News about Macroeconomics

Crude oil on the world markets traded in multidirectional quotes all week, but maintaining rather high prices and reacting nervously to geopolitical challenges. Before the weekend, the price of the main brand Brent consolidated above $71 per barrel and indicated clear intentions for further growth.

Countries in Central and South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa will take the brunt of food inflation this year, according to Logos Press.

The explosive rise in gold prices is not based on fundamental factors, says Ruchir Sharma. The chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation’s board of directors said that, in his opinion, investors are making up stories about the reasons for such a significant increase in the value of shares. He recommends investors to diversify their portfolios by investing in other commodity assets, Logos Press reports.

The European Central Bank (ECB) expects food inflation, crucial to consumers’ perception of price stability, to stabilize just above its 2% target by the end of this year, according to Logos Press.

Romania’s government has adopted two emergency decrees that include layoffs in the public administration and spending cuts, as well as a package of fiscal and support measures aimed at boosting economic recovery, Logos Press reported.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized that the country’s sovereignty is solely an internal affair of Georgia and no one should promote their interests in its political system, Logos Press reports.

S&P Global Ratings has upgraded Armenia’s rating outlook from “stable” to “positive”, expecting GDP growth of 5.3% in 2026 and 4.8% in 2027, amid further normalization of relations with Azerbaijan, Logos Press reports.

The minimum wage threshold for foreign citizens working in Moldova is 50% of the average wage in the economy. Local workers have no such guarantees, Logos Press reported.

The beginning of 2026 is marked by a series of decisions and processes that will largely set the financial trajectory of Moldova for the coming year. The focus is on the National Bank’s policy, inflation dynamics, the state of foreign exchange reserves and the Moldovan leu exchange rate.

The volume of new loans granted to individuals in Moldova in January 2026 amounted to 1.865 billion lei (or 35.5% of the total crediting volume of 5.254 billion lei). This figure is 17.5% lower compared to December 2025, Logos Press reported.

When the market is healthy, it requires no explanation. It functions on its own: apartments are sold, banks lend, developers build, and buyers buy. The state is limited to the role of an observer.

Kazakhstan has entered the top 50 largest economies in the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026, reports Logos Press.

The Ministry of Finance of Georgia has published statistics on the state debt for January 2026, according to which its total volume is $9.5 billion, which is $200 million more than a year earlier, Logos Press reports.

The UK retail sector is on the cusp of major staffing changes, with most major chains planning to cut hours and staff and freeze hiring of new workers, according to Logos Press.

The US has long been the main driver of global economic growth, including now, thanks to the boom in artificial intelligence (AI). This boom shows no signs of cooling, and it is financed by dollars, which remain the central pillar of global finance.

For the first time in four years, Moldova has registered an annual growth in industrial production. This indicator increased by 5.4% in 2025 against the level of 2024, Logos Press reported.

UPDATED. Amid a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found Trump’s already imposed duties illegal, the president of the United States has imposed new additional 10% import duties on all countries, Logos Press reported.

The International Monetary Fund has called on the Chinese authorities to accelerate the transition from an export-oriented development model to an economy based on domestic consumption and sustainable growth in domestic markets, Logos Press reported.

In global currency markets, the U.S. dollar rose more than 1% this week. This was helped by positive economic data, a tougher stance from the Federal Reserve and tensions between the US and Iran, which kept markets on edge, Logos Press reports.

The Chinese government sees the current risks of the United States imposing tariffs against many countries as a chance to reshape international supply chains in its favor, reducing dependence on the U.S. market and strengthening its position in the European Union, the Persian Gulf and North America, Logos Press reported.