Australia's unemployment rate unexpectedly declined to the lowest level in two-and-a-half years in March, reflecting an improvement in business confidence and signalling the Reserve Bank of Australia is unlikely to ease policy in the near-term.
The Bank of Canada maintained its key interest rate at 0.5%, saying the Canadian economy continues to adjust to the oil price shock.
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the central bank stood ready to expand monetary stimulus again if recent weaknesses in inflation expectations persist, stressing that there are "many ways" to do so to reach the price target.
US retail sales unexpectedly declined in March as households cut back on purchases of automobiles, reinforcing the evidence that economic growth weakened in the first quarter and a sign of consumers caution amid slow wage growth and overseas troubles.
Australians were less confident about the economic outlook and their family finances in April.
China's exports increased in March for the first time in nine months, mildly boosting an economy that is struggling to regain strength.
UK consumer price inflation jumped to 15-month high, rising to 0.5% from previous 0.3% this month, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The heads of two regional Federal Reserve banks backed an interest rate increase ahead of the Fed's March meeting as an strengthening economy added to sentiment to tighten monetary policy.
Australia's business conditions and confidence improved significantly in March, suggesting a broad based economic recovery may be round the corner.
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.