Economy

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.

Articles

7,112 total articles

Markets on Edge as War, Inflation and AI Rework the Outlook

Markets on Edge as War, Inflation and AI Rework the Outlook

Global financial markets are being driven by geopolitical developments as the Iran war nears the end of its third month without resolution. Central banks from Israel to South Africa prepare for policy meetings, while inflation readings place extra scrutiny on U.S. and Japanese policymakers. At the same time, the growing role of artificial intellige…

Cost pressures erode Starmer’s early mandate as household unease mounts

Cost pressures erode Starmer’s early mandate as household unease mounts

Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting public dissatisfaction as the cost of living remains a central concern for households. Despite a large parliamentary majority won in 2024, Labour’s popularity has slumped and economic sentiment has deteriorated amid persistent inflation, higher interest rates and recent energy-driven price pressures. Gover…

UK April borrowing rises to £24.3bn, topping economists' forecasts

UK April borrowing rises to £24.3bn, topping economists' forecasts

Britain recorded a £24.3 billion public sector deficit in April, the second-highest April borrowing on record and larger than economists had expected. Official figures show the month marked the start of the financial year with borrowing above a poll-based forecast. Fiscal forecasters had projected a reduction in borrowing by 2026/27, but recent geo…

Japan Signals Caution on Debt Levels for Proposed Supplementary Budget

Japan Signals Caution on Debt Levels for Proposed Supplementary Budget

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama indicated on Friday that the government intends to prioritize fiscal restraint by avoiding an excessive dependence on new debt if a supplementary budget is implemented. This stance comes following instructions from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who recently directed her cabinet to evaluate the necessity o…

Japanese Core Inflation Hits Four-Year Low Amid Subsidy Effects

Japanese Core Inflation Hits Four-Year Low Amid Subsidy Effects

Japan's core consumer price index (CPI) experienced a notable deceleration in April, recording a 1.4% year-on-year increase. This figure represents the slowest annual growth rate for the metric since March 2022. The slowdown was driven significantly by the impact of government subsidies related to school tuition. This performance fell below the med…

UAW Demands Stricter Labor Provisions in Upcoming USMCA Negotiations

UAW Demands Stricter Labor Provisions in Upcoming USMCA Negotiations

United Auto Workers (UAW) leadership has issued a formal call for more rigorous labor regulations and manufacturing requirements within the framework of upcoming North American trade negotiations. As the United States prepares to engage in discussions with Mexico and Canada regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the union is pushing fo…

Kevin Warsh Set for Federal Reserve Chairmanship Swearing-In This Friday

Kevin Warsh Set for Federal Reserve Chairmanship Swearing-In This Friday

President Donald Trump is scheduled to officially swear in Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve this coming Friday at the White House. The announcement, made by the Trump administration on Thursday, marks a significant transition for the nation's central bank. Warsh, who is 56 years old, received confirmation for the position followi…

GOP Senators Walk Away from ICE Funding Vote Over Trump-Backed Additions

GOP Senators Walk Away from ICE Funding Vote Over Trump-Backed Additions

Senate Republicans abruptly halted a scheduled vote on an ICE funding bill after objections to President Donald Trump’s requests for a $1.8 billion fund for victims of government "weaponization" and $1 billion for a White House ballroom. The dispute delayed a broader $72 billion package to finance an expanded migrant deportation program, with leade…

FTC Penalizes Cox Media Over False Claims of AI-Powered Voice Targeting

FTC Penalizes Cox Media Over False Claims of AI-Powered Voice Targeting

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has fined Cox Media Group and two smaller marketing firms after finding the companies falsely claimed they could use artificial intelligence and voice-processing technology to target ads based on consumers' nearby conversations. The FTC said the claims included statements that the technology could "identify buyers …

Banxico minutes show sharper Q1 contraction; recovery expected to be gradual

Banxico minutes show sharper Q1 contraction; recovery expected to be gradual

Minutes from Mexico's central bank reveal the economy contracted in the first quarter by 0.8% and that the rebound is likely to be more moderate than previously anticipated. The majority of Banxico's five-member board highlighted declines across industry, manufacturing and services in Q1, with private consumption weakening early in 2026. Exports we…

OpenAI Tops Q1 Revenue While Anthropic Posts Faster Growth

OpenAI Tops Q1 Revenue While Anthropic Posts Faster Growth

OpenAI reported $5.7 billion in revenue for the first quarter, roughly $1 billion more than Anthropic, driven by product efforts including its coding agent, enterprise contracts, and advertising trials. Despite that first-quarter lead, Anthropic has shown a quicker pace of growth, with an annualized revenue run rate near $45 billion compared with O…