Hint at US GDP

In the US, market participants will look closely at the industrial production figure for March which will provide an indication on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth during the first quarter. This week, the publication of the Producers Price Index (PPI) and retail sales figures for March, together with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figures for the month, will be released. Housing data releases, in particular, building permits and housing starts statistics for March, might continue to show the weaknesses of the sector. Finally, the release calendar also features the New York Fed and Philly Fed numbers for April.

In the Euroland, some important data releases including the aggregate Industrial Production figures, Italian industrial orders and sales and the euro area construction output all for February. Market participants will also be reading closely the euro area-wide inflation figures for March. Finally, we will also have the April Zew confidence survey for Germany and Euroland and the trade balance figures for the Euroland and Italy.

In the UK, there will be the labour market report which is expected to provide a view on the level of employment, unemployment and earnings growth. Other data releases include the public sector finances report, and British Retail Consortium (BRC) retail sales indicator for March. Moreover, we will see the publication of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) figures for March. The money supply figures will complete the picture for the UK.

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