latest news in economy
California Population Stagnates as Migration Cuts and Wildfires Stifle Growth
Sacramento, Saturday, 20 December 2025.
California’s growth flatlined at 0.05 percent in 2025 as the termination of humanitarian programs slashed international migration by half, exacerbating economic concerns for the coming year.
Bitcoin Signals Bear Market Shift as Buyer Demand Fades
New York, Saturday, 20 December 2025.
CryptoQuant analysis warns Bitcoin has entered a bear market after plummeting 30% from its $126,000 October peak. Institutional buyer exhaustion and a looming $23 billion options expiry suggest further downside.
Global Economy Projected to Outperform Expectations with 2.8 Percent Growth in 2026
New York, Saturday, 20 December 2025.
Goldman Sachs predicts 2.8 percent global growth for 2026, beating consensus. This outlook relies on US tax cuts and massive AI infrastructure spending often missed by official economic statistics.
Japan Core Inflation Holds at Three Percent, Reinforcing Central Bank's Shift Toward Higher Rates
Tokyo, Friday, 19 December 2025.
Japan’s core consumer prices rose 3.0% in November 2025, matching October’s pace and aligning perfectly with market forecasts. This marks the 44th consecutive month that inflation has exceeded the Bank of Japan’s 2% target, driven significantly by a 4.9% jump in electricity costs following the end of government subsidies. While the broader rise in food prices is showing signs of deceleration, specific commodities remain volatile, with coffee bean prices surging 51.6% due to weather conditions in Brazil. This sustained inflationary pressure validates the Bank of Japan’s decision today, December 19, to raise the policy interest rate to 0.75%, signaling a decisive move away from decades of ultra-loose monetary policy as the economy adjusts to a new environment of persistent rising costs.
November Inflation Falls Unexpectedly to 2.7 Percent, Strengthening Case for Rate Cuts
Washington D.C., Friday, 19 December 2025.
Annual inflation cooled to 2.7 percent, defying the 3.1 percent forecast. However, the recent government shutdown forced the cancellation of October’s report, leaving analysts cautious about data quality.
NASDAQ Composite Slides Nearly 2.5% in Significant Intraday Sell-Off
New York, Friday, 19 December 2025.
On December 19, 2025, the NASDAQ Composite plunged approximately 2.49% to intraday lows of 22,906. This sharp retreat from the 23,000 level signals shifting investor sentiment regarding technology valuations, significantly widening the gap from the index’s October highs.
Record $7.1 Trillion Options Expiration May Shake Wall Street This Friday
New York, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Wall Street prepares for a historic trading session this Friday as a record-breaking $7.1 trillion in options contracts expire. Goldman Sachs warns this unprecedented volume surpasses all historical benchmarks, signaling potential volatility as traders navigate year-end positioning.
Soft Inflation Data and Micron’s AI Outlook Spark Market Rally
New York, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Wall Street advanced Thursday on cooling inflation data, while Micron Technology fueled a tech rally by forecasting profits nearly double expectations, confirming insatiable demand for AI memory chips.
