Investing.com - In the week ahead, investors will be looking ahead to Friday’s U.S. data on retail sales and inflation for fresh indications on the strength of the economy.
Markets will also be watching a raft of Chinese economic data, including a report on the trade balance as well as data on consumer price inflation.
Central bank meetings in the U.K., Switzerland and New Zealand will also be in focus.
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
The Commerce Department will publish data on November retail sales at 8:30AM ET Friday. The consensus forecast is that the report will show retail sales rose 0.3% last month, after gaining 0.1% in October. Core sales are forecast to increase 0.3%, after rising 0.2% a month earlier.
2. U.S. PPI data
Also at 8:30AM ET on Friday, the U.S. is to release data on producer price inflation. Producer prices are expected to fall 0.1% in November, after declining 0.4% a month earlier, while core prices are forecast to inch up 0.1%, following a 0.3% decline in October.
3. Chinese trade data
China is to release November trade data during Asian hours on Tuesday. The report is expected to show that the country’s trade surplus widened to $63.3 billion last month from $61.7 billion in October.
Chinese exports for November are forecast to drop 5.0% from a year earlier, following a decline of 6.9% a month ago, while imports are expected to slump 12.6%, after falling 18.8% in October.
4. Chinese CPI report
On Wednesday, China is to publish reports on November consumer and producer price inflation. The data is expected to show that consumer prices rose 1.4% last month, compared to a reading of 1.3% in October, while producer prices are forecast to fall by 5.9%, which would be the 43rd straight monthly decline.
5. Central bank meetings
The Bank of England will release its rate decision and minutes of its Monetary Policy Committee meeting at 12:00PM London time, or 7:00AM ET, on Thursday. Last month, the Monetary Policy Committee voted 8-1 to keep rates on hold at a record low 0.5%. Most market players expect the BOE to begin slowly raising interest rates in mid-2016.
Meanwhile, in Switzerland, the Swiss National Bank's latest interest rate decision is due on Thursday at 8:30AM in London. Most economists expect no policy change.
Elsewhere, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is expected to ease monetary policy for the fourth time this year when it meets on Wednesday. The consensus is that the RBNZ will cut interest rates to 2.5% from 2.75%.