Trump paused 50% tariffs on Canadian goods Wednesday, citing an imminent deal less than 90 minutes before the scheduled 12:01 a.m. deadline.
Category: Economy
Australia Holds Rates at 4.35% as Bullock Warns Middle East Risk Could Force Further Hikes
The Reserve Bank of Australia kept its cash rate unchanged at 4.35% in a unanimous August 11 decision, but governor Michele Bullock explicitly left the door open to further increases.
Canada Warns New Tariffs Will Halt Trade Talks as August 19 Deadline Arrives
Canada’s chief negotiator warned Washington that the August 19 tariff deadline risks derailing all bilateral trade talks and forcing Ottawa to retaliate.
US Retail Sales Fell 0.6% in July, First Drop in Nine Months
American consumers pulled back sharply in July, with retail sales posting their largest monthly decline in nine months at –0.6%, raising fresh questions about household resilience.
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in Q2 as Industrial Output Contracts
Britain’s GDP expanded 0.4% in the second quarter of 2026, easing from Q1’s 0.6% pace, as a fall in industrial production and manufacturing cast doubt on the durability of the recovery.
Germany’s China Trade Deficit Swells to €55 Billion as Exports Collapse
German exports to China fell 12% in the first half of 2026, pushing the bilateral trade deficit to €55 billion as Beijing deepens its domestic supply chains and cuts reliance on European goods.
US Inflation Holds at 3.4% in July as Energy Costs Drive Real Wages Negative
The July CPI rose 0.1% monthly and 3.4% annually, keeping inflation above the Fed’s 2% target and eroding real wages for a fourth consecutive month.
US Inflation Falls Below 3% for First Time Since 2021
July 2026 US CPI came in at 2.9% year-over-year — the first sub-3% reading since 2021 — strengthening the case for a Federal Reserve rate cut at the September meeting.
Washington’s 50% Canada Tariffs Take Effect August 19, Covering 550 Product Lines
Three presidential proclamations signed July 20 impose 50% duties on over 550 Canadian product lines from August 19, with no USMCA exemption and no expiry date.
BOJ Board Splits on Rate Pace as One Member Calls for Faster Hikes Than Markets Expect
The Bank of Japan’s July meeting summary, released August 10, shows one board member arguing the pace of rate hikes could exceed market expectations as core inflation nears 2%.