News without the noise
Economic indicators and policy
10 articles
The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates steady despite UK wage growth falling to its lowest level in more than five years, as surging oil and gas prices from the Iran conflict offset the disinflationary signal from the labour market. Average earnings fell to 3.8 per cent in the three months to January, down from 4.2 per cent and below City forecasts.
Chinese exports grew 21.8 percent in the first two months of 2026, pointing to a stronger trade surplus ahead of a crucial summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping. The figures suggest Chinese manufacturing continues to gain global market share despite ongoing trade tensions.
Financial markets are now pricing in interest rate increases rather than cuts from major central banks as the Iran war sends oil prices surging. Investors expect policymakers to prioritize fighting inflation over supporting economic growth, applying hard lessons learned from the inflationary spike caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The dramatic oil price surge triggered by the Iran conflict showed its first signs of cooling on Monday, with crude futures retreating from $114 to $102 per barrel after reports emerged that G7 finance ministers are discussing a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves.
Australian inflation is forecast to climb to its highest level in three years as the Iran conflict sends oil prices surging, threatening to undo months of progress in bringing down the cost of living. Analysts warn that fuel prices are rising at their fastest rate since the 1980s, with a direct pass-through to petrol bowsers: every dollar increase in crude oil adds roughly one cent per litre at the pump.
The Trump administration has said it is not planning to tap the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to soothe energy markets despite the risk of an oil price surge from the escalating conflict with Iran, one of the world's major crude producers.
The International Monetary Fund has urged the Trump administration to change course on its economic policy, warning that sweeping government job cuts are threatening critical economic functions across the United States.
The UK economy expanded by 0.1% in the final three months of 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics, despite signs that tax speculation around Rachel Reeves's budget had dampened spending.
Australian homebuyers and mortgage holders are anxiously awaiting tomorrow Reserve Bank decision on interest rates, with speculation mounting about whether the central bank will finally begin easing the pressure on stretched household budgets.
The US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged after its first rate-setting meeting of the year on Wednesday, resisting enormous pressure from the White House to lower rates.