Keywords: Inflation


ECB signals possible April rate hike as energy inflation rises

European Central Bank policymakers are considering a possible interest rate increase as energy-driven inflation risks intensify, marking a shift from earlier expectations of monetary easing. Five major central banks kept interest rates unchanged this week in a coordinated pause reflecting growing uncertainty......

How rising costs are reshaping friendship in France

In spring 2026, a new term began to circulate across European media and everyday conversation: friendflation. The word describes a growing reality. As the cost of living rises, maintaining friendships becomes more expensive. Meals, birthdays, weddings and weekend plans now carry a financial burden that......

Bitcoin falls below $70,000 after strong US inflation data

Bitcoin dropped below the $70,000 mark on March 18 after stronger than expected US producer price data reinforced inflation concerns, just hours before the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, extending a pattern of post-policy declines in crypto markets. The cryptocurrency fell as much as 5.7......

European central banks hold rates as Iran war fuels inflation fears

Major European central banks kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday as rising energy prices linked to the conflict with Iran raised concerns about renewed inflation across the region. The European Central Bank held its deposit rate at 2 percent for the sixth consecutive meeting, while the Bank of......

Global markets fall sharply as Fed stance and tensions weigh

Global financial markets declined on March 18, 2026, after stronger than expected US producer price data and a cautious Federal Reserve stance reinforced concerns about persistent inflation and slowing growth. Major US stock indices posted significant losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped......

Bank of Japan holds rates as oil shock raises inflation risks

The Bank of Japan kept its interest rates unchanged on Thursday, warning that rising oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict could push up underlying inflation and complicate policy decisions. The central bank maintained its short-term policy rate at 0.75 percent following a two-day meeting, in......

UBS urges investors to favor gold, dollar and TIPS amid US Iran tensions

UBS Global Wealth Management has advised investors to strengthen their portfolios with gold, the US dollar and inflation linked bonds as military tensions between the United States and Iran continue to unsettle global financial markets. The bank said these assets offer important protection against rising......

Chilean economists drop rate cut forecasts as oil surge fuels inflation risks

Economists in Chile have abandoned expectations of an interest rate cut this month as the escalation of the war involving Iran drives oil prices above $100 per barrel and raises the risk of renewed global inflation, complicating monetary policy decisions. According to Bloomberg, analysts no longer expect......

China’s inflation reaches three-year high as producer prices continue to fall

Inflation in China accelerated in February, reaching its highest level in three years, while producer prices continued their downward trend, highlighting mixed signals within the country’s economic recovery. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the Consumer......