Search Results for: gdp

Posted on

ECB Interest Rate Hike to 2.25% and UK GDP Contracts 0.1%

The European Central Bank jolted markets yesterday with its first interest‑rate increase since 2023, a move driven by renewed energy‑price pressures linked to the U.S./Iran conflict. Policymakers signalled that the surge in wholesale gas and oil costs is feeding back into euro‑area inflation, forcing a return to tightening after more than two years of stability. …

Continue reading “ECB Interest Rate Hike to 2.25% and UK GDP Contracts 0.1%”

Posted on

U.S. Growth Slows Sharply as Q4 GDP at 1.4% – badly missed target

The United States economy lost momentum at the end of 2025, with fourth‑quarter GDP rising just 1.4%, a sharp deceleration from the 4.4% expansion recorded in the previous quarter. The first estimate from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis underscored a cooling backdrop that contrasts with the resilience seen through much of last year. The …

Continue reading “U.S. Growth Slows Sharply as Q4 GDP at 1.4% – badly missed target”

Posted on

China’s enviable GDP figures for 2025?

China’s newly released growth figures paint a picture of an economy that is meeting official targets while wrestling with deep structural challenges. According to data published today by the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s GDP expanded by 5% in 2025, matching Beijing’s goal of ‘around 5%’. Yet the headline number masks a more uneven reality …

Continue reading “China’s enviable GDP figures for 2025?”

Posted on

India’s GDP: High growth amid global headwinds

India’s economy continues to defy gravity, posting a robust 7.8% year-on-year GDP growth in the April–June quarter of 2025—the fastest pace in five quarters. This surge, driven by strong domestic consumption, infrastructure investment, and a booming services sector, beat market expectations and reaffirmed India’s position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Government-led infrastructure spending has …

Continue reading “India’s GDP: High growth amid global headwinds”

Posted on

UK GDP 0.3% for Q2 – still anaemic – despite the sunny weather – August 2025

The UK economy (GDP) grew by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025, outperforming forecasts of just 0.1% growth (not difficult). This marks a slowdown from the robust 0.7% expansion seen in Q1, but June’s rebound helped offset weaker activity in April and May 2025. 📊 Key Highlights: 💬 Expert commentary: Despite the sunny headline, …

Continue reading “UK GDP 0.3% for Q2 – still anaemic – despite the sunny weather – August 2025”

Posted on

U.S. GDP surges 3.0% in Q2 — but what’s driving the rebound?

After a lacklustre start to 2025, the U.S. economy posted a surprising comeback in the second quarter, with GDP rising at an annualised rate of 3.0%, according to data released today. The sharp upswing follows a 0.5% contraction in Q1, catching analysts off-guard and fuelling speculation about the durability of the recovery. 📈 A Rebound …

Continue reading “U.S. GDP surges 3.0% in Q2 — but what’s driving the rebound?”

Posted on

UK first quarter GDP better than expected at 0.7%

The UK economy has defied expectations, recording a 0.7% increase in GDP in the first quarter of 2025 – better than the forecast of 0.6%. This surge places Britain ahead of economic heavyweights, including the United States, Canada, France, Italy, and Germany. A key driver of this growth has been the service sector, which demonstrated …

Continue reading “UK first quarter GDP better than expected at 0.7%”

Posted on

UK economy shows welcome signs of resilience with positive GDP growth and inflation relief

The UK economy displayed unexpected resilience in February 2025, with GDP growing by 0.5%. This figure has exceeded market expectations and provided a welcome boost to UK economic confidence. The growth was fueled by robust activity in the services and manufacturing sectors, which helped counterbalance ongoing challenges in other areas. February’s performance marks a recovery …

Continue reading “UK economy shows welcome signs of resilience with positive GDP growth and inflation relief”

Posted on

China’s fourth-quarter GDP grows at 5.4%

China’s economy expanded by 5.4% in the fourth quarter, surpassing market expectations, as a series of stimulus measures propelled the economy to meet Beijing’s growth target This final-quarter surge helped elevate China’s full-year GDP growth to 5.0% in 2024, with the official target of around 5%. In December 2024, retail sales increased by 3.7% from …

Continue reading “China’s fourth-quarter GDP grows at 5.4%”

Posted on

China reports GDP growth of 4.6% – above expectations

China’s National Bureau of Statistics announced on Friday that the GDP growth for the third quarter was 4.6% year-on-year, marginally above the 4.5% forecasted by economists. But slightly lower than the second quarter’s year-on-year growth of 4.7%. In terms of quarterly growth, the third quarter experienced a 0.9% increase, which is higher than the 0.7% …

Continue reading “China reports GDP growth of 4.6% – above expectations”

