News about Macroeconomics
The United States has the largest external debt – $24.54 trillion. It exceeds the total external debt of the 10 countries that follow the US in the ranking of the world debtors. The least indebted country is Eritrea. Its external debt is $461 million.
The probability of Moldova gaining full membership in the EU by 2030 is 2-4%, and by 2040 – 35-45%. And that is subject to a number of conditions that depend little on Moldova itself.
The visuals of this week’s summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping were carefully crafted to showcase the equality between the U.S. and China.
The Kremlin announced on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing on May 19-20 to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation and addressing key international issues. The leaders are expected to sign a joint statement and a number of agreements during the visit.
Romania’s Ministry of Finance released a stunning report on May 13 detailing a massive, repeated flow of cash across the country’s borders throughout 2024 and 2025.
New York City’s rail service has been paralyzed as about 3,500 Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) employees went on strike after negotiations over pay raises failed.
US President Donald Trump would not want to go to war against the People’s Republic of China should Taiwan declare independence.
The reform of local public administration cannot be postponed any longer, 2026 is the only appropriate period for its adoption, “the next train is in 2031”. This statement was made by the Speaker of Parliament Igor Grosu at the “Civic Assembly” on Saturday, May 16.
Retail turnover in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2026 increased by 11.2% compared to the same period of 2025. In March, the growth accelerated to 12.8 percent in annual terms, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine said.
Global wine consumption in 2025 has fallen to its lowest level since 1957.
Russia, the world’s largest wheat exporter, may not have enough wheat to harvest this year. This is due to abnormally cold weather and heavy rains, which led to the worst start to the spring sowing season in Russia in many years.
This question has been worrying investors since the events of February. After several years of rapid growth, Dubai’s real estate market has begun to slow down. Homeowners are increasingly going for discounts, and sales are sagging, especially in the segment of properties under construction.
On Friday, the Romanian leu weakened by 0.2% to 5.2035 per euro ahead of the central bank’s interest rate decision, which took place on the same day but later. This fall was due to investors’ concerns about the central bank’s further policy and the tense economic situation.
In January, year-end inflation in Ukraine was forecasted at 7.5 percent. However, already in the April forecast it reaches 9.4%. However, the projected long-term trend is moderately positive, then inflation at the end of next year will be 6.5%, and in 2028 – 5%.
The conflict in the Middle East, now in its 11th week, has led to the closure of a crucial shipping channel and a spike in energy prices.
The prospects of Moldova’s future membership in the European Union have long been at the center of discussions – both political and “kitchen” discussions.
In the first quarter of 2026, exports of goods amounted to 848.5 million euros, up 10.2% compared to the corresponding period of 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics said.
Last year, 22.1 thousand children were born in Moldova – this is about 1.5 thousand less (or 6.6%) compared to 2024. The share of children born in marriage amounted to 61.5% (or 13.6 thousand children), i.e. every third child was born out of wedlock.
The quality of the Moldovan stratum called “elite society” is deteriorating year by year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will send its staff to Ukraine in the coming weeks to check on progress in the implementation of economic reforms under the new 4-year, $8.1 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.
