latest news in economy
New York Metro Area Housing Market Shows Signs of Stabilization in 2026
New York, Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
OneKey MLS reports that the New York metro housing market is stabilizing, though unevenly. While Manhattan struggles, Long Island and the Hudson Valley show strength, with some sellers getting over 100% of their asking price in 2025.
Port of Montreal Defies Global Trends With Robust Container Growth and Diversification
Montreal, Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
In a landscape of global economic instability, the Port of Montreal has outperformed expectations, reporting a 3.6 percent increase in container volumes for 2025—surpassing global trade growth projections. This resilience is largely attributed to a strategic pivot toward African markets, highlighted by a striking 44 percent surge in trade with Morocco. While weather impacted dry bulk sectors, the port’s ability to diversify its trade routes has proven vital. As the Contrecœur expansion advances, these results underscore the necessity of adaptable infrastructure in securing North American supply chains against geopolitical volatility.
Dollar Weakens as Government Shutdown Looms and Fed Leadership Shifts
New York, Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
The US Dollar Index has breached critical support levels ahead of the January 30 government funding deadline. Markets are further rattled by speculation that BlackRock executive Rick Rieder may replace Jerome Powell, raising concerns over future Federal Reserve independence.
New Analysis Projects $5.5 Trillion Deficit Spike From Recent Legislative Package
Washington D.C., Tuesday, 27 January 2026.
Projections indicate the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ could add $5.5 trillion to the deficit, challenging the administration’s strategy to resolve the debt crisis through economic growth alone.
Recession Signals Flash as Consumer Confidence Sinks to 12-Year Low
New York, Tuesday, 27 January 2026.
In a concerning start to 2026, US consumer confidence has cratered to 84.5, marking its lowest point since May 2014 and surpassing even the sentiment lows of the COVID-19 pandemic. This sharp 9.7-point decline in January highlights a growing rift between resilient GDP figures and the financial reality felt by households. Crucially, the Expectations Index—a forward-looking gauge of income and business conditions—plummeted to 65.1. This metric has now remained below the critical 80-point threshold for a full year, a pattern that historically signals an impending recession. Despite a stable 4.4% unemployment rate, consumer perception of the labor market has soured significantly, with the net assessment of job availability hitting its weakest level since 2016. Driven by persistent inflation, tariff anxieties, and political uncertainty, this data suggests the American consumer is entrenching against a perceived economic contraction.