January 29, 2025
United States:
US Merchandise Trade Deficit Widens to Record on Rise in Imports
The US merchandise-trade deficit widened in December to a record as the value of imports increased.
The shortfall in goods expanded 18% to $122.1 billion, Commerce Department data showed Wednesday. The figure, which isn’t adjusted for inflation, compared with a $105.5 billion median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists.
Europe:
ECB Cut All But Certain With Price Goal in View: Decision Guide
The European Central Bank is set to lower interest rates for a fifth meeting as inflation that’s nearing the 2% target lets officials further loosen the shackles on the economy.
Analysts polled by Bloomberg are unanimous in predicting a quarter-point reduction in the deposit rate, to 2.75%, on Thursday.
Asia:
Japanese Starting to Feel Pain of BOJ Rate Hikes More Concretely
Japanese people are feeling the impact from higher interest rates at a more personal level, according to analysis of social media activity following the central bank’s latest policy decision.
After the Bank of Japan raised borrowing costs for a third time under Governor Kazuo Ueda last week, about 80% of comments on YouTube were negative and dominated by concerns about housing loans and inflation — issues that directly affect people’s day-to-day lives.
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