In July 2025, the U.S. trade deficit widened to $78.3 billion due to a significant increase in imports and a slight rise in exports, with the goods deficit reaching $103.9 billion and the services surplus decreasing slightly. Year-to-date, the deficit has increased by 30.9% compared to 2024, driven by higher import levels across various sectors and countries.
In July 2025, U.S. personal income increased by 0.4%, driven mainly by higher wages and compensation, with personal consumption expenditures rising by 0.5%. Personal savings stood at $985.6 billion, and the PCE price index increased modestly by 0.2%. The BEA will release updated economic data later in September, including revised GDP figures.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was the best-selling gaming console worldwide in July 2025 with over 1.59 million units sold, totaling 7.04 million units sold in two months, surpassing other consoles like PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 1, according to VGChartz estimates.
The Federal Reserve released the minutes of the July 29–30, 2025, Federal Open Market Committee meeting, providing insights into the economic and financial conditions considered during the policy decision, available on the Federal Reserve's website.
The Fujifilm X half remains Japan's best-selling camera for the second month, surpassing competitors like Sony a7C II, with high demand for the charcoal gray model. Other popular models include Fujifilm's X-M5, X-S20, and X-T5, along with Ricoh's GR IIIx and OM System's OM-5 Mark II, reflecting diverse preferences among Japanese photographers. The camera's popularity is expected to continue into August.
In July 2025, Japan's top-selling game was Mario Kart World, maintaining its popularity for the second consecutive month, while Donkey Kong Bananza, a new release, came in second. Nintendo dominated the market with the highest sales, and the Nintendo Switch 2 was the best-selling hardware, despite a decline from June.
The US federal deficit reached a record high of $291 billion in July 2025, driven by increased government spending on social programs, healthcare, and interest payments, despite a fourfold increase in tariff revenue, which was insufficient to offset the rising expenditures and structural fiscal imbalance.
Nintendo announced the top-selling eShop games for July 2025 in Japan, with Donkey Kong Bananza leading on the Nintendo Switch 2 and Tamagotchi Plaza topping the Nintendo Switch charts, surpassing popular titles like Mario Kart and Street Fighter 6.
The July 2025 Services PMI® was 50.1%, indicating slight expansion in the U.S. service sector for the second consecutive month, with mixed signals such as contraction in employment and increased prices, reflecting slow growth and ongoing impacts from tariffs and global trade tensions.
The US manufacturing sector contracted for the fifth consecutive month in July 2025, with the ISM index dropping to 48 from 49, indicating ongoing economic slowdown and fueling speculation about potential Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Central New York has experienced an unusually hot and dry July, with temperatures frequently reaching 90 degrees and rainfall significantly below normal. Relief is expected later in the week as a cold front brings cooler temperatures around 80 degrees, but rainfall will likely be light and infrequent, leaving soil moisture low.
The July 2025 Pokemon Presents live stream is about to start, featuring a DJ event with Pikachu and expected updates on mobile games, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and possibly Pokemon Champions, with coverage available on the main site.
This week, Xbox sees the launch of several new games including the Soulslike RPG Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, which is available on Xbox Game Pass, along with other titles like Abiotic Factor, Cubey: Blockbyte, and Monument Valley 3, offering a variety of genres from horror to puzzle and adventure.
In July 2025, Xbox Game Pass will lose three games—Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Gigantic: Rampage Edition, and Turnip Boy Robs a Bank—by July 31, with varying completion times and challenges for players who want to finish them beforehand.
Microsoft has announced the Xbox Game Pass July 2025 Wave 2 lineup, adding eight new games including day one launches like Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Grounded 2, and Wheel World for Ultimate subscribers, with two additional titles for Standard members. The new titles will be available across various tiers from mid to late July, enhancing the gaming options for subscribers.