The world's third largest economy shrank unexpectedly in the last quarter of 2012, falling deeper into the recession, while the Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady and even raised its assessment of the economy.
The production of shale oil is likely to boost the world economy significantly, especially the U.K. adding up to £800 to each person's economic output in the country, according to a report from accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The number of Americans who lost their jobs dropped during the last week, a sign of healing in the labour market.
The Eurozone economy slipped deeper into recession in the final three months of 2012, with the worst performance in almost four years, as the region's three biggest economies suffered slumping output.
Producer and imports price in Switzerland gained less than initially was estimated in January, indicating weak demand for goods and raw materials by manufacturers.
Activity within the Japanese tertiary sector jumped unexpectedly in the last month of 2012, indicating that consumers are getting less anxious over the world's third largest economy's outlook.
The inflation rate in the U.K. is widely expected to remain stubbornly high for longer than previously thought, while the economy has begun to recover, albeit slowly.
U.S. consumers increased their purchases of retail goods in January at a slower pace, suggesting that an increase in payroll taxes took a bite out of consumers' pay checks.
Production among the 17-nation Eurozone manufacturers showed a sharp turnaround in December, adding to signs that the region's economy is starting to recover, the statistical office of the European Union Eurostat said Wednesday.
Consumer prices in Switzerland dropped for the third consecutive month in January, even as the Franc declined against the Euro, the Federal Statistics Office said Tuesday.
Confidence among Japanese consumers improved more than initially was expected in January, a sign that government's pledge to introduce more bold measures boosted consumer confidence in the country.
Inflation rate in the U.K. held at the highest rate since May last month, as crude oil costs rose.
Small-business owners' confidence continues to drag, the report by the National Federation of Independent Business showed Tuesday.
France's growth forecast for this year is widely expected to be revised in the coming days, as the nation's accounting court warned government targets for the year are not likely to be achieved.
The amount of cash Swiss commercial banks held with nation's central bank turned lower in the week to February 8, a sign that investors are getting more anxious over Eurozone's financial woes.
Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda, who is a potential candidate to become the next Bank of Japan's governor, signalled his support for more aggressive stimulus measures by the BoJ in 2013.
Confidence among U.K. businesses has gone down to the lowest level in over two decades in January, adding to concerns that the economy still struggles to gain the momentum in the first quarter of 2013.
Prices for single-family homes in the world's largest economy surged in almost 88% of all cities in the last three months of 2012, pointing at strong recovery in the property market.
The economic data from the Eurozone due this week will probably reflect the damage inflicted by the sovereign debt crisis. Eurozone's gross domestic product is widely expected to shrink by 0.4% during the last months of 2012.
The number of people out of work in Switzerland soared to the highest level since January 2011, adding to concerns that economy is not on the way to recovery yet and another slowdown may be expected.
Japan posted its smallest annual current account surplus since 1985, due to a slump in exports to China and the Eurozone, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The U.K. construction firms finally bucked their industry's downward trend in the last three months of 2012, boosted by building of private homes and infrastructure work.
The United States' trade deficit shrank in December to its lowest level in almost three years, the Commerce Department said on Friday.
After marathon talks in Brussels European Union leaders agreed on a deal on the bloc's next seven-year budget.