A report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday showing business inventories in the U.S. increased by slightly more than expected in the month of October.

Existing home sales in the U.S. surged by much more than expected in the month of December, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on Wednesday. NAR said existing home sales spiked by 5.1 percent to an annual rate of 4.35 million in December after climbing by 0.7 percent to an upwardly revised rate of 4.14 million in November.

A report released by the Labor Department on Wednesday showed a modest increase by U.S. producer prices in the month of November. The Labor Department said its producer price index for final demand rose by 0.2 percent in November after inching up by 0.1 percent in October. The uptick in prices matched economist estimates.

Retail sales in the U.S. increased by more than expected in the month of November, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday. The Commerce Department said retail sales climbed by 0.6 percent in November after edging down by a revised 0.1 percent in October.

China registered a record trade surplus in 2025 as it shifted its export focus to Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. Exports increased 6.6 percent year-on-year in December, faster than the 5.9 percent rise in November, the customs office reported Wednesday. Imports climbed 5.7 percent from the last year, following a 1.9 percent rise in November.

The Japanese yen continued to weaken against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday, as worries over Japan's political future were raised, following suggestions that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi could call an early snap election.

Heads of several central banks across the world expressed their support for Fed Chair Jerome Powell in his fight against the Trump administration that is threatening him with criminal charges, in an assault on central bank independence. The action against Powell, whose term ends in May, is also seen as a message from the Trump administration to whomever succeeds him to toe the line.

The Commerce Department released a report on Tuesday showing new home sales in the U.S. edged slightly lower in the month of October. The report said new home sales slipped by 0.1 percent to an annual rate of 737,000 in October after surging by 3.8 percent to an annual rate of 738,000 in September. Economists had expected new home sales to come in at an annual rate of 710,000.

Consumer prices in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of December, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Tuesday. The Labor Department said its consumer price index climbed by 0.3 percent in December, matching economist expectations.

The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Tuesday, due to speculation that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call a snap election.

Australia's consumer confidence weakened in January as consumers became more concerned about what 2026 may bring for family finances and the wider economy, Westpac said on Tuesday. The consumer confidence index dropped to 92.9 in January from 94.5 in December.
Data showed that the January decline centred on expectations for the year ahead.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell revealed on Sunday that the U.S. central bank has been served subpoenas by the Department of Justice that threaten criminal charges, raising concerns that the Trump administration is trying to undermine the institution's independence. The action against Powell is also seen as a message from the administration to whomever succeeds him to toe the line.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell revealed on Sunday that the U.S. central bank has been served subpoenas by the Department of Justice that threaten criminal charges, raising concerns that the Trump administration is trying to undermine the institution's independence. The action against Powell is also seen as a message from the administration to whomever succeeds him to toe the line.

Eurozone investor confidence improved to a six-month high in January, a survey conducted by the behavioral research institute Sentix showed on Monday. The Sentix investor confidence rose more-than-expected to -1.8 in January from -6.2 in December. The score was forecast to rise moderately to -5.1. The improvement was driven by expectations, which rose to 10.0 from 4.8.

The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Monday, due to the Bank of Japan's or BoJ uncertainty and reports that Japan's Takaichi would hold an early election.

A report released by the University of Michigan on Friday showed consumer sentiment in the U.S. has improved by slightly more than expected in the month of January. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index rose to 54.0 in January after climbing to 52.9 in December. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 53.5.

New residential construction in the U.S. saw a steep drop in the month of October, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Friday. The report said housing starts plunged by 4.6 percent to an annual rate of 1.246 million in October after jumping by 1.2 percent to an annual rate of 1.306 million in September.

The Labor Department released a closely watched report on Friday showing employment in the U.S. increased by less than expected in the month of December. The report said non-farm payroll employment rose by 50,000 jobs in December after climbing by a downwardly revised 56,000 jobs in November. Economists had expected employment to rise by 60,000 jobs.

Germany's industrial production grew unexpectedly in November, while exports registered its biggest fall since May 2024, official data revealed on Friday. Industrial output climbed 0.8 percent month-on-month in November, Destatis reported. Although it was weaker than the 2.0 percent increase in October, the increase confounded economists' forecast of 0.6 percent fall.

China's inflation accelerated the most in nearly three years in December on higher food prices but the overall rate remained weak, official data revealed on Friday. Consumer prices increased 0.8 percent year-on-year in December, slightly faster than the 0.7 percent rise in November, the National Bureau of Statistics reported.

Industrial production and foreign trade from Germany and retail sales from the euro area are due on Friday, headlining a busy day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to release Germany's industrial output and foreign trade figures. Economists expect industrial output to fall 0.6 percent month-on-month in November, in contrast to the 1.8 percent increase in October

A report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday showed wholesale inventories in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of October. The Commerce Department said wholesale inventories rose by 0.2 percent in October after climbing by 0.5 percent in September. The uptick matched expectations.

Labor productivity in the U.S. grew by much more than expected in the third quarter of 2025, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday. The Labor Department said labor productivity soared by 4.9 percent in the third quarter after spiking by an upwardly revised 4.1 in the second quarter.

The Commerce Department released a report on Thursday unexpectedly showing a significant decrease in the size of the U.S. trade deficit in the month of October. The report said the trade deficit narrowed to $29.4 billion in October from a downwardly revised $48.1 billion in September. Economists had expected the trade deficit to increase to $58.9 billion.

A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits edged up by slightly less than expected in the week ended January 3rd. The Labor Department said initial jobless claims crept up to 208,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level of 200,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to rise to 210,000.