Public sector net borrowing in the UK, excluding public sector banks, stood at 24.34 billion pounds sterling in April, up from the revised 11.48 billion pounds earlier, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Friday.
Analysts expected 20.7 billion pounds for the month, according to Investing.com data.
New Zealand's retail sales data for the March quarter points to a "solid lift" in consumer spending, advancing a retail sector recovery that started in late 2024, Westpac said in a Friday report.The country's volume of seasonally adjusted retail sales hit NZ$26.04 billion in the March quarter, up 0.9% from the December 2025 quarter and exceeding Westpac's forecast for a 0.2% increase.Some of the growth in nominal spending, which rose 2.2% over the quarter and 6.1% from a year earlier, is a result of higher prices, especially for fuel, the bank said.Strong growth in tourist arrivals buoyed the results, as the volume of spending on accommodation rose over 6% during the quarter. Spending on food and beverage services also increased, while spending on footwear, apparel, and recreational goods fell, possibly reflecting an early reaction to the Middle East conflict, Westpac said.Given the impact of the Middle East conflict, the current quarter will probably be "a much tougher one for retailers, especially those selling discretionary items," the bank said, adding that the economy's second-half performance will depend on how the conflict evolves and how New Zealand's central bank responds to a spike in inflation.Westpac continues to anticipate gross domestic product growth of 0.8% in the March quarter.
South Korea's composite consumer sentiment index rose to 106.1 in May from 99.2 in April, according to data released by the Bank of Korea on Friday.A reading above 100 indicates an improved outlook, while a reading below 100 suggests pessimism.Sentiment toward current living standards rose two points to 93, while sentiment on the future outlook gained five points to 97.The outlook for future household income was up two points to 100, while the sentiment for future household spending also rose by two points to 110.Optimism regarding current local economic conditions increased by 15 points to 83, and the reading for future domestic economic conditions was 14 points higher at 93.
New Zealand's total vehicle registrations were 4.6 million in April, a decrease of 28,966 from the previous month, covering both six and 12-month licensing periods, data from Stats NZ showed Friday.The decrease was driven by a decline in car registrations, which fell by 8,494 month on month to about 3 million, while rental car and motorcycle registrations dropped to 42,832 and 66,185 from 45,500 and 74,581, respectively, the report said.Compared with the year-earlier period, total vehicle registrations in New Zealand rose by 837 in April, the report added.