Economy

BEA's Second Estimate: U.S. Q2 GDP 1.5%, Underlying Demand and Inflation Stronger

Second BEA estimate leaves Q2 GDP at 1.5% but shows stronger private demand, firmer inflation and a sharp jump in corporate profits.

#economy, #gdp, #inflation, #corporateprofits

GAO Finds Effects of Original Opportunity Zones Largely Unknown Despite $108 Billion in Funds

A GAO report finds limited evidence on what the original Opportunity Zones achieved, even as Qualified Opportunity Funds held $108B; revisions may improve tracking.

#opportunityzones, #taxation, #gaoreport, #housing, #communitydevelopment

U.S. Consumer Inflation Rises 0.1% in July; Shelter Costs Account for Most of Gain

Headline CPI rose 0.1% in July (3.4% y/y); core CPI up 0.2%. Shelter costs accounted for roughly two‑thirds of the monthly increase as energy fell.

#inflation, #cpi, #federalreserve, #consumerprices

RBA Holds Cash Rate at 4.35% and Warns Further Hikes Remain Possible

Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate at 4.35% on Aug. 11, stressing the pause is not easing and warning it may raise rates if inflation risks rise.

#australia, #rba, #interest-rates, #inflation

July Jobs Report: U.S. Payrolls Fell 23,000 as BLS Revises Prior Months Down 103,000

BLS: nonfarm payrolls fell 23,000 in July, unemployment 4.1%. May-June payrolls were revised down 103,000, signaling softer U.S. hiring.

#jobs, #unemployment, #labor-market, #bls

BOJ minutes show 7-1 vote approved June rate rise; lone dissent flagged Middle East risks

BOJ minutes show a 7-1 vote approving the June rate rise to 1.0%, with one dissent citing Middle East risks and debate over bond-buying taper.

#boj, #bankofjapan, #interestrates, #monetarypolicy

BOJ Says Inflation Will Be 'Clearly Above 2%' From H2 FY2026, Signals Further Rate Hikes

BOJ says core CPI will be clearly above 2% from H2 fiscal 2026, trims near-term outlook due to temporary relief measures and signals more rate hikes.

#japan, #boj, #inflation, #monetarypolicy

Bank of Japan Signals Ongoing Rate Hikes as It Sees Slower Growth in Fiscal 2026

BOJ says it will keep raising interest rates even as it expects Japan's economy to slow in fiscal 2026; inflation seen above 2% from H2 2026.

#japan, #boj, #inflation, #monetarypolicy

U.S. GDP Growth Slows to 1.5% Annualized in Q2, BEA Says

BEA's advance estimate shows U.S. GDP rose 1.5% annualized in Q2 as inflation stayed high and private demand strengthened.

#economy, #gdp, #inflation, #bea, #us

Bank of Canada: Oil-driven lift to inflation seen as temporary; rate held at 2.25%

BoC says recent oil-driven inflation is temporary and kept the overnight rate at 2.25%, citing softer labour market and underlying price pressures.

#bankofcanada, #interest-rates, #inflation, #oil-prices

CBO Projects $33.6 Trillion in Federal Health Insurance Subsidies From 2026–2036

CBO and JCT estimate federal health-insurance subsidies will total $33.6 trillion from 2026–2036, rising from 7.4% to 8.4% of GDP.

#healthcare, #medicare, #medicaid, #budget

ECB holds key rates steady at 2.25%–2.65%, cites energy-price uncertainty

The ECB kept its three key interest rates unchanged on July 23, citing volatile energy prices and a data‑dependent approach to returning inflation to 2%.

#ecb, #interest-rates, #euro-area, #inflation

Euro-area firms report sharp rise in bank borrowing costs in Q2 2026; SMEs face tighter access

ECB survey: net 42% of euro-area firms saw bank loan rates rise in Q2 2026; overall availability steady but SMEs report worsened access.

#eurozone, #ecb, #banking, #smes

BIS working paper says sovereign‑bank “doom loop” has widened to include nonbank financial institutions

A BIS working paper finds the classic sovereign‑bank “doom loop” has widened into a sovereign‑bank‑NBFI nexus, raising new risks from leveraged nonbanks.

#bis, #sovereign-debt, #nbfis, #banks

India-UK trade and social-security pacts enter into force, activating tariff cuts and posting rules

India and the UK put trade and social-security agreements into force on July 15, delivering tariff-free access for most Indian goods and easing cross-border postings.

#trade, #india, #uk, #tariffs, #socialsecurity