Macro

Six EU net contributors demand hundreds of billions in cuts to proposed €2 trillion budget

Leaders from Germany, Denmark, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden met in Berlin to oppose the European Commission's 2028–2034 budget plan, calling for spending reductions across all areas.

Read article

Macro·23h ago

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh faces market scrutiny ahead of Jackson Hole debut

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will address central bankers in Wyoming on Friday as investors seek clarity on his approach to 3.7% inflation and elevated bond yields.

Read article

Macro·from Aug 26·upd. yesterday

Scott Bessent launches Treasury twist to curb yields as US debt hits $40 trillion

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has introduced tactical bond market interventions, bringing the 30-year yield down to 5.19% after national debt crossed $40 trillion.

Read article

Macro·Aug 17

Russian state bank VEB fires chief economist who warned Russia was losing 'war of attrition' with the West

Andrei Klepach, chief economist at Russia's state development bank VEB since 2014, was dismissed after his May speech warning that Russia was falling behind the West, China and even Ukraine economically became public in Russian media last week.

Read article

Macro·Aug 18

UK private sector wage growth slows to 2.8% as unemployment holds at 4.9%

British private sector wage growth slowed to 2.8% in the second quarter while job vacancies fell to 707,000, supporting economist forecasts that the Bank of England will maintain interest rates at 3.75%.

Read article

Macro·from Aug 11·upd. Aug 15

US consumer sentiment drops to 51.0 in August as retail sales fall 0.6% in July

The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 51.0 in August from 55.2 in July, while retail sales dropped 0.6% in July, as the US-Iran conflict strains household budgets.

Read article

Macro·Aug 17

Poland's budget deficit reaches 141 billion PLN over first seven months of 2026

Poland's state budget deficit reached 141.06 billion PLN by the end of July 2026, surpassing 51% of the full-year target as expenditures rose to 474.97 billion PLN while value-added tax revenues grew by 2%.

Read article

Macro·6d ago

German Farmers Report Low Harvest Yields as Analysts Confirm Grocery Supplies Remain Stable

Drought and pest damage have reduced German crop yields across winter wheat and rapeseed, but market analysts confirm that food supplies remain secure despite selective price increases.

Read article

Macro·Aug 14

German auto industry employment falls to lowest level since 2005, down 42,300 in a year

Germany's automotive sector employed 691,500 people at the end of H1 2026, the fewest since 2005, as Chinese competition, US tariffs and corporate restructuring programs drive job losses across the industry.

Read article

Macro·Aug 18

Greek budget primary surplus reaches €5.73B in first seven months of 2026

Greece recorded a central government primary surplus of €5.725 billion in the first seven months of 2026, beating the official budget target of €4.417 billion following strong tax receipts in July.

Read article

Macro·3d ago

Romanian central bank adviser warns of budget crisis and lost EU funds as PSD demands his dismissal

Eugen Rădulescu warned that Romania faces losing billions of euros in European recovery funds within days, prompting the governing PSD to demand his dismissal from the central bank.

Read article

Macro·2d ago

Poland holds registered unemployment at 5.8% in July as total jobseekers reach 906,400

Statistics Poland reported registered joblessness at 5.8% in July 2026, while survey-based unemployment eased to 3.2% in the second quarter.

Read article

Six EU net contributors demand hundreds of billions in cuts to proposed €2 trillion budget

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh faces market scrutiny ahead of Jackson Hole debut

Scott Bessent launches Treasury twist to curb yields as US debt hits $40 trillion

Russian state bank VEB fires chief economist who warned Russia was losing 'war of attrition' with the West

UK private sector wage growth slows to 2.8% as unemployment holds at 4.9%

US consumer sentiment drops to 51.0 in August as retail sales fall 0.6% in July

Poland's budget deficit reaches 141 billion PLN over first seven months of 2026

German Farmers Report Low Harvest Yields as Analysts Confirm Grocery Supplies Remain Stable

German auto industry employment falls to lowest level since 2005, down 42,300 in a year

Greek budget primary surplus reaches €5.73B in first seven months of 2026

Romanian central bank adviser warns of budget crisis and lost EU funds as PSD demands his dismissal

Poland holds registered unemployment at 5.8% in July as total jobseekers reach 906,400

Free to read, and staying that way

Today’s Brief

Russia widens threats as floods, lawsuits and budget fights test institutions across regions

In the spotlight

The ageing Union's economy