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

5,120 total articles

Domestic demand inches higher while Ireland’s GDP tumbles 12.1% in Q1

Domestic demand inches higher while Ireland’s GDP tumbles 12.1% in Q1

Ireland’s modified domestic demand rose 0.6% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 even as headline GDP plunged 12.1%, the Central Statistics Office reported. The downward revision to GDP was larger than earlier estimates, while modified domestic demand - a measure intended to strip out multinational distortions - showed steady year-on-year growth.

UK new car registrations rise 7.1% in May as EV demand accelerates

UK new car registrations rise 7.1% in May as EV demand accelerates

Britain recorded a 7.1% rise in new car registrations in May, the strongest May performance since 2019, with battery electric vehicles surging 34.2%. Total registrations reached 160,662 and individual buyer registrations climbed 17.2%, supported by broader model ranges, competitive retail offers and government incentives such as the Electric Car Gr…

Russia Confirms 2026 Oil Output Has Fallen, Blames Unscheduled Refinery Work

Russia Confirms 2026 Oil Output Has Fallen, Blames Unscheduled Refinery Work

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak acknowledged a drop in Russian oil production since the beginning of 2026, attributing the decline to unscheduled maintenance at a number of refineries. Novak said export infrastructure is being used to its full capacity and expects production to recover as refineries resume normal operations. The International…

Top U.S. bank regulators to press deregulatory case to lawmakers

Top U.S. bank regulators to press deregulatory case to lawmakers

The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will tell the House Financial Services Committee that rolling back some post-2008 rules can boost economic activity and foster innovation without adding undue risk. Regulators said they are shifting supervision to focus on material finan…

BofA Sees Bank of Canada Holding Rates at 2.25% Through Year-End

BofA Sees Bank of Canada Holding Rates at 2.25% Through Year-End

Bank of America anticipates the Bank of Canada will keep its policy rate at 2.25% at the June 10 decision and maintain that pause through the end of the year. The bank says the BoC will cite recent economic weakness - including two consecutive quarters of contraction and a soft labour market - and will balance that against the risk that elevated oi…

Bank of Japan Poised to Raise Rates in June as Energy-Driven Inflation Builds

Bank of Japan Poised to Raise Rates in June as Energy-Driven Inflation Builds

The Bank of Japan is expected to increase its short-term policy rate to 1% at the two-day policy meeting ending June 16 unless a marked escalation in the Middle East conflict disrupts markets, three sources said. Rising fuel costs from the ongoing energy shock have intensified inflationary pressures, prompting hawkish signals from BOJ officials and…

House Approves Major Tax Overhaul Targeting Investors and Capital Gains

House Approves Major Tax Overhaul Targeting Investors and Capital Gains

Australia's House of Representatives approved legislation to narrow tax concessions for property investors and replace the current capital gains discount with an inflation-adjusted gains tax and a minimum tax. The bill, which also provides modest tax relief for workers, now moves to the Senate where the government will need crossbench support to se…

Markets Retreat as Mixed Middle East Signals Fail to Soothe Traders

Markets Retreat as Mixed Middle East Signals Fail to Soothe Traders

Global risk appetite cooled as markets digested a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon alongside renewed U.S.-Iran tensions and domestic U.S. political manoeuvres. Oil eased modestly, equity futures fell, and the yen firmed from intervention-suspect levels amid signals of closer coordination between Tokyo and the Bank of Japan.

Trump Weighs Termination of Iran Ceasefire Contingent on U.S. Troop Casualties

Trump Weighs Termination of Iran Ceasefire Contingent on U.S. Troop Casualties

President Donald Trump has privately indicated to his administration that the current ceasefire with Iran could be terminated should there be fatalities among American service members. This reported stance comes at a critical juncture as both nations engage in a series of air strikes that have strained the existing truce. While the U.S. and Iran tr…

Israel and Lebanon Reach Ceasefire Agreement Subject to Hezbollah Withdrawal

Israel and Lebanon Reach Ceasefire Agreement Subject to Hezbollah Withdrawal

Following a fourth round of trilateral negotiations, Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement to implement a ceasefire. The announcement was made via a joint statement by the U.S. Department of State, alongside representatives from both Israel and Lebanon, on Wednesday evening. While the deal marks a significant development in regional tensions…

Geopolitical Tensions and Tech Sector Profit-Taking Pressure Global Markets

Geopolitical Tensions and Tech Sector Profit-Taking Pressure Global Markets

Global markets faced downward pressure on Wednesday as escalating Middle East tensions and a wave of profit-taking within the technology sector impacted equities and bonds. While the dollar and oil prices rose, the Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average saw declines. Amidst this volatility, the Japanese yen breached key levels, prompting discussio…

Bowman Affirms U.S. Banking Resilience While Highlighting Regulatory Evolution

Bowman Affirms U.S. Banking Resilience While Highlighting Regulatory Evolution

In prepared remarks released ahead of her scheduled appearance before the House Financial Services Committee this Thursday, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman provided an assessment of the current state of the United States banking sector. Bowman characterized the financial system as resilient and sound, noting that banks ar…

Canada to Seek One-Year Extension of Steel and Aluminum Tariff Measures

Canada to Seek One-Year Extension of Steel and Aluminum Tariff Measures

The Canadian government has signaled its plan to extend central steel and aluminum tariff measures for an additional year to protect domestic producers from global trade distortions. Subject to formal approval, the move would prolong tariff-rate quotas for non-CUSMA partners until June 27, 2027, and continue horizontal tariff relief for eligible U.…

Dallas Fed’s Logan Warns Rate Hike Could Be Needed to Curb Rising Inflation

Dallas Fed’s Logan Warns Rate Hike Could Be Needed to Curb Rising Inflation

Dallas Federal Reserve President Lorie Logan said strong economic growth, surging corporate earnings and an AI investment boom are keeping financial conditions accommodative and raising the likelihood that the Fed may need to lift interest rates later this year to return inflation to 2%. Logan flagged rising inflation pressures from multiple source…

Trump to Attend July NATO Summit in Turkey, Rubio Confirms

Trump to Attend July NATO Summit in Turkey, Rubio Confirms

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that President Donald Trump will participate in the NATO meeting of heads of state scheduled in Ankara in early July. Rubio framed the announcement against the backdrop of the president's frustrations with some NATO allies for restricting U.S. military access during the conflict with Iran, and said…

Stocks Pull Back as Middle East Tensions and Rising Oil Prices Spur Profit-Taking

Stocks Pull Back as Middle East Tensions and Rising Oil Prices Spur Profit-Taking

U.S. equities retreated from record levels as renewed hostilities in the Middle East and higher crude prices prompted investor caution and profit-taking. Financial and technology sectors were the main drags, the small-cap Russell 2000 lagged, and energy shares benefited from rising oil. Market pricing for eventual Fed tightening increased, even as …

New Zealand housing market stalls as borrowing costs and energy shock sap demand

New Zealand housing market stalls as borrowing costs and energy shock sap demand

New Zealand house prices were unchanged in May following a 0.2% drop in April, according to Cotality’s home value index published Thursday in Wellington. Prices have broadly been stable this year and sit 0.4% above a two-year low recorded in August of last year. Analysts point to higher home-loan interest rates and the global energy shock tied to t…

Treasury Yields Rise as Mideast Escalation Pushes Oil Higher

Treasury Yields Rise as Mideast Escalation Pushes Oil Higher

U.S. Treasury yields climbed on Wednesday after renewed tensions in the Middle East sent oil prices higher. The 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.489%, its largest one-day gain in two weeks, while U.S. crude reached $96 per barrel. Diplomatic progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz stalled following attacks and subsequent military strikes.