10 January 2026 At a recent artificial intelligence summit in Beijing, China’s leading AI researchers and tech founders delivered a message that was equal parts optimistic and pragmatic: Beijing’s technology sector is rapidly closing the gap with the United States despite significant structural obstacles, but formidable barriers remain that could delay any overtaking of American technological dominance in key areas. The discussions at the AGI-Next Frontier Summit made clear t

9 January 2026 As the curtain closed on 2025, the U.S. labor market delivered a mixed and somewhat sobering snapshot of the economy’s strength when official data showed that job growth in December slowed more than economists had expected, even as the unemployment rate eased modestly, a combination that reflected persistent caution among employers and broader questions about the direction of hiring as 2026 begins. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payrolls r

8 January 2026 In a development that surprised economists and caught the attention of financial markets, new government data released in early January revealed that the United States’ trade deficit shrank dramatically in October to its lowest level in more than 15 years, a change driven by a sharp drop in imports and a modest rise in exports that together point to shifting trade patterns and uneven domestic demand as the U.S. economy headed into the final stretch of 2025. The

7 January 2026 The U.S. labor market showed further signs of cooling as the year drew to a close, with employers posting significantly fewer job openings in November than economists had expected, a development that added to growing evidence that demand for workers is weakening even as broader economic activity remains resilient. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, commonly known as JOLTS, job openings fell by 303,000 to 7.146 m

30 December 2025 In 2026, the American economic landscape is poised for one of the most consequential shifts in years as sweeping changes to federal tax policy unfold, carrying implications that could reverberate across household budgets, corporate investment plans and broader economic growth patterns. At the heart of this transformation is the One Big Beautiful Bill legislation enacted in mid-2025, a sprawling tax and spending act championed by President Donald Trump and Con

29 December 2025 China is planning a targeted reduction in import duties on a wide range of products beginning January 1, 2026, in a move aimed at making certain foreign-sourced inputs more affordable, encouraging trade in key sectors and aligning its market policy with priorities in manufacturing and healthcare. The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that provisional import tariff rates for 935 specific items will be set below the standard most-favoured

18 December 2025 In a highly anticipated release on December 18, 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation, rose 2.7 percent in the year ending in November, a slower pace than economists had forecast and a modest improvement from earlier readings. This figure came in below the 3.1 percent increase that had been expected by analysts polled by Reuters, and represents a continuation of the trend of decelerating p

16 December 2025 A long-delayed government report released on December 16, 2025 revealed that U.S. retail sales in October remained unchanged from the previous month, confounding economists who had expected a modest increase and spotlighting the uneven state of consumer spending as the fourth quarter began. The Commerce Department’s data showed that overall retail spending did not advance in October after a downward revision to September’s figures, which were trimmed to a sli

12 December 2025 As 2025 winds down, Americans and policymakers find themselves grappling with a paradox that is at once hopeful and politically fraught: the latest forecasts suggest that inflation in the United States may slow in the year ahead, yet many people remain deeply concerned about the everyday cost of living and affordability issues that stubbornly linger across major household expenses. This dynamic, outlined in a Reuters report on December 12, highlights how econ

10 December 2025 A construction worker is shown at work on a multi-unit residential housing project in Encinitas, California, U.S., July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake New data released on December 10, 2025 show that the growth in labor costs across the United States has cooled, underscoring emerging softness in the labor market and adding fresh context to shifting economic pressures. The broadest gauge of labor costs, the Employment Cost Index (ECI), rose just 0.8 percent in t

03 December 2025 In November 2025, the backbone of the U.S. economy, the services sector managed to hold its ground even as signs emerged of a growing slowdown, revealing a mixed economic picture for businesses and policymakers alike. According to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), the non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) nudged up slightly to 52.6 from 52.4 in October. That modest lift beat many analysts’ expectations and confirmed that the services sec

02 December 2025 The engines of China’s service economy sputtered in November as the private-sector services index dipped to its weakest growth in five months. The RatingDog China General Services PMI, produced by S&P Global, fell to 52.1 from 52.6 in October still above the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction, but signaling a clear loss of steam. Earlier data from the government’s own index painted a darker picture. The official services PMI registered 49.

01 December 2025 The engines of American industry sputtered again in November 2025, as the latest data revealed a ninth consecutive month of contraction in the manufacturing sector. According to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), its key index for factory activity, the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slid to 48.2 from October’s 48.7. That drop offers a stark reminder that the headwinds facing U.S. factories remain both deep and persistent. A PMI reading below 50 sign

24 November 2025 This year’s U.S. Black Friday window is set to see an unprecedented 186.9 million shoppers between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, yet the atmosphere around holiday sales is less celebratory and more cautious with bargain hunters confronting a bargain drought rather than an abundance of markdowns. Despite the record number of shoppers, the projected growth in holiday sales is modest at best. The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that sales for Novembe

21 November 2025 In November 2025, U.S. manufacturing posted its weakest monthly expansion in four months, as rising prices and a rapid accumulation of unsold goods signalled a looming challenge for growth. The flash reading of the purchasing-managers index for the manufacturing sector fell to 51.9 from October’s 52.5, according to S&P Global still above the 50-point threshold for growth but revealing a clear deceleration in momentum. Manufacturers reported a sharp decline in

19 November 2025 Butterball frozen turkey, part of Walmart's basket of Thanksgiving goods, is displayed for sale at a store in Valley Stream, New York, U.S., November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Americans preparing the holiday feast this year are seeing a little breathing room at the checkout line. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average cost for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for ten people has dropped to $55.18, marking a 5 % decline from the prev

15 November 2025 In a sharp pivot, Donald Trump this week announced a sweeping rollback of tariffs on more than 200 food items including beef, coffee, bananas and orange juice importantly in the face of mounting everyday pressure from voters dissatisfied with spiking grocery bills. The changes took effect retroactively at midnight and follow trade-framework agreements with several Latin American nations including Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador that were struck

13 November 2025 Credits: Sova Vitalij In the three months from July to September 2025 the UK economy grew by a mere 0.1 percent, down from 0.3 percent in the previous quarter a markedly weak performance that casts a long shadow over the government’s hopes for a robust recovery. The month of September alone saw the economy contract by 0.1 percent. The manufacturing sector bore the brunt of the setback, driven by a 28.6 percent collapse in motor vehicle production that month t

10 November 2025 The Central Financial District in Hong Kong, China, August 9, 2025. /VCG In the first three quarters of 2025, China’s mainland registered a 4 percent increase in goods trade compared to the same period last year, with growth accelerating each quarter 1.3 percent in Q1, 4.5 percent in Q2 and 6 percent in Q3. At the centre of this uptick is Hong Kong, whose trade with the mainland reached a record $261.56 billion over that span. Imports from Hong Kong surged by

1 November 2025 Retailers across the United States are grappling with an unexpected operational headache following the decision to cease production of the US one-cent coin. With official minting halted earlier this year, convenience stores, gas stations, fast-food chains and major retailers are finding themselves short on pennies forcing them to reframe how they accept cash and manage change. The shortage stems from a directive by Donald Trump issued in February that instruct