July 28, 2025 The U.S. and European Union struck a long-anticipated trade agreement this week, narrowly avoiding a full-scale trade war. Announced following a meeting between President Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the deal introduces a 15% baseline tariff on most European goods — a far cry from the 30% or
July 28, 2025 United States: Fed Is Set for Contentious Debate as Investors Eye Fall Rate Cut Federal Reserve officials are determined to hold interest rates steady a little while longer, though an increasingly contentious debate at this week’s policy meeting may bolster expectations for rate cuts in the fall. Fed Chair Jerome
July 25, 2025 United States: US Core Capital Goods Orders Decline Amid Policy Uncertainty Orders placed with US factories for business equipment unexpectedly declined in June, suggesting companies remained cautious about capital spending due to trade and government policy uncertainty. The value of core capital goods orders, a proxy for investment in equipment
July 24, 2025 United States: US Jobless Claims Fall for a Sixth Week, Lowest Since Mid-April Applications for US unemployment benefits fell for a sixth straight week, underscoring the resilience of the labor market. Initial claims decreased by 4,000 to 217,000 in the week ended July 19, still the lowest since mid-April.
July 23, 2025 United States: Trump Strikes Deal With Ally Japan Setting Tariff Rate at 15% President Donald Trump reached a trade deal with Japan that will impose 15% tariffs on imports including automobiles from the key American ally, while creating a $550 billion fund to make investments in the US. The agreement,
July 23, 2025 In a major development on the global trade front, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping trade agreement with Japan, calling it the “largest trade deal in history.” The deal sets reciprocal tariffs at 15%, significantly lower than the 25% previously threatened, and includes a massive $550 billion investment from Japan into the
July 22, 2025 United States: Trump Targeting Trade Loopholes Risks 70% of China Exports to US President Donald Trump’s effort to target China through its trading partners across global supply chains threatens to erode the country’s growth and most of its exports to the US, according to Bloomberg Economics. China has increasingly relied
July 21, 2025 United States: Bessent Says China Talks Could Include Its Russia, Iran Oil Purchases Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the next round of US-China talks could include a discussion of China’s purchases of Russian and Iranian oil, a signal that the focus could shift from more traditional trade issues to ones that cross over
July 17, 2025 United States: Waller Says Fed Should Cut Rates Now With Labor Market on Edge Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said policymakers should cut interest rates this month to support a labor market that is showing signs of weakness. “With inflation near target and the upside risks to inflation limited, we
July 17, 2025 The euro area’s annual inflation rate was 2.0% in June 2025, up from 1.9% in May. A year ago, the rate was 2.5%. Annual inflation in the European Union rose to 2.3% in June 2025, from 2.2% in May. A year earlier, the rate was 2.6%. Cyprus had the lowest yearly rate (0.5%), followed by France (0.9%) and Ireland (
