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Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:30:42 GMT WSJ.com: Economy http://www.wsj.com/img/wsj_sm_logo.gif https://www.wsj.com/economy WP-WSJ-0003507343 Week Ahead for FX, Bonds: U.S. Retail Sales, PMI Data Due as Focus Remains on Middle East U.S. retail sales data and provisional purchasing managers’ indexes from the U.S. and Europe will be watched to see how badly the Middle East war and the spike in energy prices have impacted consumer and business sentiment. https://www.wsj.com/economy/week-ahead-for-fx-bonds-u-s-retail-sales-pmi-data-due-as-focus-remains-on-middle-east-4b43a748 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:03:00 GMT Dado Ruvic/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003506030 EU Trade Surplus Narrows From 2025’s Pre-Tariff Surge Exports fell 9.3% on year, while imports declined 3.5%, and exports to the U.S. were down 26% compared with the same month of last year when firms front-loaded to get ahead of tariffs. https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/eu-trade-surplus-narrows-from-2025s-pre-tariff-surge-27f1b909 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:56:00 GMT Ed Frankl ina fassbender/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003503534 Markets Calming Down After Getting Ahead of Themselves on Rates, BOE’s Taylor Says Investors’ expectations of Bank of England policy changes have moved into closer alignment with the likely path of interest rates, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee said. https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/markets-calming-down-after-getting-ahead-of-themselves-on-rates-boes-taylor-says-11894fc9 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:57:00 GMT Paul Hannon Hannah McKay/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003503217 Outlook for Canada Existing-Home Sales Deteriorates on War-Fueled Jump in Rates The Canadian Real Estate Association sharply downgraded its sales forecast for the remainder of 2026, with mortgage rates headed higher as bond traders anticipate an acceleration in inflation from the war in Iran. https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/outlook-for-canada-existing-home-sales-deteriorates-on-war-fueled-jump-in-rates-bff96a74 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:32:00 GMT Paul Vieira Chloe Ellingson/Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003503099 U.S. Industrial Production Fell in March U.S. industrial production fell by 0.5% last month, while analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal expected the reading to remain unchanged. https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/u-s-industrial-production-fell-in-march-931c1915 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:33:00 GMT Jessica Coacci JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003502947 Unemployment Claims Declined Last Week New jobless claims were down from a week ago, a sign that layoffs have remained limited even in a labor market that has cooled. https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/unemployment-claims-declined-last-week-766716b5 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:53:00 GMT Matt Grossman Joe Raedle/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003502239 U.K. Economy Posted Faster-Than-Expected Growth Ahead of Energy-Price Shock The surprise reading for February came before the jump in energy prices that followed the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. https://www.wsj.com/economy/global/u-k-economy-posts-faster-than-expected-growth-ahead-of-energy-price-shock-d2cb4294 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:06:00 GMT Ed Frankl Reuters WP-WSJ-0003499166 IMF Sees Global Government Debt Matching Annual Output in 2029, a Year Earlier Than Expected The IMF said the U.S. and China are set to drive a sharp rise in government debt over the remainder of this decade, while a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could see an even larger buildup. https://www.wsj.com/economy/global/imf-sees-global-government-debt-matching-annual-output-in-2029-a-year-earlier-than-expected-2c0823cc Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:11:00 GMT Paul Hannon Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003494414 A prolonged Middle East conflict could slash global growth to rates seen only in the deepest recent recessions, the International Monetary Fund warned in its latest set of forecasts The international lender sees a modest downgrade if the war ends soon, but much weaker growth and higher inflation in worse scenarios. https://www.wsj.com/economy/global/imf-warns-of-deep-global-downturn-if-war-is-prolonged-79e6ce11 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:03:00 GMT Matt Grossman Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003489203 Neither Iran nor China possess anything like America’s economic muscle, but the two have made up for it by using checkpoints, writes @greg_ip The U.S. brings superior size to economic warfare, but China and Iran have fought back through control of critical economic assets. https://www.wsj.com/economy/global/kryptonite-to-americas-economic-super-powers-chokepoints-351ee72c Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:47:00 GMT Greg Ip Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003483845 Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz shows it isn’t just superpowers that can weaponize economic pinch-points With Tehran’s chokehold on the strait, Iran joins U.S. and China as countries that can weaponize economic pinch-points. https://www.wsj.com/economy/global/iran-economic-warfare-da3be2af Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT Jason Douglas Altaf Qadri/Associated Press WP-WSJ-0003499323 U.S. Home-Builder Sentiment Slips Amid Economic Uncertainty The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell to 34 in April due to rising materials prices, elevated interest rates and increased economic