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The Japanese government on Friday upwardly revised its assessment of the economy, citing a pick up in business investment, according to a monthly report released by the Cabinet Office on Friday. The upgrade supports the government's case for a scheduled two-stage hike in the sales tax. "The Japanese economy is on the way to recovery at a moderate pace," the government said in its September report.

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With food and energy prices showing notable increases, the Labor Department released a report on Friday showing that U.S. producer prices rose by more than expected in the month of August. The Labor Department said its producer price index rose by 0.3 percent in August after coming in unchanged in July. The index had been expected to edge up by 0.2 percent.

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Retail sales in the U.S. rose by less than expected in the month of August, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Friday. The report said retail sales rose by 0.2 percent in August following an upwardly revised 0.4 percent increase in July.

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With retail inventories showing a notable increase, the Commerce Department released a report on Friday showing that U.S. business inventories rose by more than expected in the month of July. The report said business inventories climbed by 0.4 percent in July following a revised 0.1 percent increase in June. Economists had expected inventories to increase by 0.3 percent.

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Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has deteriorated by much more than anticipated in the month of September, according to a report released by Reuters and the University of Michigan on Friday. The report said the preliminary reading on the consumer sentiment index for September came in at 76.8, down from August's final reading of 82.1. Economists had expected the index to edge down to 82.0.

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The average asking price for a house in the United Kingdom was down 1.5 percent on month in September, property tracking website Rightmove said on Monday, worth an estimated 245,495 pounds.

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The total number of house sales in New Zealand dipped 3.4 percent in August compared to the previous month, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand said on Monday, coming in at 6,548.

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Online real estate portal Rightmove raised its forecast for U.K. house prices on Monday as demand continued to outstrip supply, amid concerns that a new government scheme to boost the housing market will fuel a property bubble. The agency expects house prices in the country to rise 6 percent this year, much faster than the 4 percent increase forecast earlier.

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Activity in the New York manufacturing sector unexpectedly expanded at a slower pace in the month of September, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday.

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With a drop in utilities output partly offsetting a rebound in manufacturing, the Federal Reserve released a report on Monday showing that U.S. industrial production rose by slightly less than expected in the month of August. The Fed said industrial production increased by 0.4 percent in August after coming in unchanged in July. Economists had expected production to rise by about 0.5 percent.

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