Week in Review Archive

As the conflict between the United States and Iran intensifies, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s economy faces headwinds as core industries flounder. As the war intensifies, the market capitalization of Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges dropped $240 billion over the last month, according to Middle East Eye.

Nicaragua’s economy has seen mixed performance in recent years. Following significant growth in 2024, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth dropped from 3.6% to 3.1% in 2025. This decline was primarily due to slowed remittances, limited investment and global economic deceleration. Despite this slowdown, the economy will expand by 4% this year, supported by sound fiscal and monetary policies and increased remittances, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Australia’s central bank raised the interest rate for the second month in a row on March 17. The decision follows fears of inflation all while the intensifying conflict in the Middle East ramps up oil prices with businesses and consumers bearing the brunt.

Honduras is the second largest Central American country. With its extraordinary biodiversity, the nation has built an agricultural sector that is both highly productive and resilient. Despite being a key trading partner for the United States, China, Mexico and other Central American countries, economic uncertainty from government policies and legislation has threatened key trading relationships.

While many European nations saw meager growth in 2025, Poland’s economy reached $1 trillion, according to the Wall Street Journal, with GDP growing 3.6%. The milestone means Poland enters the top 20 world economies for 2025, sitting right behind Saudi Arabia.

After experiencing an economic slowdown, the highly industrialized country of South Korea has transitioned into a period of economic expansion. In the third quarter of 2025, the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.3%, its sharpest contraction since 2020. This downturn was largely the result of U.S.-imposed tariffs and heightened political uncertainty following the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Seok Yeol.

Mexico’s economy swerved away from a recession at the close of 2025, with rebounding gross domestic product (GDP) in the final quarter due to trade growth and strong industrial and manufacturing sectors pushing the country forward.

Following a year of sustained growth, Japan’s economy is navigating a transitional phase. While economists predict a strengthening economy, Japan is faced with potential interest rate hikes, a shifting political landscape under newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and slight pressure from U.S. tariffs.