In the US consumer confidence was flat in April, disappointing analysts.
Separately, the European Union statistics agency, Eurostat, said that industrial production in the 16-country euro area was unchanged in July from June, disappointing expectations for an increase.
American retail sales fell in value by 0.1% in April, disappointing forecasters and making many reconsider their expectations for the economy.
How many will pay no tax at all in January, disappointing the Treasury, which had been hoping for a bonanza from all these budding entrepreneurs?
The minimum wage will rise to £6.50 an hour on 1 October, disappointing hopes earlier in the year that George Osborne would back a new hourly rate of £7.
Separate figures from the ONS showed construction output, which accounts for around 6% of the economy, fell in October, disappointing expectations of a rise.
Gross national product, seen by some economists as a more accurate indicator of the state of the economy because it strips out the earnings of Irish-based multinationals, was down 2.2 percent in July-September, disappointing expectations for a flat performance.
Unemployment data published in the same report showed that the UK jobless rate was unchanged at 6% in the period from August to October, disappointing City expectations of a drop to 5.9%.
(AP) Freddie Mac Delays Release of Financial Report Freddie Mac said that it had delayed the release of 2005 financial data until May, disappointing analysts who had expected the company to complete a three-year accounting overhaul this month.
The output growth of China's huge manufacturing sector cooled more than expected to 5.7% in September, disappointing analysts who expected it to rise 6% on an annual basis after a rise of 6.1% the previous month.
