In its latest forecast, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) sees the federal government’s debt rising from 97 percent of GDP in the last fiscal year to 116 percent by 2034, higher than during World War II.
Tag: interest rates
TOP TREND 2024, A GOLDEN YEAR FOR GOLD: GOLD SETS ANOTHER RECORD
Gold’s price rose another 1.61 percent on 5 April to trade at $2,325.70, giving a 12.77-percent gain so far this year.
HEDGE FUNDS LOOK TO EUROPE TO EXTEND STOCK RALLY
As U.S. stocks become more expensive, investors are turning to Europe where valuations are lower and a cautiously optimistic economic outlook hints at rising equity markets, Bloomberg reported.
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS TRENDS
In recent times, the economic landscape has presented an array of challenges that have profoundly affected the business community. Some of the most significant challenges include soaring inflation rates, escalating interest rates, looming fears of a recession, and a tangible decrease in revenues for many sectors…
BANK OF JAPAN RAISES INTEREST RATE FOR FIRST TIME IN 17 YEARS
On 19 March, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) became the last central bank to lift its interest rates out of negative numbers. The key rate had been at -0.1 percent since January 2016.
U.S. CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO SLOW THEIR SPENDING
Inflated prices, emptied savings accounts, and high credit card debt seem to be continuing to persuade U.S. shoppers to curb their free-spending ways.
FEBRUARY HOME SALES UP MOST IN A YEAR
In February, 9.5 percent more U.S. homes sold than in January, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported. Although sales were down 3.3 percent year on year, February this year marked the largest monthly jump since February 2023.
CORPORATE DEFAULTS AT HIGHEST SINCE GREAT RECESSION, S&P SAYS
So far this year, 29 corporations have defaulted on their debts, more than in any similar period since 2009 during the Great Recession when 36 corporations failed to pay. Inflation, high interest rates, rising wages, and sluggish consumer demand are to blame, according to S&P.
U.S. INFLATION RAN AT 3.2 PERCENT IN FEBRUARY
In February, consumers paid 3.2 percent more for goods and services than they did a year earlier and 0.4 percent more than in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported last week.
EUROZONE INFLATION SLOWS TO 2.6 PERCENT IN FEBRUARY
Prices inflated by 2.6 percent in February across the 20-country Eurozone, slipping from January’s 2.8 percent and coming closer to the European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) 2-percent target.