Growth lopsided to exports may be pointing to the risk of imbalances for Europe while inflation, or the lack of it in February at least, is the focus in the U.S.

With the Italian election results along with agreement on a German government the focus is now on the ECB announcement. In Japan, leadership and when the BoJ might begin to consider unwinding its ultra-loose policy have the attention of bank watchers.

Jerome Powell's debut has increased the odds for four rate hikes this year, while weekend elections and disappointing data pose new questions for Europe and Asia.

The Fed might be worried about strengthening inflation while the ECB and Bank of Japan worry about too little.

Is U.S. inflation set to rise? And why is inflation in the UK running so strong? Our panelists offer their cross-Atlantic assessments of inflation and the outlook.

Celebrating our 100th weekly installment, panel members compare the global economy two years ago with where it is now.

GDP data and PMI surveys are showing building strength out of Europe while strength in U.S. GDP is deceptive but very significant. Yet inflation is still subdued though whether it begins to increase in line with economic growth, and whether central banks become increasingly less accommodative, are the questions for the 2018 global economy.

The Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank are making news this week as will upcoming fourth-quarter GDP reports from the U.K., the Eurozone and also the U.S. where a solid consumer-driven quarter is the forecast.

Signs of economic strength are coming from the U.S. consumer, the Canadian labor market, and are expressed in Europe by gains in the euro. And all of this strength is hinting perhaps at less accommodation this year from global central banks.

Japanese economic growth is on its best run in 29 years while the economy in Europe ended last year on an impressive note. Yet price pressures are still elusive as they are in the U.S. where inflation updates are the week's feature.