(RTTNews) - Thursday, the interest rate decisions from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank are in focus. In addition, UK industrial production figures and Eurozone retail sales reports are due.

The Bank of England’s interest rate announcement is due at 7:00 am ET. The central bank is widely expected to retain its key rate at a historic low of 0.5%. Also, the Monetary Policy Committee of the central bank is set to expand the size of the asset purchase scheme by GBP 50 billion to GBP 225 billion.

The European Central Bank is scheduled to announce its interest rate decision at 7:45 am ET. Economists expect the policy rate to be retained at the record low of 1.00%. Central bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet will be holding his regular press conference at 8:30 am ET.

At 1:45 am ET, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs is set to issue the results of its consumer confidence survey for the fourth quarter. The corresponding index is seen at minus 38, up from minus 42 in the prior quarter.

Industrial production data is due from Spain’s National Statistics Institute at 3:00 am ET. Year-on-year, industrial output is forecast to drop a working day adjusted 13.3% in September, following the 13.1% fall in the previous month.

In the meantime, the Hungarian Central Statistical Office is scheduled to release preliminary industrial production figures for September. Economists expect industrial production to decline 17.9% annually, slower than the 19.8% fall in the preceding month.

At 3:15 am ET, Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office is set to release consumer price data for October. Year-on-year, consumer prices are forecast to fall 0.7% compared to the 0.9% decrease in the previous month. The monthly inflation rate is seen at 0.7%.

Dutch consumer prices data is due from the Central Bureau of Statistics at 3:30 am ET. Consumer prices are expected to rise 0.6% year-on-year in October, faster than the 0.4% increase in September. Compared to the previous month, consumer prices are expected to fall 0.1%.

The interest rate decision from Iceland’s central bank is due at 4:00 am ET. The collateral loan and deposit rates stand at 12% and 9.5%, respectively.

Half an hour later, UK industrial production data for September is due from Office for National Statistics. Month-on-month, industrial output is forecast to grow 1.2%, rebounding from the 2.5% decrease in the previous month. On a yearly basis, output is expected to fall 10.3% compared to the 11.2% fall last month. Further, economists expect manufacturing production to climb 1% on a monthly basis in September, compared to the 1.9% decline in August. Annually, manufacturing output is forecast to drop 9.7%.

At 5:00 am ET, the Eurostat is expected to issue retail trade statistics for the Eurozone. Sales are expected to rise 0.2% month-on-month in September, in contrast to the 0.2% decrease in the preceding month. On a yearly basis, retail sales are tipped to fall 2.4%, following the 2.6% decrease in the prior month.

Elsewhere, consumer price inflation data for October is due from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Cyprus. Last month, consumer prices had declined 1.2% on a yearly basis but rose 1% on a monthly basis.

Finally, the Czech National Bank’s interest rate decision is due at 6:00 am ET. The central bank is widely expected to leave the key rate untouched at 1.25%.

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Posted in Categories: Economy, Eurozone, Forex, Releases, Switzerland, UK.

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