Economic news

Current affairs, macroeconomics and monetary policy.

Economic news

The Fed raises rates again after three years: unanimous vote, Wall Street in the red

The Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points on September 16, 2026, bringing the target range to 3.75-4.00%: it is the first hike since July 2023 and concludes the longest monetary policy pause since 2008. The decision, taken unanimously (12-0), is accompanied by revised upward projections: the FOMC median indicates another hike by year-end. The Dow Jones lost 1.21%, the S&P 500 0.45%, while the Nasdaq closed unchanged. “Higher for longer” is officially back.

16 September 2026 · 7 min

Economic news

The ECB raises rates to 2.50% and inflation forecasts: the market does not believe in a pause

On September 10, 2026, the ECB raised its three key interest rates by 25 basis points: deposit facility at 2.50%, main refinancing operations at 2.65%, marginal lending facility at 2.90% from September 16. This is the second hike in three months, decided as August inflation rises to 3.3% due to energy (+14.3%) but core inflation falls to 2.4%. Projections bring 2027 to 2.5%. The 10-year Bund rises to 3.51%, a high since 2011: markets price in further hikes, economists none.

10 September 2026 · 18 min

Cover with the headline «The ECB takes rates to 2.50%, its second hike in three months» and the three new ECB rates — deposit facility 2.50%, main refinancing 2.65%, marginal lending 2.90% — above the deposit facility rate from 1999 to 16 September 2026

Economic news

Bund like in 2011, Japan above 3% after thirty years: bond sell-off is not just oil

On September 2, 2026, the ten-year Bund hit a fifteen-year high and the Japanese ten-year bond closed at 3.006%, above 3% for the first time since 1996. The ten-year Treasury is at 4.79%, the thirty-year gilt at 5.919%. The immediate cause is oil returning to 96 dollars with the war between the United States and Iran, but the barrel remains 42 dollars below its April peak: the European Central Bank, the Fed, and the Bank of Japan, all meeting between September 10 and 18, are truly weighing.

3 September 2026 · 15 min

Cover on a midnight-blue background with the headline «The Bund as in 2011, Japan as in 1996», the yields of Germany 3.45%, Japan 3.006% and the United Kingdom 5.919%, and behind them the Japanese ten-year curve since 1990

Economic news

US debt breaks 40 trillion on the same day 30-year Treasury yield hits 19-year high

On August 18, 2026, US federal debt exceeded $40 trillion for the first time, and on the same day, the 30-year Treasury yield reached 5.31%: the highest since 2007. These are not two separate news items, but the same event viewed from two sides. The Treasury pays an average of 3.447% on debt that the market currently prices up to 5.27%, and one-third of negotiable securities must be refinanced within twelve months.

23 August 2026 · 18 min

The United States Capitol, symbol of American political and economic power, against an urban backdrop with modern skyscrapers.

Economic news

Dollar at June lows, yen back at 159: why the rethink on the Fed isn't enough

On Monday, August 17, 2026, the dollar fell to its lowest level since early June against major currencies, after three weaker-than-expected US data points pushed back the prospect of a Federal Reserve rate hike. Against the yen, however, it remains at 159: of the 7.23 yen recovered with the late July joint intervention, 2.55 have already been given back. Because the yield differential matters more than an intervention on the exchange rate.

17 August 2026 · 15 min

Federal Reserve building in Washington DC with dollar symbol in foreground

Economic news

Energy dictates July inflation: 3.4% in the United States, 2.8% in Germany, 2.9% in Italy

On August 12, 2026, the United States, Germany, and Italy published July inflation figures: 3.4%, 2.8%, and 2.9%. Three almost identical numbers stemming from the same energy shock — Brent went from 62 to 138 dollars and is now trading at 93 — but describing very different economies. GDP, employment, wages, and markets verified against primary sources, and what truly changes for the Fed's and ECB's September decisions.

13 August 2026 · 23 min

Cover: on a midnight-blue background the headline «Energy sets July's inflation» and the three July 2026 rates — United States 3.4%, Germany 2.8%, Italy 2.9% — above the 2026 Brent price curve.

Economic news

Eurozone retail sales in July 2026 surprise on the upside, but confidence remains cautious

Retail sales in the Eurozone increased by 0.5% in July 2026 on a monthly basis, according to Eurostat data published on Friday, August 7, exceeding expectations but contrasting with consumer confidence that remains subdued.

7 August 2026 · 3 min

A busy shopping street in a European city with people shopping, Saturday, August 8, 2026

Analysis

United States and Japan buy yen for the first time since 1998. The market is already reselling

On July 31, 2026, the US Treasury bought yen for the first time since 1998, joining the Japanese intervention the day before: in three sessions, the dollar/yen exchange rate fell from 163.91 to 156.68. A week later, it has already given back almost a quarter, at 158.34. CFTC data explains why the move was so violent: large speculators were short on the yen by 163,412 contracts, 61.2% of the open interest.

