China’s central bank held lending rates at record lows on July 20 for the 14th straight month after Q2 GDP came in at 4.3%, the weakest reading since late 2022.
Category: Economy
Posted inEconomy
Brent Tops $87 as Iran Escalation Refuels Global Inflation Fears
Brent crude settled at $87.20 on July 17 as renewed US-Iran strikes removed the prospect of near-term Hormuz relief, complicating the inflation outlook for the Fed and ECB at a moment when rate decisions hang on energy costs.
Posted inEconomy
US June Retail Sales Rose Just 0.2%, Weakest Gain in Five Months
US retail sales grew only 0.2% in June 2026, the smallest monthly rise in five months, as lower petrol prices dragged on receipts even as core consumer spending held up.
Posted inEconomy
Bank of Korea Raises Rates for First Time in Three Years
South Korea’s central bank raised its benchmark rate to 2.75% on July 16, ending 13 months of policy inaction as record chip exports push inflation above target and the won tests the 1,500 per dollar level.
Posted inEconomy
Fed Governor Cook Signals Rate Hike Readiness as US Inflation Hits 3.7%
Fed Governor Lisa Cook warned on July 15 that she is prepared to raise rates if inflation does not ease, with US prices running 3.7% year-on-year — five years above the 2% target.
Posted inEconomy
China June Exports Jump 27% as AI Hardware and Tariff Rush Drive Record Surplus
Overseas shipments rose to $412 billion in June, well above analyst forecasts, with semiconductor prices more than doubling year-on-year and electric-vehicle exports up 70%.
Posted inEconomy
India’s Inflation Breaches the RBI’s 4% Target for the First Time in 17 Months
India’s consumer price index rose to 4.38% in June 2026, driven by food and transport costs, reigniting debate over whether the Reserve Bank of India should resume rate hikes as early as August.
Posted inEconomy
Warsh heads to Congress as June CPI data lands minutes before his testimony begins
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh delivers his first semiannual monetary policy address to Congress on July 14–15, with June inflation data scheduled for release just 90 minutes before the House hearing opens.
Posted inEconomy
Japan factory prices hit three-year high at 7.1%, sharpening BOJ rate debate
Japan’s producer price index rose 7.1% year-on-year in June 2026, the fastest pace since March 2023, driven by energy and input costs that reinforce the case for further Bank of Japan rate hikes.
Posted inEconomy
Taiwan posts third-highest monthly export total on record as AI server demand surges 40%
Taiwan’s June exports rose 40.3% to $74.83 billion, the third-highest monthly total on record, as US demand for AI servers and semiconductors drove 32 straight months of year-on-year growth.