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.
5,075 total articles
The recent three-day visit to China by US President Donald Trump, spanning May 13 to May 15, has concluded with the establishment of a framework for constructive strategic stability. The summit, marking the first visit by a sitting American president to the country in nearly ten years, resulted in a commitment from both Washington and Beijing to en…
The New Zealand government has revealed a significant increase in defense spending within its upcoming 2026 budget. Defense Minister Chris Penk announced on Saturday that NZ$1.58 billion ($924.62 million) has been allocated to bolster the nation's defense capabilities, with a specific emphasis on maritime security and advanced drone systems. This i…
Fitch Ratings confirmed the Province of Alberta's Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings at AA with a Stable Outlook and upheld related bond and short-term ratings. The decision reflects a combination of a high-midrange risk profile, an aa financial profile, and a one-notch uplift tied to expected temporary federal support. Fit…
The University of Michigan's latest consumer survey, released Friday, shows overall sentiment at a record low while five-year inflation expectations have risen. The data reveal a widening split in expectations by income: lower- and middle-income households report substantially higher inflation concerns as gasoline prices weigh more heavily on their…
Brazil's government imposed a fresh 22.1 billion reais freeze on discretionary spending, adding to a 1.6 billion reais measure taken two months earlier for a combined 23.7 billion reais restraint. The Finance and Planning ministries said higher mandatory expenditures - notably social benefits, pension and payroll costs - have reduced headroom under…
European Central Bank officials told EU finance ministers that proposals to foster a larger euro stablecoin market - including loosening liquidity rules for issuers and potentially allowing ECB funding - could weaken bank deposits, raise banks' funding costs and complicate interest-rate steering. The idea, advanced by a Bruegel paper and presented …
A Datafolha survey released Friday indicates President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pulled ahead of opposition Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in head-to-head polling for this year's presidential contest, reversing a tie recorded in mid-May. The poll also shows Lula leading a separate runoff against Michelle Bolsonaro and maintaining a lead in first-roun…
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the first formal negotiations to update the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will start next week in Mexico City. Discussions will center on tightening regional rules of origin and economic security measures to encourage U.S. manufacturing to return home. The talks next week will be bilateral - between the …
The United States and Sweden on Friday signed a Technology Prosperity Deal to intensify collaboration across a range of advanced technologies. Building on a 2006 science-and-technology agreement, the memorandum targets next-generation artificial intelligence and network technologies, civil nuclear and fusion research, critical minerals for energy s…
Tulsi Gabbard has informed the president she will resign as Director of National Intelligence to support her husband, Abraham, after his diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. She conveyed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and noted progress made under her tenure while acknowled…
Kevin Warsh was officially sworn in as chair of the Federal Reserve in a ceremony led by President Donald Trump. He assumes the role as U.S. inflation is feeling pressure from rising oil and gasoline prices tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict, and as market participants push up expectations for rate hikes. President Trump publicly said he want…
Argentine officials are negotiating with major global banks to extend the maturities of repurchase agreements signed since 2025, aiming to consolidate multiple repo loans into a single instrument worth at least $5 billion with a 2028-or-later maturity. Bank sources say the transaction could be completed within a month but remains unfinished and wit…
European Commission industry official Stephane Sejourne criticized European businesses for not doing enough to reduce their reliance on China, urging quicker diversification of supply chains. Commission leaders and national officials say firms are underestimating geopolitical and supply-chain risks despite new economic security guidance and ongoing…
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Friday that talking about monetary policy easing in the near term is inappropriate given inflation remaining above the Fed's target and a stabilizing labor market. He emphasized the importance of monitoring inflation expectations over different horizons, prefers market-based gauges for those expec…
The House Oversight Committee has opened a probe into prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, requesting documents to examine how the sites verify users, enforce geography-based limits and detect suspicious trading. The inquiry follows cases this spring involving alleged use of classified information and trading by political candidates t…
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said the Fed should remove the phrase 'easing bias' from its policy statement to signal that rate cuts are not more likely than rate increases. While he stopped short of advocating an immediate hike, Waller cited inflation running well above target and spreading across goods and services, and argued polic…
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller told an economic forum in Frankfurt that the central bank should strip language signaling an easing bias from its policy statement, arguing that doing so would clarify that rate cuts are no more likely than increases. He said the central bank should keep the policy rate in place until inflation decisively…
Syria's General Authority for Borders and Customs has signed an agreement with French shipping group CMA CGM to manage and operate two dry ports in the free zones of Adra and Aleppo, a move announced by state media. The arrangement coincides with the launch of a trial freight train connecting Latakia port to Adra following a 14-year halt, and follo…
Mexico’s economy shrank 0.6% in the first quarter versus the previous three months, according to final data from the national statistics institute. The outcome was less severe than an earlier preliminary reading and economist median forecasts. Year-on-year GDP rose 0.2%, but activity was pulled down by declines in agriculture, manufacturing and ser…
Portugal faces a steep fiscal challenge after severe January and February storms inflicted an estimated €2 billion blow to public finances, roughly 0.6% of GDP, the Economy Minister said. The government had recently signaled an intention to deliver a balanced budget, but the minister acknowledged that the storm costs have made that target extremely…
Canada's retail sales climbed 0.9% to $72.7 billion in March, led by a sharp increase at gasoline stations and fuel vendors. Excluding fuel and motor vehicles, core retail activity edged down, and provincial results varied with Ontario and Alberta posting gains while Quebec declined. Retail volumes rose in the first quarter even as March volumes fe…
Taiwan’s government says it has not been informed that U.S. arms transfers are being delayed, despite remarks from a senior U.S. official who said foreign military sales to Taiwan are temporarily paused while munitions are prioritized for the U.S. operation against Iran. Taipei is waiting on U.S. approval for a potential arms package worth up to $1…
Leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have pressed U.S. President Donald Trump to prioritize talks with Iran rather than military retaliation, citing concerns that renewed hostilities would wreak economic and infrastructure damage across the Gulf, according to people familiar with the discussions. The outreach reflects share…
In testimony delivered during his nomination process, Kevin Warsh laid out a clear view of monetary policy rooted in the idea that inflation is a policy choice. He criticized the Federal Reserve’s post-crisis balance sheet expansion, rejected forward guidance as a practice, and argued for a more robust and rapid correction when policy errors occur.…
Global equity funds experienced their first weekly net outflow in nine weeks during the period ending May 20, as investors reacted to higher long-term borrowing costs and renewed inflation worries tied to uncertainty over the Middle East. Data covering 28,926 funds show money rotated into bond funds and gold, while flows varied across regions and s…