uncertainty. https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/u-s-home-builder-sentiment-slips-amid-economic-uncertainty-3b8ac629 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:12:00 GMT Jessica Coacci Mike Blake/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003492703 Home sales declined 3.6% in March, getting the crucial spring selling season off to a poor start Sales of existing homes fell 3.6% in March to a nine-month low, amid rising mortgage rates and economic uncertainty. https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/march-homes-sales-fell-3-6-signaling-a-poor-start-to-spring-season-d9b48b76 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:34:00 GMT Nicole Friedman Gabby Jones for WSJ WP-WSJ-0003482223 Americans are paying more than ever to homeowners associations Monthly costs of homeowners associations have jumped 26% since 2019. Owners can also be hit with special fees for large repairs. https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/housing-affordability-hoa-fees-d02902af Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:50:00 GMT Nicole Friedman Bryan Cereijo for WSJ WP-WSJ-0003467841 The suburbs surrounding the old industrial hub of Hartford, Conn., are the hottest housing market in America The metro area the state’s capital is drawing buyers from Boston and New York City, and it doesn’t have enough housing stock. https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/sleepy-hartford-is-the-sleeper-hit-of-the-housing-market-ed040f80 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:30:00 GMT Rebecca Picciotto Gabby Jones for WSJ WP-WSJ-0003460586 U.S. Home Price Growth Slowed in January U.S. home-price growth slowed in January as affordability constraints continued to weigh on home buyer decisions. https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/u-s-home-price-growth-slowed-in-january-4ada7ec5 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:35:00 GMT Jessica Coacci Mario Tama/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003501594 The law doesn’t clearly say what happens when the Fed chair’s term expires without a confirmed successor. The White House and the Federal Reserve have very different answers. The law doesn’t clearly say what happens when the chair’s term expires without a confirmed successor. The White House and the Fed have very different answers. https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/the-decades-old-legal-question-at-the-heart-of-the-fed-chair-showdown-416f6fc8 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT Nick Timiraos Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003496084 See the breakdown of economists’ responses to our recent survey on the outlook for growth, inflation, oil prices and recession following the Iran war Economists’ forecasts from a WSJ survey on the outlook for growth, inflation, oil prices and recession risks following the Iran war. https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/the-cost-of-war-how-economists-predict-the-economy-will-fare-0524150f Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:07:00 GMT Peter Santilli Anthony DeBarros Uncredited WP-WSJ-0003499053 President Trump doubled down on the Justice Department’s criminal investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, saying that he won’t drop the probe and threatening to fire Powell if he doesn’t resign The president signaled he won’t drop a Justice Department’s investigation into Powell. https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/trump-renews-threats-to-fire-fed-chair-powell-768deeb7 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:46:00 GMT Matt Grossman Charles Krupa/Associated Press WP-WSJ-0003499105 New York Fed Survey Shows Manufacturing Expansion Manufacturing activity in New York state picked up in April, according to the latest monthly edition of the Empire State Manufacturing Survey. https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/new-york-fed-survey-shows-manufacturing-expansion-e35bd5f0 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:52:00 GMT Matt Grossman angela weiss/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003498457 Bank of Korea Nominee Seen Prioritizing Price Stability Bank of Korea Governor nominee Shin Hyun-song said he sees rising price pressures alongside growing downside risks to growth in the economy. https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/bank-of-korea-nominee-seen-prioritizing-price-stability-ce55e517 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:23:00 GMT Kwanwoo Jun SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003488634 Consumer prices in March rose at their fastest annual rate in two years, thanks to Iran war sending gasoline prices above $4 a gallon. And that has severely eaten into U.S. paychecks The gas pump is eating into U.S. paychecks, especially for rank-and-file workers. https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/how-the-iran-war-is-affecting-your-wages-3fe2eef5 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:23:00 GMT Chao Deng Danny Dougherty Uncredited WP-WSJ-0003461183 In graphics: Dealing with a rapid run-up in gasoline prices is a lot harder than dealing with a gradual one Sure, gasoline has cost more in the past. But dealing with a rapid run-up in prices is a lot harder than dealing with a gradual one. https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/gas-just-hit-4-a-gallon-is-that-really-as-bad-as-it-sounds-850545f3 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:30:00 GMT Justin Lahart Uncredited WP-WSJ-0003459584 U.K. Shoppers Paid a Little More This Month but Worse May yet Lie Ahead Britons paid more again in shops this month, with the early effects of the Middle East war somewhat offset by retailer promotions. https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/u-k-shoppers-paid-a-little-more-this-month-but-worse-may-yet-lie-ahead-9e7c2ab3 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:16:00 GMT Joshua Kirby Jaimi Joy/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003453002 