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It’s a busy week for the UK, and not just because of the pending eurozone Brexit summit at the end of the week.
On Tuesday we get the latest data on unemployment and wages, both of which continue to be strong, despite signs of a slowdown elsewhere in the economy. Then on Wednesday, we get the latest date on inflation, which is currently sitting at around the Bank of England’s target rate of 2%. We also get the latest official figures on house prices. Price growth has been slowing in most parts of the UK for most of this year, while in London and the southeast, prices have fallen.
In the US on Wednesday, we’ll get a snapshot of how the all-important US consumer is feeling with the latest report on retail sales.
Meanwhile, on Friday morning we get inflation data from Japan. Japanese prices are rising – albeit very slowly – but the inflation rate remains well below the Japanese central bank’s target level.