Retail Sales and the Overall Economy Will Lead the Week´s News

The week will begin with the publication of January retail sales in Spain, which will be key to knowing the evolution of household spending at the start of the year and their level of confidence. In the December publication, it registered a year-on-year variation of 3.1%.

On Tuesday the 12th we will know the final reading of Germany’s inflation in February, with a moderation in prices explained by the deterioration of the economic activity of the European power. For its part, data on the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom will also be published in January, in a previous situation in which its level in December fell 0.2 pp to 3.8% of the active population.

On Wednesday the 13th, the evolution of January industrial production in the Eurozone will be announced, which registered a rise in year-on-year terms of 1.2% last December. On a day in which data related to the trend of GDP and industrial production will also be published in the United Kingdom.

Thursday the 14th, the INE will release the final reading of the evolution of prices in Spain in February, its preliminary reading reflecting a significant moderation of the general inflation rate to 2.8% year-on-year. The week will end with the publication of the final CPI data for the month of February from France and Italy, which will be accompanied by readings of retail sales and the trade balance of the Italian economy.

On a business level, the publication of results from Inditex, Adidas, Zalando and Volkswagen will stand out.

On the roads, ROADPOL, the European Traffic Police Network will be holding a focus campaign on the correct wearing of seat belts. In Spain, the Guardia Civil, and Local Police in many places, will also be taking part in the campaign to ensure that seat belts are worn, and worn correctly, and that children are secure in the vehicle.

Throughout next weekend and into next week there is also a geographically targeted general campaign taking place in both the Valencia and Murcia regions, in addition to the seat belt focus.

In the UK, following defeat after defeat after defeat, the Rwanda bill will return to the Lords for further debate.

The holy month of Ramadan is set to begin, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, which will see Muslims around the globe partaking in their daily fasting.

The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on Wednesday on its Artificial Intelligence Act, considered landmark legislation on AI aimed at protecting ‘fundamental rights and democracy’.

Finally, in the UK, Monday gives Brits the opportunity to sample a little piece of life in Spain, the siesta, as Monday is National Napping Day!