Economic Indicators News

BERLIN German business morale deteriorated unexpectedly in January as the outlook darkened, a survey showed on Monday, suggesting that Europe's largest economy got off to a slow start in 2020 after narrowly avoiding a recession in the previous year.The Ifo institute said its business climate index fell to 95.9 after 96.3 in December. The January r

By Huw JonesLONDON New York remains the world's top financial center, pushing London further into second place as Brexit uncertainty undermines the UK capital and Asian centers catch up, a survey from consultants Duff & Phelps said on Monday.Britain will leave the European Union on Friday with future access to its biggest financial services cu

By Lucia MutikaniWASHINGTON There is an even balance in the share of U.S. businesses reporting decreases and increases in employment for the first time in a decade, a survey showed on Monday, the latest suggestion that the labor market has likely peaked and job growth could slow this year.The findings of the National Association for Business Econo

BERLIN Germany's private sector gained momentum in January as growth in services activity picked up and the pullback in manufacturing eased, a survey showed on Friday, suggesting Europe's largest economy may be picking up at the start of 2020.IHS Markit's flash composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which tracks the manufacturing and services

By Kaori KanekoTOKYO Japan's core consumer prices rose in December from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, nudging up from the previous month, but inflation was still well short of the central bank's elusive 2% target.The tame data, which was also boosted by a sales tax increase last October, underscored the challenge faced by the country's ce

DUBLIN Ireland's two largest parties, the governing Fine Gael and main opposition Fianna Fail, laid out their economic policies in election manifestos on Friday ahead of a Feb. 8 poll.While neighboring Britain's Labour and Conservative parties presented starkly opposing economic visions before an election there in December, Ireland's two broadly c

. India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attends a joint news conference with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in New Delhi By Aftab Ahmed and Manoj Kumar NEW DELHI India plans to increase import duties on more than 50 items including electronics, electrical goods, chemicals and handicrafts, targeting about $56 billion worth of impo

By Kelsey JohnsonOTTAWA Canadian retail sales rose a higher-than-expected 0.9% in November, largely offsetting October's decline, Statistics Canada said on Friday, as sales picked up at motor vehicle and parts dealers as well as food and beverage stores.Analysts in a poll had forecast a gain of 0.4% for overall sales. Statistics Canada rev

Czech central bank closer to new powers to regulate mortgage lending PRAGUE The Czech central bank won preliminary approval from parliament on Friday to tighten regulation of mortgage lending with the aim of preventing bubbles in the real estate market.The bill, approved in the first of three readings, also widens the scope of assets and counterpar

By Prak Chan ThulPHNOM PENH Global clothing and shoe brands, including Adidas (DE:ADSGN), PUMA and Levi Strauss (NYSE:LEVI) have written again to Cambodia's longtime leader saying the country's record on labor and human rights threatens to bring down sanctions on its crucial garment industry.The letter urges the government of Prime Minister Hun Se

. Worker moves Audi R8 car body in German car manufacturer's plant in Neckarsulm By Jonathan Cable LONDON Euro zone business activity remained lacklustre at the start of the year, a survey showed a day after the European Central Bank said the manufacturing sector remained a drag on the economy, but there were some glimmers of hope for policymakers. ECB ra

By Orathai SriringBANGKOK Thailand saw slower growth of foreign tourist arrivals of 4.2% last year and the outlook for a lucrative industry is weighed by strength in the baht and China's new coronavirus at a time of faltering economic growth.Tourist receipts account for about 12 percent of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, making it one of

. People walk through autumnal leaves in front of the financial district in London By Andy Bruce LONDON British companies are enjoying their best month in more than a year, a survey indicated on Friday, the strongest evidence yet of a post-election boost to the economy that could keep the Bank of England from cutting interest rates next week. The flash re

By Andy BruceLONDON British companies are enjoying their best month in more than a year, a survey showed on Friday, the strongest evidence yet of a post-election boost to the economy that could deter the Bank of England from cutting interest rates next week.The 'flash' early readings of the IHS Markit/CIPS UK Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showe

. U.K. economic expectations improved in January, with the flash Purchasing Managers Indexes from Markit showing activity rising to a 16-month high in the wake of December's general election.Manufacturing PMI for January came in at 49.8 from 47.5 previously, while the dominant Services PMI was at 52.9 from 50.0. The Composite number came in at 52.4 from 49.3, back i

PARIS French business activity expanded at a weaker pace in January than in December, a survey showed on Friday, as nationwide strikes weighed on the euro zone's second-biggest economy.Data compiler IHS Markit said its composite flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) slipped to 51.5 points in January from 52.0 in December, marking a four-month low

LONDON Euro zone business activity remained weak at the start of the year, a survey showed a day after the European Central Bank said the manufacturing sector remained a drag on the economy, but there were some signs the worst may be over.IHS Markit's Euro Zone Composite Flash Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), seen as a good gauge of economic heal

. People wait for assistance at the Virginia Employment Commission office in Alexandria By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased less than expected last week, suggesting the labor market continues to tighten even as job growth is slowing. Labor market strength is underpinning consumer spen

. Mexico inflation fractionally above forecast in early January MEXICO CITY Mexican consumer price inflation was very slightly above forecast in the first half of January, but remained close to the central bank's target rate, data from the national statistics agency showed on Thursday.In the year through early January, inflation was 3.18%, up from 3.02% i

In central Poland, robots replace people as minimum wage rises By Alan CharlishSTARE MIASTO, Poland Henryk Kaminski has responded to a hike in Poland's minimum wage by automating some roles at his family's plastics factory, illustrating the risks of a policy that aims to raise living standards but could push up prices and stifle jobs growth.The rul

. People wait in line to attend TechFair LA, a technology job fair, in Los Angeles By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased less than expected last week, suggesting the labor market continues to tighten even as job growth is slowing. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 6,000 to a seas

WASHINGTON, The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased less than expected last week, suggesting the labor market continues to tighten even as job growth is slowing.Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 211,000 for the week ended Jan. 18, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Cla

FRANKFURT The European Central Bank left its policy unchanged on Thursday and launched a "strategic review" of its inflation goal and tools."The Governing Council...decided to launch a review of the ECB’s monetary policy strategy. Further details about the scope and timetable of the review will be published in a press release today at 15:30 CET,

. By Peter Nurse The European Central Bank left its monetary policy on hold Thursday, as widely expected, with its deposit rate staying at -0.5%, the main refinancing rate at 0% and asset purchases at 20 billion euros ($22 billion) a month.At 07:45 AM ET (1245 GMT), EUR/USD traded at 1.1090, compared with 1.1091 before the announcement, while EUR/GBP was unchange

. Four of five Bank of Israel MPC members voted to hold key rate By Steven ScheerJERUSALEM Four of the five rate setters at the Bank of Israel voted to keep the benchmark interest rate at 0.25% on Jan. 9, minutes of the discussions showed on Thursday.The fifth member supported a reduction to 0.1%.Monetary policy committee members (MPC) said there was no