IMF Raises Growth Forecast for ‘Overheated’ U.S. Economy and Urges Caution on Rate Cuts (Macro News for April 13, 2024 – April 19, 2024)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased its forecast of U.S. economic growth for 2024 to 2.7%. This new forecast is 0.6% higher than the previous forecast. The U.S. growth rate is far above its developed economy peers which include Germany, Japan, and Canada. The 20 nations that use the euro are expected to grow by a lackluster 0.8% for the year 2024.

IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast, Citing U.S. Resilience and Policy Support in China (Macro News for February 3, 2024 – February 9, 2024)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) adjusted its earlier 2024 global growth estimates upward to 3.1%. The previous estimate, made in October 2023, projected 2024 global growth would be 2.9%. The IMF also expects the 2025 global growth rate to be about 3.2%. The primary reasons listed for making the adjustments are "the unexpected strength of the U.S. economy and fiscal support measures in China."

Shipping Boss Says Ongoing Red Sea Disruption Could Have ‘Significant Consequences’ for Global Growth (Macro News for January 20, 2024 – January 26, 2024)

Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk, which is one of the largest container shipping firms in the world, stated that the Red Sea shipping disruptions could result in lower global economic growth. Clerc stated that it was uncertain whether passage through the Red Sea and Suez Canal would be restored in the near future.

Beijing is Trying Hard to Ward Off a Slowdown, But Data Continues to Disappoint (Macro News for December 9, 2023 – December 15, 2023)

China's economy continues to struggle with lackluster growth despite the nation's central bank's efforts to stimulate the economy. The nation's weak real estate market and flagging consumer demand are still not responding to a flood of liquidity pumped in by the central bank. China's real estate market typically accounts for about 30% of GDP but it is still in a slump created when the Chinese government cracked down on reckless borrowing by real estate developers.