7 August 2026 · 18 min

Japanese yen and US dollar banknotes, symbol of currency exchange

Economic news

Mega IPOs put to the test: SpaceX, the lock-up, and Meta's lesson

SpaceX publishes its first results as a listed company on August 4, 2026, seven weeks after the largest IPO in history: $85.7 billion raised and a stock that has already lost 45.8% from its June 16 high. On August 6, 911.5 million employee shares are unlocked. With Anthropic and OpenAI in line for listing, eleven major past IPOs — led by Meta and Rivian — tell us what to really expect from the first year on the stock market.

4 August 2026 · 13 min

A SpaceX Starship rocket taking off from the launch pad

Economic news

Oil crashes after Trump stops Iran attack: barrel down up to 9%, stock markets rise

Following Donald Trump's announcement that he had canceled the attack on Iran and reopened negotiations, on Monday, August 3, 2026, crude oil fell between 6% and 9% depending on the instrument. European stock markets rose and Wall Street opened well: airlines soared, oil companies fell. In Italy, however, gasoline and diesel at self-service stations remain above two euros per liter.

3 August 2026 · 12 min

An orange oil tanker moored at the pier of a coastal oil terminal, with refinery facilities and green hills in the background

Economic news

The magnificent 7 return to dictate the market: the week that flipped the AI trade

After a volatile July, Magnificent 7 stocks showed resilience with recent Q2 2026 earnings, fueling a strong rebound in the technology sector. The forced liquidation of Leopold Aschenbrenner's AI fund 'Situational Awareness', though destabilizing, was followed by an extraordinary recovery of the KOSPI and South Korean semiconductor stocks.

31 July 2026 · 7 min

Financial chart with a green arrow indicating an increase, symbolizing the stock market recovery.

Economic news

Nvidia guarantees the debt of those who will buy its chips: credit reacts before the stock market

On 27 July 2026 Nvidia fell 4.99% after reports of a possible commitment of around $600 billion in support of OpenAI. But the clearest signal came from the credit market: five-year credit default swaps rose by 14 basis points in a single session, to 82, the largest daily increase since the contract began trading actively.

29 July 2026 · 7 min

Nvidia headquarters in Santa Clara, California

Economic news

Unilever, the return of volumes: +5.5% in the second quarter, the best in sixteen years

On 28 July 2026 Unilever reported volume growth of 5.5% in the second quarter, the best since 2010, and raised its full-year guidance. The shares rose as much as 6.8% in London. But the currency effect cut turnover growth in euros to 0.5% and underlying operating profit rose by just 0.9%.

28 July 2026 · 6 min

A supermarket shelf with Unilever products on display

Economic news

US mortgage rates at their highest of the year, with the Fed on hold in 2026 shaping the market

Over the weekend of 25-26 July 2026, US mortgage rates hit their highest levels of the year, with the 30-year fixed at 6.696%. On the savings side, Certificates of Deposit remain competitive — up to 4.20% APY — while the Federal Reserve, after three cuts in 2025, has stayed on hold in 2026 and the market awaits its next moves.

27 July 2026 · 4 min

US dollar bills on mortgage documents and a calculator

Economic news

New Trump tariffs take effect: risk of escalation with the EU as markets look for stability

Since 24 July the new US tariffs of 10-12.5%, justified as a measure against forced labour, have been in force, hitting 60 economies accounting for roughly 99% of American imports. Wall Street books a second week of declines and Trump threatens the EU with a trade investigation over fines imposed on US technology companies.

25 July 2026 · 4 min

Economic news

Inflation: what it is, how it is measured, and why it erodes your savings

In June 2026, euro area inflation was 2.8% and Italian inflation was 3.0%, following the energy shock that led the ECB to the first rate hike since 2023 on June 11. Complete guide: how it is measured (HICP, NIC, FOI, IPCA), where it comes from, why the target is 2%, and how much it truly impacts purchasing power, with verified data up to July 2026.

12 July 2026 · 10 min

Shopping cart and prices, symbol of inflation

Economic news

GDP and the labour market: how the health of an economy is (truly) measured

On May 13, 2026, Eurostat reported euro area GDP growing by 0.1% in the first quarter; on June 5, it corrected it to −0.2%. In June, American unemployment fell to 4.2% while the labour market worsened. A guide to how production and employment are truly measured, the traps of comparisons between Europe and the United States, and the indicators to read together.

11 July 2026 · 10 min

Economic news

ECB and Fed: how central banks work and why they move everything

Central banks regulate the economy's temperature by moving the price of money. A guide to the mandates of the ECB and Fed, the three tools they use, and the chain that carries a decision from Frankfurt to a mortgage payment, with data from the 2022-2026 cycle and the divergence that opened in summer 2026.

10 July 2026 · 10 min

Institutional headquarters, symbol of central banks

Economic news

Current affairs, macroeconomics and monetary policy.