The week ahead will be dominated by inflation prints across the region which will set the tone for central bank decisions throughout 2026, as well as a flurry of reports detailing how economies fared in the closing months of 2025.
Monday brings a batch of PMI reports from Thailand, Japan, and China, alongside trade data from Indonesia.
On Tuesday, investors will parse inflation prints from Vietnam and the Philippines for signals on where interest rates could head next.
Midweek, focus shifts to inflation reports from Australia, Thailand, and Taiwan, followed by a light Thursday when Australia reports trade stats.
The week wraps up Friday with China's closely watched consumer price index release and a batch of macro data from regional economies, including Malaysia.
Here's what to watch in the week ahead.
MONDAY, Jan. 5
The week kicked off with a flurry of purchasing managers' index reports from S&P Global covering manufacturing activity in Thailand and Japan, and the services sector in China.
China's service sector continued to expand in December 2025, though growth softened to a six-month low. The headline RatingDog China General Services Business Activity Index inched down to 52.0 points last month from 52.1 in November 2025, S&P Global said.
Japan's manufacturing sector stabilized in December 2025, ending five months of contraction as indicated by the Japan Manufacturing PMI reading, which stood at 50.0, according to S&P Global.
Meanwhile, manufacturing activity in Thailand rose in December 2025, and at a quicker pace than the month prior. The seasonally adjusted S&P Thailand Manufacturing PMI rose to 57.4 in December from 56.8 in November, rising further above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, S&P Global said.
Indonesia released trade figures for November and inflation data for December.
Inflation in December clocked in at 2.92%, quickening from the 2.72% recorded a month prior and above a 2.73% consensus compiled by Trading Economics.
The country's exports reached $22.5 billion in November 2025, down 6.6% from a year earlier, while imports came in at $19.9 billion, edging up 0.46% from the same month last year.
Retail sales data released by Singapore showed a yearly rise of 6.3% in November to SG$4.4 billion.
Thailand is due to release its December business confidence report later Monday.
TUESDAY, Jan. 6
Focus will shift to Vietnam on Tuesday as it releases a number of key figures for December.
The nation of over 100 million will release inflation data, retail sales figures, trade numbers, industrial production stats, as well as the fourth quarter growth rate.
Trading Economics expects Vietnam's trade surplus to rise to $1.3 billion in December from the $1.09 billion recorded a month prior.
The Philippines' December inflation print is due the same day, alongside industrial production data and the produce price index.
A softer inflation print could raise expectations the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas would further ease rates at its next policy meeting in February, The Wall Street Journal reported. Observers expect prices to rise by 1.3% in December, slower than the 1.5% rise witnessed in November, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics.
On the activity front, S&P Global releases PMI reports for Hong Kong and Singapore, and composite and services PMIs for India and Australia.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7
Wednesday will be dominated by inflation headlines from Australia, Thailand, and Taiwan.
Australia's print will be closely watched for hints on where interest rates will be headed next after the Reserve Bank of Australia extended a pause on its cash rate at its most recent meeting, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Economists at the National Australia Bank expect November's consumer price index to slow to 3.6% year on year from the 3.8% witnessed a month prior, it said in a preview.
The inflation print in Thailand will similarly clue markets in on the direction of interest rates as a decline in consumer prices could raise expectations for additional easing in the coming months, The Wall Street Journal reported. Market observers expect prices to decline by 0.40% year-on-year during the month, a consensus compiled by Trading Economics showed.
The Philippines will release November unemployment figures, while S&P Global will publish Japan's composite and services PMI reports for December.
THURSDAY, Jan. 8
Australia releases November trade figures, with markets expecting the country's trade surplus to rise to A$5.2 billion from the A$4.4 billion recorded in October, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics.
Japan's consumer confidence report for December is scheduled for the same day.
FRIDAY, Jan. 9
The week rounds off with China's inflation data for December, as well as the producer price index for the month.
Analysts forecast consumer prices to rise by 0.8% in December, quickening from the 0.7% recorded in November, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics. The inflation print will clue investors in on the strength of domestic demand, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Taiwan releases December balance of trade data, with Trading Economics forecasting the island nation's trade surplus to decline to $8.5 billion from the $16.09 billion witnessed in November.
Malaysia reports November industrial production, retail sales, and unemployment stats the same day, while Indonesia releases its consumer confidence report for December.
