The Federal Reserve voted 9-3 to keep rates at 3.5–3.75% for a fifth straight meeting, with three regional presidents voting to hike in the first such triple dissent since 2016.
Category: Economy
Posted inEconomy
US Consumer Confidence Falls a Third Month to 90.8 as Job Sentiment Cools
The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell to 90.8 in July, a third straight monthly drop, as job optimism hit its lowest point since 2021.
Posted inEconomy
Bank of Japan Holds at 1% and Upgrades Growth Forecast as Yen Slides to 40-Year Low
Japan’s central bank held its policy rate at 1% on July 27, upgraded its GDP forecast to 0.8% for fiscal 2026, and signalled further tightening ahead as the yen neared a 40-year low.
Posted inEconomy
UK Inflation Falls to 2.6% in June as Diesel and Food Prices Cool
UK consumer price inflation eased to 2.6% in June 2026, its lowest reading since March 2025, driven by falling diesel pump prices and the softest food inflation since August 2024, though services costs held firm at 3.6%.
Posted inEconomy
IMF Holds 2026 Global Growth at 3% While Lifting Inflation Forecast to 4.7%
The IMF’s July 2026 update keeps global growth unchanged at 3% but raises its inflation forecast 0.3 points to 4.7%, citing an energy shock stalling the disinflation trend.
Posted inEconomy
Oil Above $100 Pushes Fed Rate-Hike Odds to 38% Before July 29 Meeting
CME FedWatch data shows a 38% probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike next week, up sharply from 12% seven days ago, as crude oil crossing $100 adds to already-elevated US inflation.
Posted inEconomy
ECB Holds Rates at 2.25% as Lagarde Warns Energy Shock Is Not Yet Fully Priced
The ECB held its deposit rate at 2.25% on Wednesday, with President Lagarde warning that inflation will remain above target until mid-2027 as Middle East energy costs continue to feed through.
Posted inEconomy
US Section 122 Blanket Tariff Expires Thursday as Section 301 Phase Begins
The 10% Section 122 blanket surcharge on US imports expires July 24, as the Trump administration prepares Section 301 replacements with no statutory time limit.
Posted inEconomy
Trump Levies 50% Tariffs on Canada Under a Trade Law Unused for Nearly a Century
Using a trade law last invoked in the 1930s, Trump on July 21 announced additional 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods to take effect in 30 days.
Posted inEconomy
ECB Governing Council Meets Thursday in Its Most Finely Balanced Decision of the Year
With June eurozone inflation at 2.8% and growth at just 0.8% forecast for 2026, the ECB faces its sharpest hold-or-hike tension since raising rates for the first time in three years last month.