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.

UK house prices logged a slower growth at the end of the year as uncertainty weighed on housing market activity, data from the mortgage lender Halifax showed on Thursday.
House price growth halved to 0.3 percent in December from 0.6 percent in November. Average property price was GBP 297,755, which was the lowest since June. Month-on-month, house prices dropped 0.6 percent.

The Commerce Department released a report on Wednesday showing new orders for U.S. manufactured goods decreased by slightly more than expected in the month of October. The report said factory orders slumped by 1.3 percent in October after rising by 0.2 percent in September. Economists had expected factory orders to slide by 1.2 percent.

The Institute for Supply Management released a report on Wednesday showing an unexpected increase by its reading on U.S. service sector activity in the month of December. The ISM said its services PMI climbed to 54.4 in December from 52.6 in November, with a reading above 50 indicating growth. Economists had expected the index to edge down to 52.3.

A report released by the Labor Department on Wednesday showed job openings in the U.S. fell by more than expected in the month of November.

Euro area consumer price inflation eased to its lowest level in four months in December amid a bigger decline in energy prices and a modest slowing in services cost growth, preliminary data from the statistical office Eurostat showed on Wednesday.
The consumer price index rose 2.0 percent year-on-year following an increase of 2.1 percent in each of the previous two months.

Private sector employment in the U.S. increased by slightly less than expected in the month of December, according to a report released by payroll processor ADP on Wednesday. ADP said private sector employment rose by 41,000 jobs in December after falling by a revised 29,000 jobs in November. Economists had expected private sector employment to climb by 47,000 jobs.

Germany's unemployment rate remained unchanged at the end of the year but the actual jobless numbers increased as economic activity remains weak. The unemployment rate held steady at 6.3 percent, as expected, in December, figures from the Federal Employment Agency showed on Wednesday.

The Canadian dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday, as the crude oil prices traded lower after the United States and Venezuela reached an agreement allowing the export of up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude oil to U.S. ports.

The Australian dollar strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday, as inflation has decreased more than anticipated, it is still high. Economists predict that interest rate increases will likely be postponed but are still a possibility.

Germany's construction sector expanded for the first time since early 2022 on rebound in civil engineering activity, purchasing managers' survey results from S&P Global showed on Wednesday. The construction Purchasing Managers' index posted 50.3 in December, up from 45.2 in November. A score above 50.0 indicates expansion.

Australia inflation slowed more than expected to a three-month low in November but core inflation remained stable, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday. The consumer price index rose 3.4 percent year-on-year in November, slower than the 3.8 percent increase in October. This was the slowest since August. Inflation was seen at 3.6 percent.

Unemployment and retail sales from Germany and flash inflation from the euro area are the top economic news due on Wednesday. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's retail sales data for November. Sales are forecast to grow 0.2 percent on a monthly basis after falling 0.3 percent in October.

The euro area private sector grew for a twelfth consecutive month in December but the pace of growth softened to a three-month low on weaker demand for goods and services, final survey data from S&P Global showed on Tuesday. The HCOB final composite output index dropped to 51.5 in December from November's 30-month high of 52.8. The reading was also below the initial estimate of 51.9.

Services and composite Purchasing Managers' survey data from the euro area and flash inflation from Germany are the top economic news due on Tuesday. At 2.45 am ET, France's statistical office INSEE is scheduled to publish flash inflation data. Inflation is forecast to remain unchanged at 0.9 percent in December.

A report released by the Institute for Supply Management on Monday showed its reading on U.S. manufacturing activity unexpectedly decreased in the month of December. The ISM said its manufacturing PMI edged down to 47.9 in December after slipping to 48.2 in November, with a reading below 50 indicating contraction. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 48.3.