Reply To: Placing Excel tables with numbers in InDesign: Ê instead of white space

This is not normal, when importing Excel docs. You might check your settings in Import Options (which you can enable in the Place dialog box).
I’m guessing perhaps the white space character is not a simple space, but instead some kind of special character that Excel or the client is using. If you choose Type > Show Hidden Characters (in InDesign), do you see some kind of special character in there, along with the Ê? If so, see this article:

Free Guide to InDesign Special Characters