In the UK, the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report will be the main focus of the week. Meanwhile, a couple of house prices reports will give an insight on the housing inflation trends during March.

An important set of price-related indicators are also due in particular the Producers, Retail and Consumer price indices for April.

The labour market report and the retail sales figures will provide an indication of the strength of the local demand.

The visible trade balance figures for March will complete the economics statistics releases for this week.

In the US, the markets will look towards the speeches to be delivered by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke.

On the data front, we will have a barrage of information. This week, we will see the publication of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and retail sales figures for April.

Market participants will also look closely at the Industrial production figure for April.

The housing permits and housing starts statistics for April will provide a further insight of the state of the housing market.

The release calendar will also feature the New York Fed and Philly Fed numbers along with the Michigan Consumer survey for May. Import prices along with the business inventories for March are also due to be published this week. Finally we will also have some labour market data.

In the Euroland National and Eurozone Harmonised Index of Consumer prices (HICP) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for April are likely to highlight the impact of the increase in prices of food and energy. Elsewhere, on the activity side market participants will evaluate a set of Euroland and Italian industrial production data along with the trade balance figures for March.

Markets will also be looking closely at the first release of the gross domestic product (GDP) figures for the first quarter.

This article has been prepared by Bank of Valletta plc, which is licensed to conduct investment services business by the MFSA, for your general information only. This information is not a solicitation or offer by the bank to acquire or sell securities, nor does it constitute any form of advice by the bank. Appropriate advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance and the value of your investments may fall or rise

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