Highlights
First-quarter GDP in France is expected to increase a quarterly 0.2 percent after showing no growth in the fourth quarter.
French consumer spending on manufactured goods is expected to rise a monthly 0.1 percent in March after a 0.3 percent increase in February.
Consumer prices in France are seen up 0.4 percent on the month in April after a 0.2 percent rise in March, reducing the annual inflation rate from 2.3 percent to 2.1 percent.
German retail sales volumes are expected to rise 0.7 percent on the month in March in a partial rebound from February's much steeper-than-expected 1.9 percent drop. Purchases have declined in each of the last four reports.
The unemployment rate in Germany is expected to hold steady at March's 5.9 percent in April. The jobs market has remained tight.
The KOF Swiss leading indicator is forecast at 102.0 in April, up from 101.5 in March.
In Italy, first-quarter GDP is expected to is expected to expand 0.1 percent on the quarter and 0.4 percent on the year versus a 0.6 percent yearly increase in the fourth quarter.
Italian consumer price inflation is expected to move even lower, to a consensus 1.0 percent in April versus 1.2 percent in March.
In the Eurozone, first-quarter GDP is expected to expand a quarterly 0.2 percent for year-over-year growth of also 0.2 percent. These would compare with no quarterly change in the fourth quarter and 0.1 percent expansion on the year.
The region's inflation in April is expected to be little changed. Consensus for April's harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) is a preliminary 2.4 percent and 2.8 percent for the narrow core. These would compare respectively with March's 2.4 and 2.9 percent, the former versus February's 2.6 percent and the latter versus 3.1 percent.
Taiwan's GDP growth for the January-March quarter is seen accelerating to 5.60 percent on year from 4.93 percent in the previous quarter.
The US employment cost index is seen rising a quarterly 0.9 percent in the first quarter as they did in the fourth quarter.
The Case-Shiller home price index for the adjusted 20-city monthly rate is expected to rise 0.1 percent in February as it did in January. Unadjusted annual growth is seen at 6.7 percent versus February's 6.6 percent, which was the highest since November 2022.
The US house price index is expected to rise 0.1 percent on the month in February following a 0.1 percent decline in January.
The Conference Board's consumer confidence index is expected to hold mostly steady in April, at a consensus 104.0 versus 104.7 in March, which compared with expectations for 106.7 and February's downward revised 104.8.
Canada's monthly GDP data is expected to show the economy grew 0.4 percent on quarter in February, slowing from a solid 0.6 percent rise in January, which was supported by an end to Quebec's public sector strike.
New Zealand's first quarter employment growth is seen slowing to 0.3 percent on quarter from 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter and to 1.7 percent on year from 2.4 percent. The unemployment rate is forecast at 4.2 percent, up from 4.0 percent. Labour costs are seen up 0.8 percent on quarter, slowing from a 1.0 percent rise in the prior quarter.
French consumer spending on manufactured goods is expected to rise a monthly 0.1 percent in March after a 0.3 percent increase in February.
Consumer prices in France are seen up 0.4 percent on the month in April after a 0.2 percent rise in March, reducing the annual inflation rate from 2.3 percent to 2.1 percent.
German retail sales volumes are expected to rise 0.7 percent on the month in March in a partial rebound from February's much steeper-than-expected 1.9 percent drop. Purchases have declined in each of the last four reports.
The unemployment rate in Germany is expected to hold steady at March's 5.9 percent in April. The jobs market has remained tight.
The KOF Swiss leading indicator is forecast at 102.0 in April, up from 101.5 in March.
In Italy, first-quarter GDP is expected to is expected to expand 0.1 percent on the quarter and 0.4 percent on the year versus a 0.6 percent yearly increase in the fourth quarter.
Italian consumer price inflation is expected to move even lower, to a consensus 1.0 percent in April versus 1.2 percent in March.
In the Eurozone, first-quarter GDP is expected to expand a quarterly 0.2 percent for year-over-year growth of also 0.2 percent. These would compare with no quarterly change in the fourth quarter and 0.1 percent expansion on the year.
The region's inflation in April is expected to be little changed. Consensus for April's harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) is a preliminary 2.4 percent and 2.8 percent for the narrow core. These would compare respectively with March's 2.4 and 2.9 percent, the former versus February's 2.6 percent and the latter versus 3.1 percent.
Taiwan's GDP growth for the January-March quarter is seen accelerating to 5.60 percent on year from 4.93 percent in the previous quarter.
The US employment cost index is seen rising a quarterly 0.9 percent in the first quarter as they did in the fourth quarter.
The Case-Shiller home price index for the adjusted 20-city monthly rate is expected to rise 0.1 percent in February as it did in January. Unadjusted annual growth is seen at 6.7 percent versus February's 6.6 percent, which was the highest since November 2022.
The US house price index is expected to rise 0.1 percent on the month in February following a 0.1 percent decline in January.
The Conference Board's consumer confidence index is expected to hold mostly steady in April, at a consensus 104.0 versus 104.7 in March, which compared with expectations for 106.7 and February's downward revised 104.8.
Canada's monthly GDP data is expected to show the economy grew 0.4 percent on quarter in February, slowing from a solid 0.6 percent rise in January, which was supported by an end to Quebec's public sector strike.
New Zealand's first quarter employment growth is seen slowing to 0.3 percent on quarter from 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter and to 1.7 percent on year from 2.4 percent. The unemployment rate is forecast at 4.2 percent, up from 4.0 percent. Labour costs are seen up 0.8 percent on quarter, slowing from a 1.0 percent rise in the prior quarter.
Definition
Market Focus details key factors in the coming day that will impact the economic outlook and the financial markets. These include central bank events, economic indicators, policymaker speeches as well as expected political and corporate developments.
Description
Keeping up-to-date with event schedules and the economic calendar is key to understanding the global financial system. Econoday's Market Focus allows investors and policymakers to carefully track what will be making news and moving the financial markets in the coming day.
