All articles tagged with #manufacturing output
Asia-Pacific markets showed mixed results amid ongoing trade negotiations and economic data releases, with Japan's Nikkei reaching an 11-month high, China's manufacturing contracting for the third month, and U.S. stock futures rising ahead of the second half of the year, reflecting cautious optimism and ongoing economic uncertainties.
Germany is facing economic challenges, including a decline in manufacturing output and high energy prices, leading to the country being dubbed the "sick man of Europe." These challenges, particularly in the energy sector, could benefit right-wing parties. The reliance on renewable technologies and the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045 have raised doubts about the feasibility of Germany's sustainability goals. The volatility of renewable energy and the need for conventional energy to fill gaps pose difficulties and high costs for industry. Uncertainty about energy prices has contributed to a decline in business sentiment. As a result, there is a growing shift to the right in German politics, with the right-leaning Alternative for Germany party gaining popularity.
Retail sales dropped by 1% from February to March, a sharper decline than economists expected. U.S. manufacturing output also fell by 0.5% in March, as U.S. and global demand for American goods softened. Consumer spending powers the U.S. economy, and when wallets grow thin, it’s worrisome. The interplay between spending and inflation directly affects Biden’s reelection prospects, assuming he runs again, as he has indicated. The latest price data shows inflation dropping to 5% in March, from a peak of 9% last June.