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Economic News and Analysis

The latest news and analysis about the health of the US economy.

Trump tariffs could leave the US as the relative winner among global economies, Ivy League professor says

"No matter the virtues of these policies, they could end up hurting other countries a lot more than they hurt American consumers, making the United States look like a winner."

Fortune 2 hours ago

US Economy Surprised Again in 2024 Despite Fed, Election Drama

(Bloomberg) -- Over the last few years, the US economy has consistently defied expectations for a slowdown, and 2024 was no different. Most Read from BloombergMigrant Crisis Pushed US Homelessness to Record High in 2024Despite uncertainty around a presidential election, elevated interest rates and a cooling labor market, economic growth remained solid this year. The US is set to be the top performer among Group of Seven countries, according to International Monetary Fund projections. Still, the

Wall Street is concerned about an inflation resurgence in 2025

Inflation has remained stubbornly elevated. Here's why economists are concerned sticky price increases could continue next year.

Singapore Oil Mogul Declared Bankrupt After Empire Collapsed

(Bloomberg) -- Former tycoon Lim Oon Kuin has been declared bankrupt in Singapore, following the collapse of his oil trading empire. Most Read from BloombergMigrant Crisis Pushed US Homelessness to Record High in 2024The name of the founder of Hin Leong Trading Pte. and his children Lim Huey Ching and Lim Chee Meng were listed as having been issued a bankruptcy order on Dec. 19, the government gazette showed. The younger Lims were both directors at the company. Leow Quek Shiong and Seah Roh Lin

Oil Gains in Slow Year-End Trading With Focus on 2025 Risks

(Bloomberg) -- Oil rose in thin end-of-year trading, with investors assessing the outlook for 2025 while tracking developments in the Middle East.Most Read from BloombergMigrant Crisis Pushed US Homelessness to Record High in 2024West Texas Intermediate climbed 1.4% to settle near $71 a barrel, while Brent topped $74. A gauge of 10-day volatility for WTI ebbed to the lowest since July. In the Middle East, Israel struck targets in Yemen that it said were controlled by Houthis, including power sta

Wall Street is concerned about an inflation resurgence in 2025

Inflation has remained stubbornly elevated. Here's why economists are concerned sticky price increases could continue next year.

Americans are less confident about where the US economy is headed

The potential impact of President-elect Donald Trump's policies remained top of mind for consumers in December, per the Conference Board.

Wall Street reevaluates 'higher for longer' rates post Fed meeting: What to know this week

Investors will contend with a host of challenges, from turmoil in Washington to a more hawkish stance from the Fed.

Why a housing market 'thaw' never came in 2024

Wall Street analysts had hoped the housing market would show signs of life in 2024. Instead, it remained stagnant: Sales of previously owned homes are poised to set the record for the worst year since 1995 for the second year in a row.

Fed rate cut dissenter Beth Hammack says 'there is more work to do on inflation'

The lone dissenter to the Federal Reserve’s rate cut this week said she voted against the move because "there is more work to do on inflation," noting that she preferred to pause given the strength of the US economy.

Fed's preferred inflation gauge shows price increases fell in November

November's Personal Consumption Expenditures report is the latest data point that will shape future monetary policy.

Why Powell says inflation is still on track: Morning Brief

Fed Chair Powell tried to make sense of contradictory storylines and conflicting data, delivering a final watchword: caution.

Jerome Powell makes clear the Fed is already thinking about life under Trump

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted Wednesday that the economic policies of President-elect Donald Trump are starting to become top of mind for the central bank.

Fed 'dot plot' shows central bank will cut interest rates 2 more times in 2025

The Federal Reserve will take a more cautious approach to its easing cycle, according to the latest dot plot projections.

Fed cuts rates by quarter point, scales back cuts for 2025

The Federal Reserve reduced interest rates by a quarter percentage point Wednesday and scaled back the number of cuts it expects to make next year.

Paraguay Central Bank Chief Sees 6% Key Rate Cooling Inflation

(Bloomberg) -- Paraguay’s central bank sees its current benchmark interest rate of 6% slowing price increases to its new target as soon as the middle of 2026, Chairman Carlos Carvallo said in an interview. Most Read from BloombergMigrant Crisis Pushed US Homelessness to Record High in 2024Carvallo, 56, didn’t rule out hiking or easing rates if needed to reach the new 3.5% inflation target, while the monetary authority estimates prices will rise 3.7% next year, a tick higher than this year. “With

Gold Declines as US Jobs Data Offer Few Clues on Fed’s Rate Path

(Bloomberg) -- Gold declined in quiet holiday-week trading after mixed US jobless data in did little to alter bets on the outlook for Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts.Most Read from BloombergMigrant Crisis Pushed US Homelessness to Record High in 2024Bullion fell 0.6% to $2,617.75 an ounce, wiping out Thursday’s advance, after recurring applications for US unemployment benefits rose to the highest in more than three years — suggesting that it’s taking longer for out-of-work people to find a jo

Brazil’s Annual Inflation Slows, Giving Central Bank Limited Respite

(Bloomberg) -- Brazil’s annual inflation unexpectedly slowed in early December as energy costs dropped, giving central bankers limited relief as they pledge two more jumbo interest rate hikes by March.Most Read from BloombergMigrant Crisis Pushed US Homelessness to Record High in 2024Official data released Friday showed consumer prices rose 4.71% from a year earlier, below the 4.83% median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists and the prior reading of 4.77%. On the month, they increased 0

Heading into 2025, 68% of CFOs are optimistic about the economy—but worries remain about a massive equity selloff

Finance chiefs are feeling optimistic, but a corner of the derivatives market—known colloquially as “crash protection”—may be telling a more complicated story.

US equity funds receive big inflows on cool inflation, funding bill, and holiday rally

(Reuters) - U.S. equity funds attracted significant inflows in the week to Dec. 25, recovering from a prior-week sell-off, buoyed by a cooler inflation report, a stopgap funding bill averting a government shutdown and a so-called "Santa Claus" rally.

Global equity funds regain inflows on US inflation relief

Global equity funds witnessed sharp inflows in the week through Dec. 25, rebounding from significant net sales the previous week, buoyed by a benign U.S. inflation report and relief that Washington had averted a government shutdown, which restored investor confidence in risk assets. According to LSEG data, investors pumped a hefty $34.38 billion into global equity funds, the largest amount in six weeks, following a net $36.84 billion worth of sales in the week before. A report from the Commerce Department last Friday showed the PCE price index rose 0.1% in November, cooler than analysts expected, restoring some hope for further Federal Reserve rate cuts next year.