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.
7,102 total articles
U.S. job creation probably cooled in April as earlier temporary factors - including warm weather and the return of striking health workers - lost momentum. The unemployment rate is expected to have remained at 4.3%, while average hourly earnings likely rose, a combination that would support market expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep int…
Forecasts indicate that China's export sector is poised to experience a significant uptick in momentum for the month of April. According to a recent poll of 22 economists, outbound shipments are projected to expand by 7.9% on a year-on-year basis when measured in U.S. dollars. This represents a notable acceleration from the 2.5% growth rate observe…
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has issued a formal call for the nation's financial services industry to prioritize and accelerate its cybersecurity defenses. This warning comes in response to the emergence of frontier artificial intelligence systems, specifically highlighting the potential threats posed by models such a…
New government data released on Friday indicates that real wages in Japan increased by 1% year-on-year in March. This represents the third straight month of positive growth for inflation-adjusted earnings, a development that strengthens the argument for the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to implement an interest rate hike during its upcoming policy review sch…
Major global equity markets faced downward pressure on Thursday, reversing earlier highs as semiconductor stocks retreated. The market shift coincided with a sharp rebound in oil prices, which climbed back above the $100 threshold due to uncertainty surrounding potential U.S.-Iran peace negotiations. Investors are now pivoting their attention towar…
Mexico's headline inflation slowed to 4.45% year-on-year in April, down from 4.59% in March and slightly below the median forecast from a Reuters poll. Core inflation declined to 4.26% from 4.45%, also marginally under expectations. The data arrive ahead of a central bank policy announcement later Thursday and follow a 25-basis-point cut in March t…
President Donald Trump has given European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen until July 4th to enact legislation implementing a trade agreement struck at his Turnberry golf resort. Trump says the EU pledged to eliminate tariffs on U.S. industrial goods, while the United States would cap tariffs on most products at 15 percent; he warned that …
Mexico's central bank reduced its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 6.50% in a decision that was not unanimous. Two board members voted to keep the rate at 6.75%. The bank also revised its inflation forecast for the second quarter of 2026 upward to 4.1% and expects inflation to move toward its 3% target by the second quarter of 2027.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack said she is hearing growing anxiety from businesses and consumers that higher inflation expectations are taking hold. Speaking at the Ohio CEO Summit in Columbus, Hammack reiterated the need to remain open-minded about the Fed's next policy decision and pointed to a string of temporary price …
NJ Transit has cut its World Cup roundtrip fare from $150 to $105 following criticism over the initial price. The agency says the higher fare had been intended to cover the extra operational costs of moving large crowds to MetLife Stadium; the governor has instructed NJ Transit to pursue private sponsorships and other funding to further ease commut…
European Central Bank Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel warned that a prolonged impact from the Iran war on inflation could prompt the ECB to raise interest rates. She pointed to firms planning price increases, supply-chain disruptions and shifting household expectations as signs the energy shock may broaden, increasing the risk of second-roun…
The U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust division on Thursday warned firms against relying on unsubstantiated claims of artificial intelligence-driven disruption as a basis for merger approvals. Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi told an audience at New York University that the agency expects tangible evidence when parties argue that …
European Central Bank board member Isabel Schnabel said rising oil prices and supply snarls tied to the Iran war have increased the risk of higher inflation in the euro area. She indicated that the bank may need to raise interest rates, potentially as soon as June, to prevent energy-driven price shocks from triggering broader second-round effects. …
A Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey released Thursday found that U.S. households remain broadly unconcerned about overall inflation in April, even as economic data point to increasing price pressures. The one-year inflation expectation rose slightly to 3.6%, while three- and five-year expectations stayed at 3.1% and 3.0%, respectively. Expect…
The Bank of England's governing court has approved an interim dividend payment to the UK government, marking the first such transfer since 2020. Governor Andrew Bailey concluded the central bank has built sufficient reserves to support an annual dividend. The decision accompanies broader cost-cutting measures designed to fund a modernization progra…
The Swiss National Bank raised the value of its US stock holdings by roughly 3% in the first quarter, bringing the total to $173.8 billion as of March 30. This marks the central bank's highest level in four years and its second-largest on record. The SNB holds positions in more than 2,300 US-listed firms, with a significant share of its foreign-cur…
The independent council of tax experts has reduced its projection for federal tax receipts across 2026-2030 by 87.5 billion euros, tightening an already stressed fiscal outlook. The downgrade reflects weaker near-term revenues for 2024 and 2027 and comes as the government faces rising defence commitments, a marked energy price shock and increasing …
A classified CIA report delivered to U.S. policymakers this week finds that Iran could endure the current U.S. naval blockade for at least three to four months. The assessment, which diverges from public statements portraying rapid collapse, notes that Tehran retains large shares of its pre-war missile and launcher inventories and has been able to …
Nineteen World Trade Organization members, led by the United States and including Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia, have agreed among themselves not to impose duties on cross-border electronic transmissions for an unspecified period. The move follows a failure to renew the long-standing multilateral moratorium after objections from Brazi…
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack told a public radio audience she expects the central bank to keep its policy rate on hold for an extended period amid what she described as considerable economic uncertainty. Hammack dissented at the Fed's most recent meeting over language suggesting the next move would be a cut, and she warn…
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's April Survey of Consumer Expectations showed a modest rise in year-ahead inflation expectations to 3.6% from 3.4% in March, while three- and five-year outlooks held at 3.1% and 3.0%. Households also cut their gas price expectations and reported mixed personal finance views, even as official inflation measures …
The U.S. Treasury Department plans to impose sanctions on Iraq's deputy oil minister, Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly, accusing him of facilitating the shipment of Iraqi crude that was blended with Iranian oil in violation of an international embargo. Treasury alleges Maarij authorized the trucking of several million dollars' worth of oil each day to a smugg…
Hong Kong’s de facto central bank, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, has reorganized five executive director posts as part of a planned leadership succession. The internal memo sets out an immediate June 22 change for the Exchange Fund Investment Office chief risk role and additional reassignment steps to take effect in July, including moves affect…
A senior official at Hungary's central bank said the institution will use the June consumer price index report as its next substantive opportunity to assess economic effects. He pointed to better risk premia and a firmer forint as factors that ease inflation management, and stressed a cautious policy stance that avoids knee-jerk reactions to short-…
The Czech National Bank voted to hold its two-week repo rate at 3.50%, a level it has maintained for the past year following a 350-basis-point easing cycle that concluded in May 2025. Policymakers cited rising inflationary pressure stemming from a disruption to a major oil and gas shipping route in the Middle East, but said there is no immediate ca…
