The Business News Week Ahead

The supply side of the global economy is the focus for the coming week, beginning with German manufacturers' orders on Tuesday and German industrial production on Wednesday. Expectations for both are for steady growth. Industrial production data late in the week are expected to show slowing growth, whether for the UK, France or Italy which will release their reports all on Friday. The UK will also post monthly GDP on Friday, and again slowing is the expectation. Steady and low is the expectation for Swiss unemployment on Thursday, while steady and weak is the expectation for Japanese household spending on Friday. Highlights of the week include a statement from the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday and the Canadian labour force survey for Friday.