China's industrial production, which measures output at factories, workshops and mines, dropped in August on waning export demand and a slowdown in real estate development that has impaired steel and cement production, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Output in the U.K.'s construction sector, which accounts for around 6.3% of total gross domestic product, was flat in July from the previous month, resulting in a decline of the annual growth rate to the lowest level in eight months as an expansion in private house building began to level off.
Retail sales in the U.S. rose at the fastest pace in four months in August, a sign that job growth in recent months has boosted consumer spending.
Industrial production in the Euro zone increase twice as much as anticipated in July, halting a two month streak of contraction and fuelling hopes that the region may start growing again in the third quarter, after recording no growth in the previous three months.
The divergence in monetary policy of central banks is getting wider, as some central banks are about to start normalizing their monetary policy, others keep the policy intact or even embark on further stimulus measures to revive growth.
Activity in New Zealand's manufacturing sector, which has been hard hit by the strong nation's currency, rose in August, prolonging the period of expansion to two years and reaching the strongest level in five months.
Employers in Australia provided a record number of jobs in August, while unemployment declined to the June's level last month, sparking optimism over the outlook for the labour market during Australia's economic transition.
U. K. house prices increased at the slowest pace in a year in August, as prospects of higher interest rates have dampened buyers' confidence.
The number of new applications for unemployment benefits increased last week to reach the highest level since June, but still remained near eight-year lows.
Mixed data came out on Thursday, with inflation readings in the top European countries recording slow growth of consumer price inflation, while unemployment rate in Greece ticked down slightly in June, continuing the positive trend from the preceding month.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has decided to keep rates unchanged and soften its stance on future rate hikes as it revised inflation outlook and reiterated that the nation's currency is too strong, sending the New Zealand Dollar to a seven-month low.
Consumers have been losing their confidence, as they became more worried about the economic and employment outlook amid renewed concerns about the federal budget.
The latest data regarding core machinery orders for the month of July released by the Cabinet Offices showed a slower increase of 3.5% in private-sector machinery orders, compared to the 8.8% growth in June, trailing from the forecasters' predictions of orders rising 4.1%.
Mark Carney, the Bank of England Governor, hinted that the central bank may start raising interest rates next spring if the labour market continues to perform strongly.
France's Finance Minister Michel Sapin said the country's budget deficit will reach the EU target of 3% only after 2017, as in 2015 the deficit is expected to be 4.3% in 2015.
Minutes of the latest Bank of Japan meeting revealed that policy makers expect the nation's economy to continue its moderate recovery, with the inflation expectations rising as the country continues to combat the deflationary pressures, which have plagued it for more than a decade.
Business conditions and confidence in Australia eased slightly in August following the sharp surge in July, but remained still high, mainly due to optimism in the construction sector.
Manufacturing output in Britain increased in line with analysts' predictions in July, while industrial production overshot forecasts. In a report, the U.K. Office for National Statistics said that manufacturing production inched up by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in July, meeting expectations.
The number of U.S. job openings remained near the highest level in 13 years in July, while hiring increased to the fastest pace in almost seven years, adding to further evidence that the job market is slowly recovering and showing companies in the U.S. will probably pick up the pace of hiring after last month's slowdown.
Mario Draghi, the European Central Bank President, has finally announced that the bank intention to embark on a form of quantitative easing through the purchase of private sector credit, including asset-backed securities and covered bonds, along with a new cut in interest rates.
The number of new building permits issued in Canada soared significantly in July, boosting optimism over the health of the country's real estate sector.
The unemployment rate in Switzerland stayed at the same level for sixteen consecutive months in August, according to the latest data from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
House prices in the U.K. cooled off in August amid signs of increasing supply of new homes on the market, adding to other evidence of moderation in the housing market.
U.S. consumer credit soared in July, recording the biggest gain since November 2001, boosted by demand for auto loans as well as student borrowings.