Economy
Our coverage of global economics, from inflation-fighting central banks to apprehensive financial markets
The US economy
Rising bond yields should spur governments to go for growth
The bond sell-off may partly reflect America’s productivity boom
An American purchase of Greenland could be the deal of the century
The economics of buying new territory
Can America’s economy cope with mass deportations?
Production slowdowns, more imports and pricier housing could follow
Will Elon Musk dominate President Trump’s economic policy?
He will face challenges from both America firsters and conservative mainstreamers
China’s economy
Does China have the fiscal firepower to rescue its economy?
There is a fierce debate over whether it can afford to keep spending
China’s firms are taking flight, worrying its rulers
Policymakers at home and abroad are anxious about offshoring
How China will strike back at Trump
Xi Jinping has set out his tariff red lines. What if America crosses them?
Hong Kong’s property slump may be terminal
Demographics and geopolitics will make a recovery harder
Russia’s economy
Russia’s plunging currency spells trouble for its war effort
Supplies from China are about to become more expensive
Vladimir Putin is in a painful economic bind
Russia’s reliance on China is becoming a problem
How Vladimir Putin hopes to transform Russian trade
He believes the country’s future lies with China and India. What could go wrong?
Vladimir Putin spends big—and sends Russia’s economy soaring
How long can the party last?
Asia’s economies
Economic bright spots are getting harder to find in Thailand
Falling car production is a sign of a deeper malaise
The surprising stagnation of Asia’s middle classes
It could shake up everything from profits to politics
How South-East Asia can weather the Trump trade typhoon
The complacent region could use an outside jolt
India is undergoing an astonishing stockmarket revolution
Small investors, rejoice—and beware
Europe’s economies
Europe could be torn apart by new divisions
The continent is at its most vulnerable in decades
To see what European business could become, look to the Nordics
The region produces an impressive number of corporate giants
Inflation in Britain looks irritatingly persistent
Worse, the risk has appeared just as growth is sputtering
Which economy did best in 2024?
We rank countries on five measures
Data
Three charts show that America’s imports are booming
Here’s why that could spell trouble
The Big Mac index: where to buy a cheap hamburger
Meat-eaters may want to avoid Argentina
The world’s richest countries in 2024
Our annual ranking compares economies in three different ways
The economics of American lotteries
Our analysis shows poorer citizens spend a staggering amount on tickets
Where are Europe’s most expensive cities for renters?
Our “Carrie Bradshaw index” moves across the pond
American consumers are finally cheering up
Much to the relief of Joe Biden
Latest coverage
Finance & economics
China meets its official growth target. Not everyone is convinced
For one thing, 2024 saw the second-weakest rise in nominal GDP since the 1970s
Britain
Britain’s government has spooked markets and riled businesses
Tax rises were inevitable. Such a shaky start was not
China
Does China have the fiscal firepower to rescue its economy?
There is a fierce debate over whether it can afford to keep spending
Finance & economics
Europe could be torn apart by new divisions
The continent is at its most vulnerable in decades
Finance & economics
Can America’s economy cope with mass deportations?
Production slowdowns, more imports and pricier housing could follow
Graphic detail
The secret to one of Europe’s best-performing stockmarkets
Its economy is mired in gloom, but its stock exchange is the envy of Europe
Middle East & Africa
Syria’s new rulers have inherited an economic disaster
A legacy of mismanagement and lingering sanctions will make it hard to rebuild the country
Asia
Economic bright spots are getting harder to find in Thailand
Falling car production is a sign of a deeper malaise
Britain
Inflation in Britain looks irritatingly persistent
Worse, the risk has appeared just as growth is sputtering
Middle East & Africa
South Sudan’s economic crisis threatens its fragile peace
It shows what happens when a petrostate’s lifeline disappears overnight
China
How to get a free meal in China
As the economy slows, more restaurants are offering food to those in need
Europe
Spain shows Europe how to keep up with America’s economy
Reforms a decade ago are bearing fruit with high-tech success
Leaders
What Spain can teach the rest of Europe
Our number-crunching suggests it was the best-performing rich economy in 2024
Asia
Bangladesh’s economic progress may have been hyped
A new report highlights the challenges facing Muhammad Yunus’s interim government
Finance & economics
The Federal Reserve takes on Trump—and stubborn inflation
Time for Jerome Powell to enter the octagon