Macroeconomic data, trends, and policy developments.
Coverage of key economic indicators, central bank policy decisions, inflation trends, labor data, and growth signals. This category focuses on the macroeconomic forces that shape markets, interest rates, and long-term capital allocation.
7,112 total articles
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Friday that talking about monetary policy easing in the near term is inappropriate given inflation remaining above the Fed's target and a stabilizing labor market. He emphasized the importance of monitoring inflation expectations over different horizons, prefers market-based gauges for those expec…
The House Oversight Committee has opened a probe into prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, requesting documents to examine how the sites verify users, enforce geography-based limits and detect suspicious trading. The inquiry follows cases this spring involving alleged use of classified information and trading by political candidates t…
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said the Fed should remove the phrase 'easing bias' from its policy statement to signal that rate cuts are not more likely than rate increases. While he stopped short of advocating an immediate hike, Waller cited inflation running well above target and spreading across goods and services, and argued polic…
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller told an economic forum in Frankfurt that the central bank should strip language signaling an easing bias from its policy statement, arguing that doing so would clarify that rate cuts are no more likely than increases. He said the central bank should keep the policy rate in place until inflation decisively…
Syria's General Authority for Borders and Customs has signed an agreement with French shipping group CMA CGM to manage and operate two dry ports in the free zones of Adra and Aleppo, a move announced by state media. The arrangement coincides with the launch of a trial freight train connecting Latakia port to Adra following a 14-year halt, and follo…
Mexico’s economy shrank 0.6% in the first quarter versus the previous three months, according to final data from the national statistics institute. The outcome was less severe than an earlier preliminary reading and economist median forecasts. Year-on-year GDP rose 0.2%, but activity was pulled down by declines in agriculture, manufacturing and ser…
Portugal faces a steep fiscal challenge after severe January and February storms inflicted an estimated €2 billion blow to public finances, roughly 0.6% of GDP, the Economy Minister said. The government had recently signaled an intention to deliver a balanced budget, but the minister acknowledged that the storm costs have made that target extremely…
Canada's retail sales climbed 0.9% to $72.7 billion in March, led by a sharp increase at gasoline stations and fuel vendors. Excluding fuel and motor vehicles, core retail activity edged down, and provincial results varied with Ontario and Alberta posting gains while Quebec declined. Retail volumes rose in the first quarter even as March volumes fe…
Taiwan’s government says it has not been informed that U.S. arms transfers are being delayed, despite remarks from a senior U.S. official who said foreign military sales to Taiwan are temporarily paused while munitions are prioritized for the U.S. operation against Iran. Taipei is waiting on U.S. approval for a potential arms package worth up to $1…
Leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have pressed U.S. President Donald Trump to prioritize talks with Iran rather than military retaliation, citing concerns that renewed hostilities would wreak economic and infrastructure damage across the Gulf, according to people familiar with the discussions. The outreach reflects share…
In testimony delivered during his nomination process, Kevin Warsh laid out a clear view of monetary policy rooted in the idea that inflation is a policy choice. He criticized the Federal Reserve’s post-crisis balance sheet expansion, rejected forward guidance as a practice, and argued for a more robust and rapid correction when policy errors occur.…
Global equity funds experienced their first weekly net outflow in nine weeks during the period ending May 20, as investors reacted to higher long-term borrowing costs and renewed inflation worries tied to uncertainty over the Middle East. Data covering 28,926 funds show money rotated into bond funds and gold, while flows varied across regions and s…
The Reserve Bank of India’s board has authorized a transfer of 2.87 trillion rupees to the federal government for the fiscal year that ended in March. The amount matches the prior year's record transfer and falls short of the broader budget assumption for dividends from state-owned financial institutions and the central bank combined.
Germany plans to spend more than 4% of its gross domestic product on defense this year and is aiming toward a 5% ceiling. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin will propose closer defense-industrial cooperation with Ukraine to accelerate production and called on European NATO partners and Canada to help fund Ukraine's needs. He also addresse…
Turkey's central bank reports that it is using active monetary-policy measures along with liquidity and reserve management to manage the effects of geopolitical risks on domestic financial markets. The report notes loan and deposit rates are tracking the bank's funding costs, that corporate and household indebtedness remains below long-run averages…
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told delegates ahead of a NATO gathering in Helsingborg, Sweden, that the alliance must provide tangible benefits to every member and have clearly articulated expectations. He said the meeting will help set the groundwork for a leaders summit in Ankara later this year, acknowledged limited progress on Iran, and w…
The European Union is reviewing a request from Italy to loosen fiscal rules to help cover rising energy-related costs triggered by the Iran war. EU economy chief Valdis Dombrovskis said options are being considered after euro-area finance ministers met in Nicosia, and officials stressed any support must be temporary and targeted.
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to outline the central bank's policy approach and reaffirm coordination with the government. The pair discussed economic conditions, inflation trends, market movements and the Middle East conflict. Ueda said the meeting did not include a specific discussion of market expectati…
Morocco's year-on-year inflation accelerated to 1.7% in April from 0.9% in March. Non-food prices led gains while transport costs spiked amid higher fuel prices tied to conflict in the Middle East. The government will boost the 2026 budget by 20 billion dirhams to fund subsidies for public transport, cooking gas and electricity.
The United Arab Emirates cautions that any further military engagement between the United States and Iran would complicate an already fragile regional environment. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, told reporters the potential for Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent with broad implications f…
Kevin Warsh will be sworn in as Federal Reserve chair at the White House on Friday amid mounting inflationary pressures, elevated long-term interest rates, and economic changes tied to artificial intelligence that Fed officials say will be difficult to gauge in real time. His early choices - including whether to signal policymakers' year-end intere…
U.S. equities that rallied on an unusually strong earnings season may encounter renewed volatility as the reporting window closes and attention shifts back to macro risks. Persistent inflation worries, a jump in long-term Treasury yields and energy price spikes tied to conflict concerns are elevating the chance that interest rates expectations coul…
Bank of America expects the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to keep the official cash rate at 2.25% at its May 27 meeting, while revising the near-term OCR track upward to reflect upside inflation risks. The bank forecasts a terminal rate around 3.2%, notably below current market hawkishness, and says the RBNZ is likely to discuss pre-emptive tightenin…
Pakistan’s interior minister met with Iran’s foreign minister as Islamabad relayed the latest U.S. message and pressed to bridge remaining gaps in talks aimed at ending a two-month-old war. Officials on both sides described some progress, but disputes over enriched uranium and the status of the Strait of Hormuz have complicated prospects. Oil price…
European finance ministers warn the bloc is experiencing stagflationary dynamics driven by a surge in energy prices tied to the Iran war. The European Commission forecasts slower growth and rising inflation for the euro zone, and ministers urged governments to limit support to targeted, temporary measures to protect vulnerable households without tr…
