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.
7,115 total articles
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the world economy is managing the fallout from the Middle East war so far, despite higher commodity prices, rising inflation and tighter financial conditions. She welcomed a U.S.-Iran agreement to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz but cautioned that an escalation or supply disruptions wo…
US homebuilder sentiment fell in June, with the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index dropping two points to 35. The index has remained below 40 for 14 months, the longest stretch since the 2011-2012 foreclosure crisis. Industry pressure reflects higher mortgage rates, rising building-material costs and ongoing affordability challenges; residential…
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters that a negotiated settlement between the United States and Iran has the potential to bring stability to the global economy, and that any such arrangement should also extend to Lebanon. Speaking ahead of a Group of Seven meeting in France, Merz said a diplomatic opening has emerged on the Ukraine war a…
A senior member of Poland’s central bank, Ludwik Kotecki, said the Monetary Policy Council is unlikely to alter its key interest rate until at least the end of the year and possibly into March of next year, despite an interim US-Iran deal that reduces some geopolitical threats to inflation and growth. The Bank left its policy rate at 3.75% in June …
Preliminary figures from the Reserve Bank of India show a $6.6 billion overall balance of payments deficit in April, reversing a $500 million surplus in the same month a year earlier. The central bank will shift from quarterly to monthly BoP releases with a delay of 45 days or less. A current account surplus was recorded in April, while the capital…
Canada's manufacturing sales advanced 4.2% to C$77.1 billion in April, driven by a strong rebound in petroleum and coal products and gains in food manufacturing. Sales rose in 17 of 21 subsectors, with petroleum and coal products and food products reaching record highs. Inventories rose modestly while the inventory-to-sales ratio fell and unfilled …
Wholesale sales in Canada, excluding petroleum products and oilseed, increased 0.6% to $89.3 billion in April 2026. Year-over-year sales were up 6.3%. Gains were concentrated in the building material and supplies subsector, driven by strong metal product and mineral sales, while machinery, equipment and supplies eased back. Inventories rose modestl…
Brazil's Finance Minister Dario Durigan said the government will press its strongest legal and diplomatic arguments against a U.S. proposal to impose a 25% tariff on a broad range of Brazilian imports, and expressed hope the measure will not be enacted. Durigan described potential direct engagement between Presidents Lula and Trump and confirmed co…
U.S. and Iranian officials announced a preliminary memorandum of understanding that they say will halt military operations and set the stage for talks on Iran's nuclear program, sanctions, and regional security. The agreement includes a 60-day ceasefire, a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz toll-free, and a proposed end to the U.S. naval blockade.…
A Reuters poll of 19 economists shows Sweden's central bank is widely expected to leave its policy rate unchanged when it announces its decision on Wednesday, but several economists anticipate the Riksbank will adopt an explicit tightening bias and raise the possibility of a rate hike later this year as inflationary pressures build.
Prediction market trading surged to a record $4.8 billion in daily volume on June 12 as the World Cup group stages got under way, after opening-day activity of $2.2 billion on June 11. The jump in volume followed the United States match against Paraguay and already surpasses last season's Super Bowl total of $1.4 billion. Polymarket's U.S. platform…
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is focusing its internal discussions on removing the sales tax on food entirely rather than adopting a 1% rate. Party officials and lawmakers are debating how to implement a two-year suspension promised during the February general election, while concerns remain about retail systems, support for affected indu…
A sharp rise in problematic rural loans and the growing frequency of extreme weather have driven a marked increase in farm seizures and auctions across Brazil. Central bank figures, auction-aggregator data and industry officials point to weakened commodity prices, elevated interest rates, higher input costs and climate-related damage as converging …
Citi reiterated a path of four 25 basis point increases in the Bank of Korea's policy rate across July 2026, October 2026, January 2027 and April 2027, taking the terminal rate to 3.5%. The bank warned the balance of risks favors more rapid tightening, including consecutive hikes in the second half of 2026 and a potential terminal rate up to 4.0%. …
Fitch Ratings has maintained China’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating at A with a Stable Outlook. The rating reflects the country's large, diversified economy, key role in global trade and solid external finances, while noting medium-term fiscal pressures from high deficits, falling revenue, rising government debt and economy-wide leverage. Fitch pr…
European Central Bank policymaker Peter Kazimir warned that the ECB's initial rate increase last week is only a first step and that further policy tightening may be required as elevated energy costs continue to spread through the euro zone economy. Writing in an opinion piece, Kazimir said the central bank must remain vigilant and ready to act, not…
Russia's foreign minister said Moscow remains committed to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposals for ending the war in Ukraine and is awaiting clarification from Trump's envoys on implementation. The Kremlin confirmed the envoys will return to Russia soon. Lavrov also criticized European offers to mediate, saying they rest on incorrect assumption…
The Bank of Portugal kept its 2026 GDP growth projection at 1.8% but revised the public finances and inflation outlooks in its quarterly bulletin. The central bank lowered its 2026 budget deficit forecast to 0.2% of GDP, raised the near-term EU-harmonised inflation forecast to 3.1% for this year, and flagged constraints from higher oil prices, elev…
French wine and spirits exporters said Monday that threats by the U.S. administration to impose steep tariffs on French wine and champagne are harmful to a sector that relies heavily on overseas sales. The warnings are linked to a 3% French digital tax on U.S. technology companies; the exporters group FEVS called for responsible behavior and balanc…
The Bank of Portugal held its 2026 economic growth projection at 1.8% and revised down its projected budget deficit for 2026 to 0.2% of GDP. The central bank flagged a likely upward effect on inflation from higher oil prices connected to the Middle East conflict, adjusted its EU-harmonised inflation forecast for this year to 3.1%, and laid out a pa…
China has welcomed the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran intended to end their conflict, urging that the agreement be signed on schedule. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, speaking at a routine press briefing, voiced Beijing's support for the deal and called on all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution through d…
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has tabled two competing income tax proposals for coalition negotiators: a roughly €10 billion package of moderate tax relief and a larger roughly €20 billion package. Both plans would shift some of the burden onto high earners by increasing the so-called rich tax and by raising the threshold for the 42% top r…
Kevin Warsh will deliver his first substantive remarks as Federal Reserve chair at a press conference following the June 16-17 policy meeting. Markets will be watching for how he describes inflation dynamics, the labor market and the risks from tariffs and higher oil prices, and whether his language limits or opens the door to future rate moves.
The recreational vehicle industry, concentrated in northern Indiana, has pulled back production as higher gasoline and diesel prices tied to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and stretched household budgets curb spring sales. Registrations and shipments have declined, prompting industry groups to trim full-year shipment forecasts while some manufacturer…
Financial markets enter a busy week with a tentative U.S.-Iran interim peace agreement reshaping investor expectations for inflation, oil and geopolitical risk. Policymakers around the world, including the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan, will deliver policy decisions that could be influenced by the deal. Market attention also falls on S…
