Economy
Central banks, inflation, jobs and growth, and the policy decisions that shape the cycle.
French consumer confidence hits 11-year low as households turn gloomy
Insee's consumer confidence index dropped to 80 in October from 85, the weakest since 2013. Households are more pessimistic about finances,
Rajan warns India against defending rupee level as currency hits record low
Raghuram Rajan, former RBI governor, says India shouldn't defend a specific rupee level, warning against draining reserves. With the currenc
Japan's trend inflation gauge hits 3.2%, boosting case for BOJ rate hike
Japan's trend inflation index rose 3.2% in September, the fastest pace since October 2023. The reading strengthens the case for the Bank of
Moody's sees Japan's growth turning durable, but a shock will test it
Moody's says Japan's growth and inflation story is finally looking more durable, but the real test will come with the next economic shock. T
PBOC sets weaker yuan midpoint to cool four-year rally
The PBOC set a weaker-than-expected daily midpoint for the yuan, signaling it wants to cool the currency's rally near a four-year high. The
Kuroda backs faster BOJ hikes than his former deputy
In a new book, former BOJ chief Haruhiko Kuroda says the central bank could raise rates by 25 basis points at each meeting. His former deput
China's factory profits jump 14.4% in September, but the gap between winners and losers widens
China's factory profits jumped 14.4% in September, but the details reveal a widening split: electronics surged 103.8% while furniture tumble
UK shop prices rise at fastest pace since February 2024, BRC says
UK shop prices rose 2.1% in October, the fastest since February 2024, as retailers pass on higher costs. Food inflation picked up to 2.9% an
Australia's big-ticket spending gauge slides as inflation expectations rise
Australia's consumer confidence barely moved last week, but households turned more cautious about big-ticket purchases as inflation expectat
German business morale ticks up as investors await central bank decisions
Germany's ifo business climate index ticked up in October, offering a glimmer of optimism for Europe's largest economy. Investors are now fo
Canada's Budget 2026 faces spending squeeze as revenues cool
Desjardins says Ottawa's wish list for Budget 2026—over CA$50B in new spending and CA$90B in tax cuts—could strain fiscal flexibility. With
ASML's growing share of Dutch GDP raises concentration concerns
Dutch lender ING says ASML could directly account for up to 1.6% of the Netherlands' economy this year. The chip-equipment giant's success i