The week ahead is packed with a slate of trade and inflation data, growth figures, and several interest-rate decisions that could sharpen the region's policy outlook into year-end.
The week opens with fresh trade signals from China and an upwardly watched revision to Japan's third-quarter GDP, setting the tone for a data-heavy run across Asia.
Attention then turns to central banks and business sentiment on Tuesday, with the Reserve Bank of Australia widely expected to stand pat even as investors parse its tone for hints on the 2026 path.
Midweek brings China's November CPI and PPI prints as markets look for confirmation that deflation risks are easing, alongside Japan's own producer-price data and a series of regional labor and retail releases.
By Thursday, policy focus broadens with rate decisions in the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau, before the week closes with India's latest inflation reading and additional production and trade-price updates across the region.
Here's what to watch in the week ahead.
MONDAY, Dec. 8
The week kicked off with trade figures from China. The world's second largest economy booked a trade surplus of $1.12 trillion in November, driven by a 5.9% year-over-year jump in exports during the month, figures showed.
Exports in November totaled $3.304 trillion, while imports rose 1.9% year on year to $2.187 trillion. For the first 11 months of 2025, exports increased 5.4% to $34 trillion, while imports edged down 0.6% to $23 trillion.
In Japan, government data showed the economy contracted by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter during the third quarter, worse than the 0.4% seen in a preliminary reading.
The annualized GDP reading for the July to September period showed a steeper decline of 2.3% versus the first reading of 1.8%, according to government data.
Observers had expected a decline of 0.5%, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics.
TUESDAY, Dec. 9
Australia's central bank will meet for its latest policy rate decision, with analysts widely expecting the Reserve Bank of Australia to maintain its cash rate at 3.6%.
According to ANZ Research, Australia's central bank may adopt a more hawkish tone in its post-meeting statement due to "uncomfortably high" inflation concerns in the December quarter, as well as a "tight" labor market. This likely hawkishness from the RBA will contrast with other central banks, with the US Federal Reserve expected to deliver a 25-basis-point cut, ANZ said.
Westpac said it was not surprised by the recent consumer price index figures, which showed prices had risen 3.8% year on year, and expected the RBA to ease rates in May and August next year once inflation eases.
Markets will also be awaiting the National Australia Bank (NAB) business confidence report for signs on whether the Australian economy held onto its recent momentum. CommBank Research said it would take a close look at the surveyed cost and price outcomes given the previous survey results suggested that inflation pressures in the final quarter of the year may be easing.
Observers will also monitor remarks by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda for signs the central bank may raise rates at its policy meeting later this month. Such a move could unravel the so-called carry trade in which investors borrow a low-yield currency and reinvest in other currencies or assets with higher returns.
Taiwan's trade figures are likely to show a decline in the island nation's trade surplus during the month of November. According to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics, the trade surplus could narrow to $18.5 billion from $22.6 billion a month prior.
Not sharing this view, ING said it expects Taiwan's trade surplus to rise to $23.4 billion on the back of rising exports. As a major supplier of semiconductors, the island's exports have been supported by the artificial intelligence race and are set to close out the year on a "strong footing," the bank said.
The Reuters Tankan Index for December, a key gauge of Japanese business confidence, will be due. Japan will also report its November machine tool orders the same day.
Meanwhile, Indonesia will release its consumer consumer confidence report for November, while the Philippines will report industrial production data for October.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10
China's November inflation figures will grab headlines as markets await confirmation prices headed in an upward trajectory during the month.
After witnessing deflation for most of 2025, the Chinese economy could continue its recovery with a 0.5% rise in the consumer price index during the month, ING predicted. The firm expects China to record a second month of consecutive price increase on the back of higher food prices, which, combined with upward momentum in non-food rates, could boost inflation.
"Overall, inflation remains quite low, but preventing a deflationary mindset from settling in is important to maintaining a healthy long-term consumption and investment trajectory," ING said in a preview.
The low inflation print is also unlikely to change the People's Bank of China's decision-making, the bank added.
China's producer price index for November is also due the same day, with analysts expecting a deflationary trend to continue. According to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics, producer prices are likely to decline by 2.1% during the month.
Japan will also publish November producer-price data, with analysts forecasting PPI to rise around 2.7%, according to Trading Economics.
Other releases scheduled for the day include unemployment figures from South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and retail sales figures from Indonesia.
THURSDAY, Dec. 11
Interest rate decisions in Hong Kong, Macau, and the Philippines will take center stage.
Markets expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to cut interest rates in the Philippines by 25 basis points to 4.5%, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics.
According to ING, the Philippines' economy is unlikely to be growing at the pace previously thought because of a scaling back of government spending in light of a corruption scandal involving the alleged misuse of public funds for state flood-management initiatives.
The bank said it was cutting its full-year GDP growth estimate to 4.7% from 5.2%, strengthening its call for a 25 basis point cut at the upcoming meeting.
The Philippines' central bank is also likely to cut rates again in the first quarter of next year, ANZ Research predicted, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Meanwhile, Trading Economics expects central banks in Hong Kong and Macau to also trim the interest rate by 25 basis points to 4% each.
Other releases scheduled for Thursday include November labor data from Australia.
FRIDAY, Dec. 12
The week rounds off with November inflation data from India.
Prices are likely to have risen at a marginally higher pace during the month, with Trading Economics pegging the figure at 0.6% year-on-year.
According to The Wall Street Journal, prices remain at multi-decade lows, with food rates being the main drag -- offset by a decline in household goods and services prices due to GST rate cuts.
The latest CPI print could reinforce the Indian central bank's decision to cut rates at its last meeting, the WSJ added.
Elsewhere in the region, South Korea will release November export and import prices, while both Japan and Malaysia will report October industrial production figures.
Malaysia will also report retail sales data for October, while New Zealand will see the release of the business purchasing managers' index for November.
CommBank Research said it expects the BusinessNZ Manufacturing PMI to remain in the 50+ expansion zone.
"Forward looking components of the survey including forward orders and production will be looked for hints on the speed of the recovery heading into 2026, whereas lagging components such as employment will be looked for signs a pick-up, consistent with a subsequent recovery in hiring," the firm said in a preview.
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