Posted on

The U.S. modern economy is number one in the world by GDP

The U.S. economy, often considered the largest globally, is characterised by a dynamic mix of sectors. It is propelled by strong industrial production and a vibrant service sector, offering a varied economic environment The United States possesses a highly developed mixed economy. It stands as the world’s largest economy by nominal GDP and the second …

Continue reading “The U.S. modern economy is number one in the world by GDP”

Posted on

UK national debt as a percentage of GDP is now 99.5%

Highest ratio since the 1960’s and even higher than that reached during the Covid pandemic of 2020. The UK’s national debt has reached its highest level since 1962. Official figures from the ONS show that the total government debt amounted to 99.5% of the economy’s value in June 2024, surpassing the peak levels experienced during …

Continue reading “UK national debt as a percentage of GDP is now 99.5%”

Posted on

China manufacturing and Japan’s GDP contracts – Asia markets mixed

Over the last weekend of June 2024, China released its official PMI figures, with the manufacturing PMI remaining at 49.5, the same as in May 2024, indicating a second consecutive month of contraction. On Monday 1st July 2024, Japan adjusted its first-quarter GDP figures, showing a contraction of 2.9% year-on-year, a revision from the previously …

Continue reading “China manufacturing and Japan’s GDP contracts – Asia markets mixed”

Posted on

UK GDP: economy grew more than first estimated

UK economy purring but not roaring like a lion… yet! The UK economy expanded more than initially thought in the first quarter of 2024, signalling a recovery from recession, according to updated official data. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that from January to March 2024, the economy experienced a growth of 0.7%, revised …

Continue reading “UK GDP: economy grew more than first estimated”

Posted on

UK GDP flatlines – not so helpful for Sunak and his election campaign

In April 2024, the U.K.’s economic growth came to a standstill, figures released on Wednesday 12th June 2024 indicated, putting a pause on the subdued recovery from the previous year’s recession just weeks before the UK election. Analysts had anticipated growth a levelling off following a 0.4% expansion in March 2024. Over a longer period …

Continue reading “UK GDP flatlines – not so helpful for Sunak and his election campaign”

Posted on

Much Ado About Nothing – UK GDP and the ‘r’ word

The U.K. economy has recovered from its ‘technical’ recession, with the gross domestic product (GDP) increasing by 0.6% in the first quarter, surpassing expectations. Official figures released on Friday revealed this growth, which exceeded the 0.4% predicted by economists surveyed by Reuters for the previous quarter. In the latter half of 2023, the U.K. experienced …

Continue reading “Much Ado About Nothing – UK GDP and the ‘r’ word”

Posted on

U.S. GDP slows to 1.6% significantly below expectations

The gross domestic product (GDP) from January to March 2024, grew at an annualised rate of 1.6%, significantly underperforming the projected 2.4%. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, crucial for the Federal Reserve’s inflation assessments, climbed at an annualised rate of 3.4% for the quarter, marking the largest increase in a year. Meanwhile, consumer …

Continue reading “U.S. GDP slows to 1.6% significantly below expectations”

Posted on

U.S. GDP grew at a 5.2% in Q3, stronger than expected

U.S. GDP figure better that forecast The U.S. economy grew even stronger than previously calculated in the third quarter, the result of better than expected business investment and stronger government spending, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported  Wednesday 29th November 2023. Gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of all goods and services produced during the …

Continue reading “U.S. GDP grew at a 5.2% in Q3, stronger than expected”

Posted on

U.S. GDP grew at a 4.9% in September 2023

According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. GDP grew at a 4.9% annual pace in Q3 of 2023, better than expected.  This was the fastest quarterly advance in nearly two years, driven by robust consumer spending, increased inventories, exports, residential investment and government spending. Challenges The U.S. economy faced several …

Continue reading “U.S. GDP grew at a 4.9% in September 2023”

Posted on

Japan outperforms as GDP up 6% August 2023

Japan’s economy beats expectations with 6% annualised growth in Q2 Japan’s economy posted its third straight quarterly expansion, latest government data showed 15th August 2023, as robust export growth contributed to an annualised 6% expansion in the second quarter, easily beating market expectations. Economists had reportedly expected the world’s third-largest economy to produce a 3.1% growth in …

Continue reading “Japan outperforms as GDP up 6% August 2023”

Posted on

Global debt has reportedly surged to $365 trillion, prompting economists to warn about a looming ‘vicious cycle’

The combination of record global debt, higher borrowing costs and growing doubts about the enormous sums being committed to artificial intelligence is creating a more complicated backdrop for financial markets. Global debt exceeded $365 trillion in the first half of 2026, according to the Institute of International Finance, with debt now around 310% of global …

Continue reading “Global debt has reportedly surged to $365 trillion, prompting economists to warn about a looming ‘vicious cycle’”