concerns that markets may be disappointed as they expect hefty bond purchases and a radical shift in its policymaking framework.
Britain's construction output shrank for the fifth consecutive month in March, as the industry suffered from bad weather and poor demand, Markit Economics said Wednesday.
The pace of growth in the services sector of the United States economy slowed in March, reaching the lowest level in seven months, as the number of new orders and employment cooled in the biggest part of the economy.
Price pressure in the 17-nation economy eased further last month, as steeper price increases for services offset an easing in energy costs, the European Union's statistics office said Wednesday.
Switzerland's key manufacturing output index contracted in March, as a slight appreciation in the Swiss Franc and renewed weakness in the Eurozone dragged on demand.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has for the first time suggested the possibility that the Japanese economy could struggle to achieve the ambitious target of 2% inflation within two years in case the global economy will continue decelerating.
Britain's manufacturing output shrank for the second consecutive month, as lacklustre demand at factories weighed on economic growth, the Markit Economics said Tuesday.
The number of new factory orders in the world's largest economy improved significantly in February, posting the strongest gain in 5 months, boosted by aircraft, even as the business spending indicator dropped, pointing to a mixed picture of the nation's manufacturing sector.
The number of unemployed people in the 17-nation Euro area soared to a fresh high in the beginning of 2013, adding to concerns that the currency bloc's recession extended into the first quarter.
Sentiment among Japanese manufacturers improved last month, however, less than initially was predicted, putting more pressure on the Bank of Japan.
During its monthly policy meeting the Bank of England is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate and the amount of its asset-purchase programme unchanged, even as the economy is facing the risks of falling into another recession.
The pace of expansion in the manufacturing sector slowed last month, due to the contraction in the number of new orders, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.
Manufacturing output in Greece tumbled once again in March as new orders shrank, with the impact of the crisis in neighbouring Cyprus yet to take its toll on the local economy, a survey by Markit Economics showed on Monday.
Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is expected to receive a short list of candidates for a position of the Bank of Canada Governor, as current Governor Marc Carney will step out on June 1 to take over the Bank of England.
Manufacturing output in the world's third largest economy is expected to pick up this month after the deepest fall since the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake, as the central bank is poised to step up monetary stimulus this week.
A cluster of positive data from the U.S. is signalling an improving job market, which in turn is spurring demand for goods.
French consumers spending dropped again in February, however, at a slower pace than in the previous month, mainly due to a fall in textile-leather purchases, the INSEE official statistics office said Friday.
Canadian economy returned to growth in the first month of 2013, however, the growth may remain tepid in the coming months, the Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Japan's consumer prices posted the forth consecutive year-on-year decline, falling 0.3% in February, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Britain's services sector grew at its fastest pace for five months in January, raising hopes that the U.K. economy may avoid falling into another recession, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday.
The world's largest economy expanded at a faster pace than a quarter ago, however, still at anaemic rate at the end of last year.
Retail sales in the Europe's largest economy unexpectedly rose for a second month in February, adding to signs the domestic economy is returning to growth.
Switzerland's economic momentum slipped for the fifth consecutive month in March, diminishing chances that it will turn a corner next month.