For the third consecutive meeting, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced its widely expected decision to leave rates unchanged, although the vote was unusually divided. The Fed said it decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3.50 to 3.75 percent, citing its dual goals of maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run.
Citing ongoing uncertainty, the Bank of Canada on Wednesday announced its widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged for the fourth consecutive meeting. The Bank of Canada said it decided to maintain its target for the overnight rate at 2.25 percent, with the Bank Rate at 2.5 percent and the deposit rate at 2.20 percent.
New orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods rebounded by more than expected in the month of March, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday. The Commerce Department said durable goods orders climbed by 0.8 percent in March after tumbling by a revised 1.2 percent in February.
A report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday showed a sharp increase in new residential construction in the U.S. in the month of March but a steep drop in building permits. The Commerce Department said housing starts soared by 10.8 percent to an annual rate of 1.502 million in March after tumbling by 3.0 percent to a rate of 1.356 million in February.
Euro area economic confidence deteriorated to the lowest level since November 2020, underscoring the rising concern about the strength of economic activity amid the intensifying price pressures and supply chain disruptions. The economic sentiment index dropped more-than-expected to 93.0 in April from 96.2 in the prior month, results of a monthly survey by the European Commission showed on Wednes
The New Zealand dollar weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Wednesday, after the dovish comments by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor Anna Breman. The RBNZ Governor Breman said that "the first quarter measures of core inflation have remained stable within...
Flash inflation from Germany and economic sentiment from the euro area are the top economic news due on Wednesday. At 3.00 am ET, Spain's statistical office INE publishes flash inflation data for April. Consumer price inflation is forecast to edge up to 3.5 percent from 3.4 percent in March.
Australia's consumer prices inflation accelerated at the fastest pace since 2023, driven by increases in housing and transport costs, data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Wednesday. Consumer prices increased 4.6 percent on a yearly basis in March, marking the strongest inflation since September 2023.
The U.S. Dollar value ticked higher as focus of investors shifts to the revised plan Iran is preparing to send to the U.S. in an effort to end the two-month-long gulf war after reports indicated that the U.S. rejected Iran's earlier proposal.
Despite spiking gasoline prices, the Conference Board released a report on Tuesday showing an unexpected improvement in U.S. consumer confidence in the month of April. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index crept up to 92.8 in April from an upwardly revised 92.2 in March.
The Bank of Japan retained its key interest rate in a split vote on Tuesday and upgraded its inflation outlook citing higher global crude oil prices due to the Iran war, and the policy assessment added to expectations for an interest rate hike in the near-term. The BoJ policy board, headed by Kazuo Ueda, voted 6-3 to hold the uncollateralized overnight call rate at around 0.75 percent at the end
The Japanese yen strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday, after the Bank of Japan left its key interest rate unchanged and upgraded its inflation outlook citing higher global crude oil prices. The policy board voted 6-3 majority to hold the uncollateralized overnight...
The U.S. Dollar value changed a little on Monday after Iran offered a draft proposal to the U.S. regarding an arrangement for reopening the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. cancellation of peace talks with Iran, last Saturday.
The Dollar Index rebounded during the week ended April 24, amidst an uncertain geopolitical situation in the Middle East and lack of clarity about a deal to end the conflict.
German consumer sentiment is set to deteriorate sharply in May as income expectations collapsed due to rising inflation amid the war in Iran, the latest results of the NIM Consumer Climate powered by GfK showed Monday. The forward-looking consumer confidence index fell to -33.3 in May from -28.1 in April. This was the lowest score since February 2023.
April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.