THE WEEK AHEAD

Locally, a thin amount of data sees the Australia Bureau of Statistics' producer price and consumer price index released.

A big week in data in the United States sees consumer confidence numbers, new home sales figures, jobless claims and the highly anticipated US gross domestic product figures for the fourth quarter.

In the United Kingdom, UK fourth quarter GDP data is due.

In corporate news, the US earnings season continues, with Yahoo, Microsoft and ConocoPhillips among the big names to report.

Local data

On Monday, the ABS will release the producer price index for December.

Tuesday will see the consumer price index for December from the ABS.

Markets will be closed on Wednesday for the Australian Day public holiday.

Corporate

The continuing US earnings season dominates the corporate calendar in the week ahead.

On Monday, Alliance Financial, American Express Company, McDonald's Corporation and Tower Financial all report results.

Yahoo Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Peabody Energy Corp, ConocoPhillips and Starbucks, reveal earnings on Tuesday.

Thursday sees Microsoft, Nokia, Alliance Financial, AT&T, Caterpillar Inc, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc, ResMed Inc and Time Warner Cable Inc all report.

Chevron and Singapore Airlines will report earnings on Friday.

Offshore

In overseas data, Monday brings European Monetary Union (EU) industrial new orders data for November.

Elsewhere, the Bank of Japan's two-day monthly policy meeting begins.

Tuesday will see ABC/Washington Post consumer confidence data released in the US, as well as the S&P/Case Shiller home price index.

The Richmond Federal Reserve manufacturing index for January is also due.

In the UK, investors eagerly await fourth quarter GDP data, which is due.

The Bank of Japan's monthly policy meeting will conclude with its interest rate decision for January.

On Wednesday, US new home sales data and the weekly EIA petroleum status report is due.

Minutes of the US Federal Reserve's December policy meeting will be released.

Thursday will see US durable goods orders figures, jobless claims, and the pending home sales index.

The Reuters/Michigan consumer sentiment index for December is also due.

EU consumer confidence for January is set for release on Thursday, along with economic confidence and industrial confidence data for the month.

Friday brings US GDP data for the fourth quarter, the employment cost index and consumer sentiment figures.

EU M3 money supply data for December is also due.