Euro zone consumers expect inflation to keep slowing in the next months and years but remain pessimistic about their purchasing power and house prices, a European Central Bank survey showed on Tuesday.

China's passenger vehicle sales fell for a second month in July, as discounts and government support measures failed to persuade consumers wary of buying cars amid a sputtering economy and a prolonged slump in the housing market.

Chinese consumer inflation shrank in July, indicating that local liquidity and spending remained weak amid slowing business activity, while a decline in factory gate inflation also continued through the month. 

China's consumer prices posted their first annual decline in more than two years in July, while factory gate prices extended their falls, data showed on Wednesday, as lacklustre demand weighed on the economy.

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in June as businesses cut back on purchases of foreign-made capital goods, resulting in imports falling to the lowest level in more than 1-1/2 years.

U.S. wholesale inventories fell more than initially estimated in June, which could have implications for the second-quarter gross domestic product estimate.