Inflation & Rates
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Key indicators for this theme
OECD Consumer Price Index
Central Bank Policy Rate
Federal Funds Rate
Multivariate Core Trend Inflation
Global Supply Chain Pressure Index
Updated Indicators
Recent releases in this theme
News
Tariff threats and cost pressures deepen Europe’s economic unease
Across Europe, high living costs and the prospect of tougher US trade measures are weighing on households and business confidence. BBC Business reports tied together weak high streets, a possible 25% US tariff on EU cars, and a broader push into military AI, showing how economic anxiety and structural change are colliding. Companies are also adjusting to stressed consumer demand and new technology risks in sectors from restaurants to music streaming.
UK cost pressures stay in focus as pay rises collide with closures
Britain is delivering a sizeable minimum wage increase to millions of workers, but pressure on retailers and property firms shows that the cost squeeze has not gone away. Store closures at Topps Tiles, a fee dispute involving Rightmove, and signals of income-tested energy support all point to a difficult balancing act for households and businesses. Oil briefly fell below $100 and European shares rose, yet layoffs and restructuring remain part of the picture.
Global outlook clouds as hiring slows and energy risks stay elevated
US private hiring beat expectations in March, but the pace remained soft enough to keep concerns about global demand in place. In the UK, rising labor and property costs are intensifying pressure on consumer-facing businesses. At the same time, uncertainty around Iran is keeping energy markets on alert, complicating the inflation and rate outlook worldwide.
Asia watches Iran tensions and oil risks as trade uncertainty lingers
Asian markets are tracking Middle East tensions as a key risk for oil prices and regional inflation. For now, policymakers are noting that longer-term inflation expectations have not yet moved sharply higher, even as crude concerns persist. Softer US inventory data and renewed trade friction add to the sense that Asia remains exposed to external shocks.