For the week ahead in Asia, markets will be focused on a packed calendar of central bank decisions, trade figures, and inflation readings.
The week opens Monday with a flurry of key Chinese data, including industrial production, while New Zealand's services activity will also be in focus.
Attention then shifts Tuesday to interest rate decisions from Australia and Indonesia, alongside trade-related releases from South Korea and Singapore.
Midweek, investors will parse Japan's February trade data, while labor market readings from South Korea and Hong Kong will be due.
Thursday brings the Bank of Japan's policy decision and Taiwan's interest rate call.
The week wraps up Friday with inflation and trade readings from multiple regions, including Hong Kong, and China's loan prime rate decisions.
Here's what to watch in the week ahead.
MONDAY, March 16
The week kicked off with a flurry of closely-watched macro data from China, including industrial production, retail sales, and unemployment stats.
China's industrial output jumped 6.3% in the first two months of the year, up from 5.9% in the year-ago period and above the 5.2% recorded in December, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.
Unemployment reached 5.3% in the January-February period, unchanged from a year earlier but above the 2025 average of 5.2%.
Retail sales reached 8.608 trillion yuan in the first two months of 2026, up 2.8% year over year. Urban retail sales went up 2.7% to 7.445 trillion yuan, while rural retail sales jumped 3.2% to 1.163 trillion yuan.
Meanwhile, China's fixed asset investment rose 1.8% year over year in the first two months of the year to 5.272 trillion yuan. Industrial investment climbed 5.4%, while infrastructure investment jumped over 11%.
The BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index in New Zealand showed the services sector fell back into contraction in February, highlighting a slower-than-expected economic recovery.
The BusinessNZ PSI fell to 48 in February from 50.7 in the previous month. A reading below the 50-point mark points to contraction.
The seasonally adjusted BusinessNZ Performance of Composite Index showed mixed outcomes, with the February GDP-weighted index falling to 48.7, while the free-weighted index remained slightly positive at 50.5.
Later Monday, India reports trade figures for February, as well as wholesale inflation and unemployment data for the month.
India's trade deficit is expected to narrow to $28 billion from the $34.68 billion reported in January, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics.
In February, India reached a trade deal with the U.S. that would reduce U.S. tariff on Indian goods to 18% from up to 50% imposed last year.
The agreement is yet to be signed, according to a recent report from Reuters.
TUESDAY, March 17
Interest rate decisions in Australia and Indonesia will capture headlines Tuesday.
A Trading Economics consensus showed markets expected the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise rates by 25 basis points to 4.1%.
Economists at National Australia Bank and CommBank shared that view, while ING expected the central bank to wait until May before raising the official cash rate, though it did not rule out a hike entirely.
"A rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia is certainly on the table for Tuesday. But given the current global uncertainty, we think the RBA is more likely to wait until May. This would give policymakers additional time to assess whether inflationary pressures are broadening beyond housing," ING said in a preview.
Meanwhile, J.P. Morgan expects Bank Indonesia to hold rates at 4.75% during its meeting Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the firm, the central bank has limited fiscal space to cut rates amid pressure on the local currency and persistent fiscal concerns, the report said.
On the trade front, South Korea reports February export and import prices, while Singapore reports balance of trade and non-oil exports stats.
WEDNESDAY, March 18
More trade data, this time from Japan.
Japan's trade deficit is expected to narrow to 485 billion yen in February from the 1.152 trillion yen recorded in January, a Trading Economics consensus showed.
Both South Korea and Hong Kong will issue labor data.
Trading Economics expects South Korea's unemployment rate to ease to 2.9% in February from the 3% recorded a month prior. In Hong Kong, Trading Economics is forecasting unemployment to remain steady at 3.9%.
A consumer confidence report from Westpac covering the first quarter will also be due in New Zealand the same day.
THURSDAY, March 19
Markets will turn their attention to Bank of Japan's policy rate meeting.
A Trading Economics consensus showed markets expected the Bank of Japan to hold rates steady at 0.75%, though ING said a minor vote in favor of a rate hike was possible.
"It will be important to examine closely how the BoJ evaluates the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict and the results of the spring wage negotiations. These factors will influence whether a rate hike occurs in April or June," ING said in a preview.
The Reuters Tankan Index for March, a key gauge of Japanese business confidence, will be due the same day. Japan will simultaneously report its January machinery order and industrial production figures.
Taiwan's central bank will similarly announce its interest rate decision on Thursday.
Economists at ING said they did not expect the Central Bank of the Republic of China, or CBC, to change its current benchmark interest rate of 2% as inflation remained under target and the island state's growth was exceeding expectations.
Markets will also be on the lookout for New Zealand's 2025 fourth-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate. Observers expect New Zealand's economy to have grown by 1.5% year on year in the final months of 2025, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics.
CommBank said it expects fourth-quarter data to show the economy continued its recovery into the end of 2025, supported by monetary policy easing, growth in tourism, and the "decent" agricultural production.
"Looking ahead, economic consequences for New Zealand from the [Middle East war] depend on how long it lasts, but so far, the risks to economic growth are firmly skewed to the downside," CommBank said in a preview.
Neighboring Australia will report February labor data the same day.
The National Australia Bank said it expects the unemployment rate to hold at 4.1%, even as a Trading Economics consensus showed forecasts of joblessness rising to 4.2%.
A reading of 4.2% could ease concerns that the labor market is tighter than the Reserve Bank of Australia's February assessment, NAB said.
Malaysia's February inflation and balance of trade figures will also capture headlines Thursday.
Economists at ANZ expect Malaysia's inflation to remain steady at 1.6% as food prices remain well-contained, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Meanwhile, Trading Economics estimated the country's trade surplus could rise to 25 billion ringgit from 21.4 billion ringgit in January.
FRIDAY, March 20
Trade activity and inflation prints will dominate releases Friday.
Both Hong Kong and Macau are set to release inflation data, with Trading Economics forecasting faster price growth in February.
Trading Economics expects Hong Kong's annual inflation rate to rise to 1.2% in February from 1.1% in January. Macau's inflation rate is also seen accelerating, to 1% year on year from 0.54% a month earlier.
New Zealand is expected to show a narrowing of its trade deficit when it reports February trade data on Friday. According to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics, the deficit will likely narrow to NZ$470 million from NZ$519 million in January.
Thailand's trade deficit is similarly expected to narrow to $1 billion from $3.3 billion, according to a Trading Economics forecast.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's export orders are expected to slow to 17.2% year on year from 60.1% in January due to a Lunar New Year-related slowdown, ING said in a preview.
China will disclose its one-year and five-year loan prime rates, with no change expected in the current rates of 3% and 3.5%, respectively.
Singapore's finalized fourth-quarter unemployment data will be due the same day.
The city state's unemployment has remained at a stable 2% since the start of 2025.
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