By the numbers: The global economy this week
Highlights of economic data released last week, from central bank policies to trade and growth trends.
June 21, 2022
Currency
U.K.: The pound declined versus the euro as data showed the jobless rate rose for the first time since 2020 in the three months to April.
Central bank policy
JAPAN: The Bank of Japan maintained its current monetary policy.
U.K.: The Bank of England raised the bank rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%.
U.S.: The Federal Reserve increased the target range for the federal funds rate by 75 basis points.
Employment trends
U.S.: Initial jobless claims fell by 3,000 to 229,000 in the week ended June 11, 2022.
Growth
CANADA: Wholesale sales fell 0.5% in April.
CANADA: Manufacturing sales increased 1.7% in April.
EUROSTAT: Euro area industrial production rose 0.4% in April compared with March.
GERMANY: Wholesale prices increased 1.0% in May compared with April.
JAPAN: Industrial production declined 1.5% in April.
U.K.: Industrial production fell by 0.6% in April compared with March.
U.K.: GDP declined by 0.3% in April.
U.K.: Construction output slipped 0.4% in April.
U.K.: Services output dropped 0.3% in April compared with March.
U.S.: The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.8% in May.
U.S.: Retail sales fell 0.3% in May compared with April.
U.S.: Business inventories rose 1.2% in April.
U.S.: Housing starts dropped 14.4% in May compared with April.
U.S.: The Conference Board Leading Economic Index declined in May.
Trade
EUROSTAT: The euro area recorded a trade deficit in April.
U.K.: The trade in goods and services deficit increased in the three months to April.
U.S.: Import prices rose 0.6% and export prices increased 2.8% in May.
Inflation/deflation
AUSTRALIA: Consumer inflation expectations rose to 6.7% in June from 5.0% in May.
CHINA: The Producer Price Index increased 6.4% year over year in May.
CHINA: The CPI rose 2.1% year over year in May.
EUROSTAT: Euro area annual inflation rose to 8.1% in May from 7.4% in April.
GERMANY: The CPI increased to 7.9% year over year in May, reaching a record high.
U.S.: Consumer inflation expectations rose to 6.6% in May from 6.3% in April.
Market sentiment
AUSTRALIA: The NAB Business Confidence Index dropped in May, reaching a four-month low.
GERMANY: The ZEW Indicator of Economic sentiment improved in June, but remained at a negative level.
U.S.: The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell in May.
U.S.: The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index declined in June.