Global economy seen weakening in 2024

Global economy seen weakening in 2024

Boris Roessler | Picture Alliance | Getty Images The majority of economists surveyed by the World Economic Forum expect the global economy to weaken this year, saying that geopolitical fragmentation around the world will deepen. “Global economic prospects remain subdued and fraught with uncertainty,” WEF’s report, published Monday, said. “While there are positive developments, such … Read more

Germany’s economy shrinks by 0.3% in 2023

Germany’s economy shrinks by 0.3% in 2023

German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz arrives for the weekly federal government cabinet meeting on Oct. 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. Michele Tantussi | Getty Images News | Getty Images Europe’s largest economy contracted by 0.3% year-on-year in 2023, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany said Monday. The decline in economic output eases to 0.1% when adjusted … Read more

Overheard on connecting trains from Zurich to Davos Platz

Overheard on connecting trains from Zurich to Davos Platz

Zurich’s main train station MacKenzie Sigalos DAVOS, Switzerland — It took 18 hours, a Lyft, two planes, three cross-country train rides, and a drive in a Volvo sports utility vehicle to get from midtown Manhattan to an apartment on Scalettastrasse, a snow-lined street in the heart of Davos. The small Swiss Alpine town is again … Read more

The Israel-Hamas war is affecting traveler confidence and bookings

The Israel-Hamas war is affecting traveler confidence and bookings

The Israel-Hamas war is affecting travel across the Middle East and beyond. International arrivals to the region grew in the fourth quarter of 2023 — mainly owing to an increase in visitors to Saudi Arabia — to a level that matched 2019 numbers, according to the travel data company ForwardKeys. But it’s a far cry … Read more

U.S. military strikes another Houthi target in Yemen identified as unsafe for Red Sea ships – National

U.S. military strikes another Houthi target in Yemen identified as unsafe for Red Sea ships – National

The U.S. military early Saturday struck another Houthi-controlled site in Yemen that it had determined was putting commercial vessels in the Red Sea at risk, a day after the U.S. and Britain launched multiple airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels. Associated Press journalists in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, heard one loud explosion. U.S. Central Command said the “follow-on action” … Read more

Weak demand leads to China-US freight rate cuts despite Red Sea crisis

Weak demand leads to China-US freight rate cuts despite Red Sea crisis

Cargo ships dock at the Longtan Container Terminal of Nanjing Port to load and unload containers in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, Sept 6, 2023. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images A slowdown in demand for products manufactured in Asia has ocean carriers reducing freight rates on shipping routes from China to the West Coast and … Read more

Trans Mountain pipeline project clears another major hurdle toward completion

Trans Mountain pipeline project clears another major hurdle toward completion

The Canada Energy Regulator has given an 11th-hour green light to the over-budget, federally-owned Trans Mountain pipeline, currently under construction in Western Canada. In a ruling posted to its website late Friday, the regulator gave its blessing to the pipeline giant to change its routing methodology in a 2.3-kilometre stretch of construction in B.C.’s Fraser … Read more

Beer market isolated from supply chain woes, Budweiser owner says

Beer market isolated from supply chain woes, Budweiser owner says

The beer industry should prove resilient through looming supply chain challenges that look set to impact some markets, the chief executive of Budweiser owner AB InBev said Friday. Beer has a “characteristic as a category that is incredible, which is beer is local,” Michel Doukeris told CNBC’s Arabile Gumede. AB InBev is the world’s biggest … Read more

Migrant farm workers are taking Ottawa to court over EI. Here’s why. – National

Migrant farm workers are taking Ottawa to court over EI. Here’s why. – National

Should seasonal farm workers in Canada be eligible to claim employment insurance benefits while in their home countries between agricultural jobs? A new proposed class-action lawsuit is arguing that the way the federal government’s seasonal agricultural worker program is currently laid out deprives migrant workers of rights and benefits. The lawsuit, filed by two migrant … Read more

Here’s the inflation breakdown for December 2023 in one chart

Here’s the inflation breakdown for December 2023 in one chart

Consumers shop in Rosemead, California, on Dec. 12, 2023. Frederic J. Brown | Afp | Getty Images The annual inflation rate edged higher in December following two months of declines. However, that reversal likely isn’t cause for concern — and may be somewhat misleading, economists said. “We’re still making progress in the inflation fight,” said … Read more