What parts of the world are seeing the strongest job markets? Here is a ranking of major countries posting the lowest unemployment rates over the past month:
With consumers experiencing some relief due to the early-month easing in gasoline prices, the University of Michigan released a report on Friday showing a bigger than expected rebound in U.S. consumer sentiment in the month of June. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index jumped to 48.9 in June after slumping to 44.8 in May. Economists had expected the index to rise to 46.0.
The persisting conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are expected to keep the global energy prices elevated this year with a 36 percent increase in the Brent crude oil prices, a new report from the World Bank said.
India's consumer price inflation accelerated less than expected in May to the highest level in sixteen months amid higher food costs. The consumer price index registered an increase of 3.93 percent on a yearly basis in May, faster than the 3.48 percent rise in April. Food inflation quickened to 4.78 percent from 4.20 percent. Charges for transport services for goods surged 7.63 percent.
The U.K. economy contracted for the first time since August last year as the U.S.-Iran war has started to take its toll on business activity, official data showed Friday. Real gross domestic product decreased 0.1 percent in April, in contrast to a 0.3 percent expansion in March, the Office for National Statistics reported. This was the first monthly fall since August 2025.