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.
7,188 total articles
The average U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 6.38%, the highest reading since early September, Freddie Mac reported on Thursday. Rising oil prices tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict have heightened inflation concerns and lifted U.S. Treasury yields, driving mortgage rates up for the fourth consecutive week and eroding recent gains in …
Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey reports the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.38% as of March 26, 2026, up from 6.22% the prior week. The 15-year fixed-rate rose to 5.75%. Freddie Mac's chief economist notes the housing market is showing gradual improvement compared with a year earlier, with purchase and refinance applications hig…
The Bank of Israel is widely expected to maintain its policy rate at 4.0% at its upcoming decision, as conflict involving Iran has heightened inflationary pressures through rising oil prices. Economists surveyed unanimously forecast no change, citing elevated risk premiums, supply constraints linked to regional fighting, and fiscal developments tie…
President Donald Trump told a Cabinet meeting that Iran has asked to negotiate after U.S. forces carried out Operation Epic Fury for about three weeks. He said the campaign has devastated much of Iran's military capacity - including the navy, air force, missile launchers and drone facilities - and that Tehran now faces a choice to reach a deal and …
UBS now anticipates the Federal Reserve will postpone the start of its easing cycle until September, followed by a second reduction in December. The bank points to persistent core inflation, tariff-related price pressures, oil-driven volatility linked to Iran, and a changed Fed view of the labor market as reasons for the delay. UBS leaves open the …
S&P Global has raised its projected average inflation rate for Turkey in 2026 to 28.9% from a prior estimate of 23.4%, attributing the increase primarily to higher energy prices. The agency highlighted Turkey's heavy reliance on energy imports - net energy imports equal about 3.5% to 4.5% of GDP - and noted that price swings in oil and gas, intensi…
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan warned at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami that the ongoing conflict involving Iran risks further damaging global supply chains, particularly in oil. He said recent weeks have produced disruptions that exceed those seen after the COVID-19 pandemic and urged rapid collective action to prevent more severe con…
A new interim report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development finds that the conflict in Iran has produced an energy price shock that is increasing inflationary pressure and adding significant uncertainty to the global economic outlook. The OECD warns that disruptions to oil and natural gas flows, especially through the Strai…
New filings for U.S. unemployment benefits inched higher last week, a modest move that underscores a labor market holding steady. At the same time, inflation pressures linked to conflict in the Middle East have pushed up energy and input prices, complicating the Federal Reserve’s outlook and leaving policymakers room to maintain current interest ra…
Economists surveyed in late March anticipate the Federal Reserve will keep the federal funds rate unchanged through the summer and only consider trimming policy in September, even as financial markets increasingly rule out cuts this year and factor in a non-negligible chance of a rate hike amid a worsening Middle East conflict and higher oil prices…
A narrow majority of economists surveyed expect the Bank of England to keep Bank Rate at 3.75% through the remainder of the year, reversing forecasts for near-term cuts. While energy-driven inflation risks from the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran have forced many forecasters to lift inflation and year-end rate projections, most economists do no…
Iceland's consumer price inflation accelerated to 5.4% in March, the highest year-on-year reading since September 2024, driven by higher crude oil prices linked to conflict-related shipping disruptions. The central bank has already increased rates once and signaled a probable additional quarter-point hike at its next meeting on May 20.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development lowered its projection for UK GDP growth in 2026 to 0.7% from 1.2%, the largest downgrade among G20 economies in its interim outlook. The revision reflects the effect of disrupted energy supplies and higher commodity prices tied to the US-Israel war with Iran. Inflation in the UK is seen ac…
Bank of England Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden told a London audience that the risk of a wage-price feedback loop stemming from the Iran War appears reduced, citing a loosening labour market and subdued economic activity that curb bargaining power for both firms and workers. She said policymakers remain vigilant, noting risks operate on both sides a…
Surveys published this week show consumers in Germany, France and Italy turning more pessimistic amid rising fuel prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Analysts warn that higher petrol costs are only the first wave of pressure on household budgets, with disrupted fertilizer flows and potential food-price increases still to come. At the …
The European Parliament voted to advance legislation enacting the European Union's trade commitments with the United States, with 417 in favor, 154 against and 71 abstentions. The package would remove EU import duties on U.S. industrial goods, broaden market access for American agricultural products and continue a zero-duty regime on U.S. lobsters.…
Asian policymakers moved quickly to shore up confidence as the regional fallout from the U.S.-Israel war on Iran pushed global oil prices higher. South Korea announced a 5 trillion won emergency bond repurchase program and fuel measures to cap local price impacts, while the Philippines convened an unscheduled policy meeting that left its key rate a…
European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos said the immediate financial fallout from the joint U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has been contained so far, citing limited direct bank exposures and strong capital and liquidity positions. He warned, however, that a wider spread or longer duration of the conflict and a prolonged energy shock c…
The OECD reports that the recent escalation of hostilities in the Middle East has removed an anticipated upgrade to global growth and risks driving up inflation, as near-stoppage of energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz pushes energy prices higher. Global growth is now forecast to slow to 2.9% in 2026 before a modest pickup to 3.0% in 2027, whi…
The OECD's interim update cuts the United Kingdom's 2026 growth estimate by 0.5 percentage points to 0.7%, the largest downgrade among major economies in the report, while raising the 2026 inflation forecast to 4.0%. The body cites higher energy prices tied to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and planned fiscal tightening as central factors keeping gro…
A retired senior U.S. naval officer told a client event that the current confrontation with Iran could last far longer than early forecasts, highlighting implications for U.S. strategic focus, defense spending and procurement priorities. He pointed to long-standing diplomatic severance, regional entrenchment, potential supplemental funding requests…
The Trump administration is moving to assert greater control over the Federal Reserve's regulatory and supervisory functions, seeking influence over rule-writing and examiner guidance that followed the 2008 crisis. Officials and former staff describe efforts by the White House and Treasury to press the Fed on submissions for White House review, acc…
U.S. stock index futures fell Thursday as investors remained cautious over mixed messages about a possible de-escalation in the Middle East. Comments from U.S. and Iranian officials left markets unsure whether a diplomatic path will restore safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The oil price surge has reignited inflation worries, prompting mo…
U.S. equity futures moved lower as market participants digested a flurry of reports about possible negotiations to end the conflict with Iran. Oil traded back above $100 a barrel, underpinning a firmer U.S. dollar and pressuring gold. Separately, Jefferies reported first-quarter losses tied to loans to failed firms, even as investment banking activ…
Seisaku Kameda, the Bank of Japan's former top economist, said the central bank is likely to raise interest rates by June in response to escalating oil prices linked to the Iran war. Kameda argues that the oil shock compounds an environment of steadily rising prices and wages and that prolonged delay in tightening risks allowing inflation to become…
