Economy Archive

When Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took office in October 2021, he promised to rebuild Japan’s economy through a strategy he dubbed, “New Capitalism.” Kishida would quickly change course on his economic plan, which included redistribution at its core in an effort to reduce social inequities. As he stepped down three years later, the changes he brought to the economy seem to pale in comparison to this outsized promise.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a point in September, the first cut since 2020. The Federal interest rate sits between 4.75% and 5%, hopefully mitigating the effects of high inflation and offering individuals and businesses a bit of relief. Despite this recent cut, the interest rate is nearly double the pre-pandemic rate.

More than half of Argentina’s 46 million population is now living in poverty, new figures indicate. The poverty rate skyrocketed to 52.9% in the first half of 2024, surging from 40.1% one year earlier, according to the government’s INDEC statistics agency.

Steep losses for the stock market and a slump in FDI to the lowest level in decades has brought added urgency to efforts by officials in Beijing to shore up confidence that the CCP regime is prepared to take the steps required to stabilize an economy that has shown signs of wobbling amid mounting difficulties for the crucial property sector.

Ukraine’s economic outlook stands conditional based on a number of factors: The destruction of energy infrastructure, logistical mishaps, a difficult labor market and high security risks.

The U.K. economy continues to defy gloomy expectations, albeit just barely. A monthly survey of economists conducted by the U.K. Treasury shows the average forecast for GDP growth over 2024 has gone up from 0.4% in January 2024 to 0.9% in July 2024.

Egypt’s economic growth is set to be slower than expected this year after an $8 billion agreement was signed with the IMF in March, according to a Reuters poll of 17 economists. Gross domestic product (GDP) is now forecasted to grow 4%—down from a previous 4.35%.

South Africa, Africa’s largest economy with a GDP over $373 billion, faces significant challenges despite its former promise of stability. Their economy contracted by 0.1% in the first quarter of 2024, dragged lower by manufacturing, mining and construction.