For the week ahead in Asia, markets will be focused on a run of inflation prints, trade updates, and activity indicators across the region.

The week opens Monday on a relatively light note, with Singapore's inflation data setting the tone.

Attention then turns Tuesday to Japan's February inflation print, alongside S&P Global's flash PMI readings for India, Japan, and Australia.

Midweek, markets will parse Australia's February inflation reading and policy meeting minutes from Japan.

Thursday brings trade figures from Hong Kong, followed by a raft of macro data releases from across the region on Friday.

Here's what to watch in the week ahead.

MONDAY, March 23

The week was off to a relatively light start, with Singapore's February inflation print among the handful of releases scheduled.

Singapore's headline consumer price index, representing overall inflation, fell 1.2% year on year in the month, due to lower accommodation and private transport inflation.

MAS core inflation, which excludes the cost of accommodation and private transport, rose 1.4% year on year in February from 1.0% in the previous month

Core inflation and overall inflation are currently projected to average 1.0% to 2.0% in 2026, according to a joint release by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

TUESDAY, March 24

Japan's February inflation print will capture headlines Tuesday.

Economists at ING said they expect the monthly reading to show a further slowdown in consumer inflation due to the government's energy subsidy. While headline inflation is expected to remain stable at 1.5%, core inflation is estimated to cool to 1.7% year on year from the 2% recorded in January, according to ING.

"Higher energy prices are likely to push up inflation again in the coming months, prompting the Bank of Japan to keep the door open to rate hikes," ING said in a preview.

A consensus compiled by Trading Economics also placed Japan's February core inflation at 1.7% year on year.

South Korea will release producer price inflation data for February.

Thailand reports February trade figures, with Trading Economics expecting the country's trade deficit to narrow to $1 billion from the $3.3 billion recorded a month prior.

In Taiwan, February industrial production and retail sales stats will be due. According to ING, industrial production could moderate toward 13.3% year on year, but should still reflect a "quite robust" start to 2026.

On the activity front, S&P Global releases its monthly flash PMI readings covering manufacturing, services, and composite activity in India, Japan, and Australia.

WEDNESDAY, March 25

Another inflation print, this time in Australia.

Analysts expect Australia's February inflation to remain at 3.8%, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics.

Both Westpac and National Australia Bank shared the view, but CommBank placed its forecast slightly below the consensus at 3.7%.

According to CommBank, the underlying measures of inflation are expected to remain "firm," with the print offering markets a gauge of how inflation was tracking prior to the Iran war which pushed oil prices up.

The Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting minutes will add color to the central bank's recent decision to hold short-term interest rates unchanged at 0.75%.

In its statement last week, the central bank flagged increased volatility in global markets and warned that higher crude costs could add to underlying price pressures, underscoring a cautious policy stance.

In South Korea, the March consumer confidence report will be due.

THURSDAY, March 26

Markets will turn their attention to trade figures coming in from Hong Kong, with Trading Economics expecting the city-state's trade deficit to widen to HK$16 billion from the HK$14.1 billion in the month prior.

In Taiwan, unemployment figures will be due. According to Trading Economics, the rate of joblessness could rise marginally to 3.4% from the 3.36% recorded in January.

Singapore's February industrial production stats will be due the same day.

FRIDAY, March 27

The week rounds off with key releases across multiple regions covering trade and industrial production.

China will report industrial profits data for the first two months of the year, with markets on the lookout for any improvement from the "sluggish 0.6% year-on-year growth rate in 2025," ING said in a preview.

The Philippines will report February trade figures. According to Trading Economics, the country's trade deficit could narrow to $3.8 billion from the $4.05 billion witnessed in January.

Singapore will similarly release trade data covering export and import prices for the month, while stats coming in from Macao could show a narrowing of the city state's trade deficit to 10.2 billion pataca from the 11.7 billion pataca recorded a month prior, according to Trading Economics.

Macao reports unemployment figures the same day.

Both Singapore and the Philippines will also release producer price inflation data, joining Malaysia which will disclose February PPI.

In Thailand, February industrial production stats will be due.

Meanwhile, a number of confidence reports are scheduled for the day.

Both Taiwan and New Zealand will release reports covering consumer confidence for March, while a business confidence report will be due in South Korea.