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

7,072 total articles

Markets Brace as Odds of a Surprise Fed Rate Hike Rise Ahead of Decision

Markets Brace as Odds of a Surprise Fed Rate Hike Rise Ahead of Decision

As the Federal Reserve prepares to announce its interest rate decision in just over 24 hours, market participants are increasingly assigning nontrivial odds to a surprise 25-basis-point hike. Citadel Securities, Renaissance Macro Research and other strategists argue a move would signal the new chair's resolve, while others caution about the risks o…

Market warning lights intensify as oil, rates and AI strains converge

Market warning lights intensify as oil, rates and AI strains converge

Several market signals are edging toward troubling territory as investors contend with high oil prices, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a cooling of the AI-led equity rally. Although a lull in Gulf attacks has eased immediate pressure and oil has pulled back from the $100 benchmark, prices remain high enough to threaten renewed inflati…

BofA Says a July Fed Rate Hike Would Break with Decades of Practice

BofA Says a July Fed Rate Hike Would Break with Decades of Practice

Bank of America expects the Federal Reserve to keep policy rates unchanged at its July meeting, warning that a surprise uptick would violate long-standing market norms. Analyst Mark Cabana identified a hold as the base case with two dissents, and the bank points to futures pricing, oil-driven inflation risk, and the statistical record since 1994 to…

Investors Keep Bets Small Ahead of Fed Meeting as Inflation Uncertainty Persists

Investors Keep Bets Small Ahead of Fed Meeting as Inflation Uncertainty Persists

With the Federal Reserve set to conclude a two-day policy meeting this week, bond investors are taking a cautious stance. Most expect the Fed to maintain the federal funds rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range, but rising energy costs and lingering inflation ambiguity have reduced conviction. Managers are prioritizing liquidity, short- to intermediate-dura…

Fed Faces High Hurdle for Near-Term Rate Increase Despite Market Odds

Fed Faces High Hurdle for Near-Term Rate Increase Despite Market Odds

The Federal Reserve meets July 28-29 with markets pricing in a meaningful chance of a rate hike, but several factors - softer inflation readings, a temporary lull in U.S.-Iran hostilities and the precedent that the Fed rarely raises only once after an extended pause - make a single, isolated increase a high bar. Data showing consumer price gains sl…

Italy to seek €14.9 billion from EU defense borrowing vehicle

Italy to seek €14.9 billion from EU defense borrowing vehicle

Italy will apply to draw €14.9 billion ($16.94 billion) from the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument by year-end to finance defence spending, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told parliament. The move follows a period of fiscal strain tied to rising energy prices and comes after Rome obtained partial use of the EU's nationa…

QatarEnergy Extends LNG Force Majeure, Edison Replaces Dozens of Cargoes

QatarEnergy Extends LNG Force Majeure, Edison Replaces Dozens of Cargoes

QatarEnergy has told Edison it cannot supply three additional liquefied natural gas cargoes, extending a force majeure declaration through the end of September. Edison reports it has replaced the majority of affected deliveries and says it can meet customer needs and contractual obligations, while the disruption has already weighed on the company's…

Bundesbank: German economy showed modest Q2 resilience despite Middle East war

Bundesbank: German economy showed modest Q2 resilience despite Middle East war

Germany's economy likely recorded modest growth in the second quarter as a durable industrial sector and steady consumer spending helped counter the negative impact of higher energy and commodity costs linked to the war in the Middle East. The Bundesbank cautioned that temporary factors which supported activity may fade and that the conflict will r…

Trump to Host Netanyahu as U.S. Seeks Diplomatic Opening in Iran Conflict

Trump to Host Netanyahu as U.S. Seeks Diplomatic Opening in Iran Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump will receive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday as both leaders confront a pivotal moment in the six-month-old campaign against Iran. The visit comes amid tensions between the two men, efforts to restart diplomacy with Tehran, and broader regional risks that have weighed on oil mark…

Seoul Weighs $19.8 Billion LNG Power Plant Project in Texas

Seoul Weighs $19.8 Billion LNG Power Plant Project in Texas

South Korea is evaluating a proposed $19.8 billion investment to build a 6.3 gigawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) combined-cycle power plant in Encinal, Texas. Government sources say the project is in late-stage consultations with U.S. authorities and may be reviewed soon by a Korea-U.S. strategic committee before formal notification to the U.S. in…

High-tech Provinces Drive China’s Uneven First-Half Growth

High-tech Provinces Drive China’s Uneven First-Half Growth

China’s regional statistics for the first half of 2026 reveal a widening split in economic performance: provinces concentrated in semiconductors, electric vehicles, robotics and AI-related manufacturing posted stronger expansions while areas dependent on property and older industries lagged. National GDP growth slowed to 4.7% in the first half, wit…

Australia’s housing slowdown deepens, rippling through the economy

Australia’s housing slowdown deepens, rippling through the economy

Australia’s housing market has entered its steepest slowdown since the pandemic as higher interest rates and the reversal of investor tax incentives have reduced buyer demand and chilled sentiment. Price declines in Sydney and Melbourne, plunging loan enquiries and weaker auction outcomes are translating into lower volumes for trades, removals and …

India's Growth Outlook Cools as Investment Slows and Oil Shock Bites

India's Growth Outlook Cools as Investment Slows and Oil Shock Bites

A July poll of 42 economists found India’s GDP growth is set to decelerate to 6.6% in the fiscal year ending March 2027 from last year’s 7.7%, before nudging up to 6.8% in FY2027/28. The slowdown is attributed to fragile private investment and a rise in oil prices following the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which together threaten domestic demand, infl…

Mexico’s Economy Seen Recovering in Q2 as Industry Leads the Rebound

Mexico’s Economy Seen Recovering in Q2 as Industry Leads the Rebound

A poll of analysts indicates Mexico's economy likely returned to growth in the second quarter, with industrial activity cited as the main driver. The median forecast points to a 1.3% seasonally adjusted expansion between April and June, reversing a 0.6% contraction in the prior quarter. Annual growth for the period is estimated at 1.5%. Official pr…