Week in Review Archive

Over the past 40 years, Malaysia has stood out on the world stage for its impressive economic performance and resilience. To this day, the country remains a powerhouse in the global market, ranking among the world’s leading suppliers of electrical equipment, semiconductors, solar panels and information and communications technology (ICT). Amid ongoing trade tensions and inflationary pressures, Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy experienced a slowdown in 2025.

Poland’s economy remains one of the strongest in the European Union (EU), even as contentious election reveals political tensions within the country. Karol Nawrocki from the conservative party won the June 1 election with 51% of the votes, beating out the left-leaning Rafal Trzaskowski.

After two years of contraction, Germany’s economic growth is set to plateau. Following a 0.2% decline in gross domestic product (GDP) the previous year, experts anticipate little to no economic growth in 2025. This contraction is largely due to ongoing trade conflict with the United States.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who took office on March 14, introduced his new cabinet recently and lamented their focus on the economy, as the strife brought about by tariffs and threats of annexation from the United States weighs on the nation.

In 2023, the economy grew by 0.7%, followed by a 1.7% increase in 2024, driven by private consumption and modest investment as inflation decreased and interest rates fell, according to the World Bank Group. Poverty dropped slightly to 31.3%, with regional disparities persisting. In addition, the gross domestic product (GDP) in current prices in Colombia is approximately 427.77 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. The country’s average inflation stands at approximately 4.7%, per Statista.

The United States economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Commerce Department, the first quarter of decline since 2022. The decline in gross domestic product (GDP) is due to a large surge in imports despite other parts of the economy slowing down, all while inflation remains high.

South Korea’s economy is currently facing a period of slower growth, with the first quarter of 2025 experiencing a contraction of 0.1% in gross domestic product (GDP). This downturn is attributed to various factors, including heightened political uncertainty and crippling tariffs.

Japan’s economy has shown strength and growth so far this year, but the unpredictability of the brewing trade war and the broad-sweeping implications of tariffs from a major trade ally could slow the nation’s growth.