The Business News Week Ahead

Business sentiment in Germany has been improving while new homes are very hot right now in the US; updates on Monday that will lead off what looks to a mostly upbeat weak of economic news. Yet Tuesday may see a run of subdued reports: CBI distributive trade that follows December's big retail sales flop in the UK; as well as US consumer confidence and US durable goods on Tuesday, two sets of data that have been flat. Wednesday the focus will be the Federal Reserve and whether US policy makers, however much against expectations, signal any hint away from their wait-and-see mode. Big news will also be posted in the US on Thursday with the first estimate of fourth-quarter GDP, a report that may very well be highlighted, if not by the consumer, then by residential investment and net exports. Fourth-quarter flash GDP data will also be posted in France and the Eurozone on Friday. But the week's most awaited news will be posted on Thursday by the Bank of England and whether, after a run of mixed to weak economic data, policy suddenly turns dovish. Turning to inflation, consumer prices at midweek may put the Reserve Bank of Australia in focus and whether, should pressures prove mostly flat as expected, another rate cut may be in store. Other CPI reports include January's preliminary data from Germany on Thursday followed on Friday by France and the Eurozone. Data will also be heavy out of Japan, mostly on Thursday with industrial production and retail sales.