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The US Federal Reserve usually leads others in setting the direction for policy, but the start of 2025 has been far from normal.

Leaving Fed behind, top central banks have room to ease

Central banks around the globe have plenty of room to keep cutting interest rates, and a limited "decoupling" from the US Federal Reserve could continue as it pauses its own policy easing, according to policymakers and analysts.

Business • 07 Feb

The US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose 0.3% last month after an unrevised 0.1% gain in November, new figures show today

US inflation rising, consumer spending accelerating

US prices increased in December while consumer spending surged, suggesting that the Federal Reserve could delay cutting interest rates for some time this year.

Business • 31 Jan

US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said there would be no rush to cut US rates again until inflation and jobs data made it appropriate

Fed leaves rates unchanged, sees no hurry to cut again

The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady last night and Fed Chair Jerome Powell said there would be no rush to cut them again until inflation and jobs data made it appropriate.

Business • 30 Jan

The European Central Bank is set to cut rates again by another 25 bps on Thursday

Take Five - Fed, ECB - and more from Trump

It is a big week ahead next week as the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Canada hold their first meetings of 2025.

Business • 24 Jan

The US consumer price index rose 0.4% last month after climbing 0.3% in November

US consumer prices rise above expectations in December

US consumer prices increased slightly more than expected in December amid higher costs for energy goods, pointing to still elevated inflation that aligns with the Federal Reserve's projections for fewer interest rate cuts this year.

Business • 15 Jan

A US Fed official said the effect of new tariffs under consideration by US President-elect Donald Trump is unlikely to be 'significant or persistent'

US tariffs unlikely to have 'significant' inflation hit

The effect of new tariffs under consideration by US President-elect Donald Trump is unlikely to be "significant or persistent," a senior Federal Reserve official said today.

Business • 08 Jan

The euro is set for a 5.6% decline against the dollar this year, with traders expecting the European Central Bank to be sharper with its cuts than the Fed

Dollar stands tall in 2024, propped up by cautious Fed

The dollar slipped on the last trading day of the year today but was poised to clock strong gains in 2024 against almost all currencies as investors prepared for fewer US rate cuts and the incoming Trump administration.

Business • 31 Dec 24

US GDP increased at an upwardly revised 3.1% annualised rate, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said in its third estimate of Q3 GDP

US third-quarter economic growth revised higher

The US economy grew faster than previously estimated in the third quarter, driven by robust consumer spending, new figures show today.

Business • 19 Dec 24

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed has no desire to be involved in any government effort to stockpile large amounts of bitcoin

Powell says US Federal Reserve can't hold bitcoin

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has said that the US central bank has no desire to be involved in any government effort to stockpile large amounts of bitcoin.

Business • 19 Dec 24

The financial markets had overwhelmingly expected the US Federal Reserve to announce a quarter percentage-point cut to US rates today

Fed cuts rates but sees slower pace of further reductions

The US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates this evening and signaled it will slow the pace at which borrowing costs fall any further given a relatively stable unemployment rate and little recent improvement in inflation.

Business • 19 Dec 24

US consumer prices saw their biggest increase in seven months in November, new figures show today

US consumer prices post largest gain in seven months

US consumer prices saw their biggest increase in seven months in November, but that is unlikely to discourage the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates for a third time next week against the backdrop of a cooling labour market.

Business • 11 Dec 24

US non-farm payrolls increased by 227,000 jobs last month after rising an upwardly revised 36,000 in October, new figures show today

US job growth accelerates in November, unemployment up

US job growth surged in November after being severely constrained by hurricanes and strikes, but this probably does not signal a material shift in labour market conditions that continue to ease steadily and allows the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again this month.

Business • 06 Dec 24

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 224,000 for the week ended November 30, new figures show today

US weekly jobless claims rise moderately

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased moderately last week, suggesting that the labour market continued to steadily cool.

Business • 05 Dec 24

US GDP increased at an unrevised 2.8% annualised rate in the third quarter, new figures show today

US third quarter economic growth unrevised at 2.8%

The US economy grew at a solid pace in the third quarter, the government confirmed today, amid robust consumer spending.

Business • 27 Nov 24

Earlier this month, US Federal Reserve officials voted to lower the benchmark lending rate by a quarter-percentage point, bringing it to a range between 4.5% and 4.75%

US Fed sees interest rates coming down 'gradually'

US Federal Reserve officials expect inflation to keep cooling, signaling a gradual approach to interest rate cuts if price increases ease further and the job market remains strong, minutes of their recent meeting showed last night.

Business • 27 Nov 24

For the week, Brent is set to fall over 2% while WTI is set to decline more than 3%

Oil prices set for weekly loss on China demand fears

Oil prices edged lower today, heading for a weekly loss, as investors digested waning Chinese demand and a possible slowing of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate cut path.

Business • 15 Nov 24

Powell says no need for Fed to rush rate cuts

Ongoing economic growth, a solid job market, and inflation that remains above its 2% target mean the Federal Reserve does not need to rush to lower interest rates, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last night.

Business • 15 Nov 24

The US consumer price index rose 0.2% for the fourth month in a row, new figures show today

US consumer prices rise as expected in October

US consumer prices increased as expected in October, and progress towards low inflation has slowed since mid-year, which could result in fewer interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve next year.

Business • 13 Nov 24

US job growth slows sharply in October

US job growth slowed sharply in October amid disruptions from hurricanes and strikes by aerospace factory workers, but the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, offering assurance that the labour market remained on solid footing ahead of Tuesday's election.

Business • 01 Nov 24

US retail sales rose 0.4% last month after an unrevised 0.1% gain in August, new figures show today

US retail sales see solid gains in September

US retail sales increased slightly more than expected in September, supporting views that the economy maintained a strong pace of growth in the third quarter.

Business • 17 Oct 24

Wells Fargo is the fourth-largest US lender

Wells Fargo's profit falls on lower interest income

Wells Fargo's third quarter profit fell as the bank's interest income was squeezed by subdued loan demand and higher payments to depositors.

Business • 11 Oct 24

In the 12 months to September, US inflation rose 2.4% - the smallest year-on-year rise since February 2021 and after a 2.5% advance in August

US consumer prices rise slightly above expectations

US consumer prices rose slightly more than expected in September, but the annual increase in inflation was the smallest in more than three and a half years, potentially keeping the Federal Reserve on track to cut interest rates again next month.

Business • 10 Oct 24

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose 0.2% last month after an unrevised 0.5% gain in July

US consumer spending rises in August, inflation slows

US consumer spending increased moderately in August, suggesting the economy retained some of its solid momentum in the third quarter, while inflation pressures continued to abate.

Business • 27 Sep 24

The OECD has nudged up its 2024 forecast to 3.2% from 3.1% previously but left its outlook for 2025 unchanged

OECD sees global growth stabilising at 3.2% this year

Global growth is in the process of stabilising as the drag from central bank rate hikes fades and falling inflation boosts households' incomes, the OECD said today, marginally raising its outlook for this year.

Business • 25 Sep 24

The cut in interest rates kicks off what is expected to be a steady easing of monetary policy by the US Federal Reserve

US Fed cuts interest rates by half a percentage point

The US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates by half of a percentage point, kicking off what is expected to be a steady easing of monetary policy.

Business • 19 Sep 24