Investing.com - In the week ahead, investors will be looking to Wednesday’s U.S. data on retail sales and Thursday’s report on consumer prices for fresh indications on the strength of consumer spending.
Elsewhere, Tuesday’s ZEW report on German business sentiment and the latest U.K. employment report will be closely watched.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
1. U.S. retail sales report
U.S. retail sales have not fallen six straight months, in a positive sign for the economy, where consumer spending accounts for roughly 70% of economic output.
Wednesday’s report is expected to show that retail sales ticked up 0.2% in September from a month earlier as lower gasoline prices continue to boost spending momentum.
2. U.S. CPI
The U.S. is to publish data on the consumer price index on Thursday and the consensus forecast is for consumer prices to show a decline of 0.2% MoM and 0.1% YoY.
U.S. consumer prices unexpectedly fell in August as gasoline prices fell and the stronger dollar weighed on prices. The tame inflation outlook has complicated the Federal Reserve’s decision on when to start hiking interest rates.
3. German ZEW
Germany is to release data on economic sentiment on Tuesday, amid concerns over the outlook for the euro area’s largest economy.
The ZEW economic expectations index for September showed a drop to 12.1 from 25.0 in August as a slowdown in emerging market economies weighed.
The report is expected to show that Germans are increasingly pessimistic on the economic outlook, with the index expected to decline again to 6.0.
4. U.K. jobs report
The Office for National Statistics is release the latest UK employment report on Wednesday.
The unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 5.5% and wage growth is expected to continue to climb, with pay excluding bonuses forecast to rise 3.1% after a 2.9% increase in July.
Robust pay growth has boosted expectations for a rate hike by the Bank of England.
5. U.S. consumer sentiment
The University of Michigan is to publish the preliminary reading of its consumer sentiment index on Friday, with a consensus forecast for an uptick to 88.7 from an upwardly revised 87.2 in September.
Last month the report showed that U.S. consumer sentiment deteriorated as concerns over the global slowdown and uncertainty over future jobs growth weighed.