Consumer Sentiment Declined in March, Michigan Survey Shows March was the grimmest month of the year so far for consumers’ economic sentiment as the Iran war raised gasoline prices and dented the stock market, the University of Michigan’s latest monthly survey found. https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/consumer-sentiment-declined-in-march-michigan-survey-shows-d6b02701 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:28:00 GMT Matt Grossman ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS WP-WSJ-0003451564 U.K. Consumer Sentiment Dampens as Iran War Provokes Inflation Worries Consumer confidence fell to the lowest point since April last year as the Iran war prompted renewed fears over price rises and added to concerns about the strength of the economy. https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/u-k-consumer-sentiment-dampens-as-iran-war-provokes-inflation-worries-c54b2fd2 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:10:00 GMT Ed Frankl Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003498711 Eurozone Industrial Production Rose Unexpectedly Industrial production rose 0.4% on month, following a fall in January, the European Union’s statistics agency Eurostat said Wednesday. https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/eurozone-industrial-production-rose-unexpectedly-411c3b7f Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:01:00 GMT Don Nico Forbes Jens Schlueter/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003495851 EU Agrees to Double Steel Tariffs The European parliament struck a deal late Monday to cut the amount of tariff-free steel imports to 18.3 million metric tons a year and raise tariffs on imports above that quota to 50%. https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/eu-agrees-to-double-steel-tariffs-dc46619b Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:40:00 GMT Edith Hancock ina fassbender/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003495109 China’s export momentum slowed sharply in March, signaling the Middle East war is weighing on global demand and threatening a driver of growth The Middle East war is weighing on global demand and threatening a growth driver for Beijing. https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/china-export-growth-slows-sharply-in-march-imports-surge-a03b2663 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:34:00 GMT Hannah Miao Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003487048 Taiwan Exports Accelerate Sharply in March Despite Mideast Tensions Taiwan’s exports surged in March, supported by sustained demand for artificial-intelligence applications despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/taiwan-exports-accelerate-sharply-in-march-despite-mideast-tensions-25fb58fd Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:56:00 GMT Sherry Qin I-Hwa Cheng/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003478782 The Trump administration has rebuffed requests from Ford and other automakers for aluminum tariff relief after fires at a U.S. factory created supply bottlenecks, people familiar with the matter say The Detroit company and other carmakers are reeling after a domestic supplier went offline, but the administration hasn’t budged. https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/ford-asks-trump-administration-for-relief-as-tariffs-pummel-f-150-b6e76fed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:00:00 GMT Gavin Bade Bob Tita Ryan Felton Nathan Howard/Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003485581 With labor-force growth slowing to a crawl, what’s the best way to expand the economy? Make the workers you have more productive An unusual divergence between GDP and new jobs shows worker productivity is making up for a slowdown in immigration and the labor force. Artificial intelligence could help. https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/the-economy-is-growing-jobs-arent-why-that-might-be-ok-5c50a535 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:30:00 GMT Harriet Torry David Ryder/Bloomberg News WP-WSJ-0003475754 The immigration crackdown and tepid interest among teens make it harder than ever for restaurants to find someone to wash the dishes The immigration crackdown and tepid interest among teens make it tough to fill jobs marked by grueling work, low pay and high turnover. https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/restaurants-are-finding-it-harder-than-ever-to-hire-someone-to-wash-the-dishes-18406c48 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT Heather Haddon Caleb Alvarado for WSJ WP-WSJ-0003487393 Canada’s Unemployment Rate Steadies With Modest Recovery in Hiring Employers in the country added 14,100 jobs in March, holding the unemployment rate at 6.7%, the national data agency said. https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/canada-unemployment-rate-steady-at-6-7-in-march-05c14161 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:18:00 GMT Robb M. Stewart mathieu belanger/Reuters WP-WSJ-0003484132 U.S. Jobless Claims Rose More Than Expected Last Week U.S. jobless claims rebounded last week to their highest level since February, painting a blurry picture of the labor market after a strong jobs report in March. https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/u-s-jobless-claims-rose-more-than-expected-last-week-9918e2fd Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:55:00 GMT Ed Frankl andrew caballero-reynolds/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images WP-WSJ-0003479158 With three chances so far in 2026 to project monthly job creation, Wall Street’s soothsayers have struck out Early 2026 has seen some particularly big analyst misses, and they are adjusting to more volatility. https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/wall-street-prognosticators-struggle-in-whipsawing-jobs-market-5fade369 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:36:00 GMT Matt Grossman Frederic J. Brown/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images