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☆ Europe’s Growth Engine Is Broken
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Germany’s car production is more than 25% below its mid 2010s level, according to an auto industry lobby group. Photo: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg NewsGermany is stuck in a rut, and there is no quick way out. The European powerhouse’s economy, the largest on the continent and the world’s fourth biggest, shrank last year, extending a six-year slump that is raising fears of deindustrialization and sapping support for governments across the region.

Persons: Krisztian Bocsi, deindustrialization Organizations: Bloomberg, Germany

☆ As Migration to Europe Rises, a Backlash Grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Laurence Norman | Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Finnish border guards escort migrants at the international border crossing at Salla, northern Finland, this week. Photo: lehtikuva/ReutersRising migration across Europe, including the biggest surge in asylum seekers since a 2015-2016 migrant crisis, is fueling support for far-right and anti-immigration parties, potentially reshaping European politics for years. Nationalist parties that champion a harder line against immigration are surging in polls and have entered governments in countries from Italy to Finland, as anxiety rises about sluggish economic growth and crises from Ukraine to the Middle East. The far right is polling strongly in the continent’s two largest countries, Germany and France.

Organizations: Nationalist Locations: Salla, Finland, Europe, Italy, Ukraine, Germany, France

☆ The Global Fight Against Inflation Has Turned a Corner
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Tom Fairless | Paul Hannon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Inflation in the U.K. declined in October, but the Bank of England has said it is too soon to think about cutting interest rates. Photo: andy rain/ShutterstockInflation is falling faster than expected across advanced economies, marking a turning point in central banks’ two-year battle against surging prices. Declines in consumer price growth, to below 5% in the U.K. last month and around 3% in the U.S. and eurozone, are fueling expectations that central banks could take their feet off the brakes and pivot to cutting interest rates next year.

Organizations: Bank of England Locations: U.K, U.S

☆ Why Europe Can’t Keep Up With America’s Jobs Machine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/unemployment-was-the-one-economic-problem-europe-didnt-have-no-longer-c4cd23e6

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Unemployment Was the One Economic Problem Europe Didn’t Have. No Longer.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ China Is Making Too Much Stuff—and Other Countries Are Worried
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Stella Yifan Xie | Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some Chinese factories, saddled with overcapacity in a struggling economy, are trying to export their way out of trouble and stoking new trade tensions in the process. Makers of electric vehicles, solar panels and other products are cutting prices and trying harder to muscle into overseas markets as they face weakened demand at home, upsetting competitors who see threats to their bottom lines.

☆ It’s U.S. vs. China in an Increasingly Divided World Economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Jason Douglas | Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

China passed a significant milestone last fall: For the first time since its economic opening more than four decades ago, it traded more with developing countries than the U.S., Europe and Japan combined. It was one of the clearest signs yet that China and the West are going in different directions as tensions increase over trade, technology, security and other thorny issues. For decades, the U.S. and other Western countries sought to make China both a partner and a customer in a single global economy led by the richest nations. Now trade and investment flows are settling into new patterns built around the two competing power centers.

Locations: China, U.S, Europe, Japan

☆ Trade Slump Reshuffles World’s Economic Cards in Favor of U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/economy/global/trade-slump-reshuffles-worlds-economic-cards-in-favor-of-u-s-154af5cd

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Why the Drivers of Lower Inflation Matter
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Nick Timiraos | Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-drivers-of-lower-inflation-matter-fe3f165d

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Immigration Backlashes Spread Around the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/immigration-backlashes-spread-around-the-world-142124bc

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Powell Says Rates Haven’t Been Restrictive Long Enough to Bring Inflation to Target
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Nick Timiraos | Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/powell-other-central-bankers-face-uncertain-inflation-outlook-30bd34e5

Persons: Dow Jones, powell

☆ Why Economies Haven’t Slowed More Since Central Banks Hit the Brakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Nick Timiraos | Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-economies-havent-slowed-more-since-central-banks-hit-the-brakes-d5103ec7

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Germany Is Dragging Down Europe’s Economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Paul Hannon | Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-is-dragging-down-europes-economy-bd44ffa3

Persons: Dow Jones Locations: germany

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-inflation-around-the-world-just-wont-go-away-94552e39

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ The Dollar Is Still King in Europe, and It’s Swaying Interest Rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The dollar has lost little of its global dominance despite some countries’ push to use other currencies. Photo: Kerem Uzel/Bloomberg NewsFRANKFURT—It’s not just Americans watching anxiously to see if the Federal Reserve raises rates or the U.S. slides into recession; so are Europeans, and indeed many other countries. That’s because for all the talk of deglobalization and de-dollarization, the dollar still reigns supreme, and financial and trade ties between the U.S. and key partners are as strong as ever. In Europe’s case, they’re even stronger.

☆ What Everyone—Except the U.S.—Has Learned About Immigration
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Migration to affluent countries is at record highs, and some nations short of workers are overcoming political opposition to open their borders even wider, hoping to fill jobs and ease inflation. Government actions to attract foreign nationals for skilled and unskilled jobs have spread from Germany to Japan and include countries with longtime immigration restrictions and some with a populist antipathy to streams of foreign workers.

☆ The World’s Biggest Economies Cautiously Open Their Doors to More Foreign Workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ How European Businesses Survived the Ukraine War and Last Year’s Energy Shock
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Tom Fairless | Photographs Patricia Kuhfuss For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Claas, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, increased output at its main German factory by 30% last year. HARSEWINKEL, Germany—When Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin was counting on soaring energy prices and falling confidence to sink European companies, undermining the West’s support for Kyiv. One year on, many European companies have overcome the blow after slashing energy use and pivoting to a friendly and booming U.S. market. Such resilience has helped shore up political and popular support in Europe for Ukraine.

☆ ECB Defies Mounting Banking Strains With Half-Point Rate Rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

FRANKFURT—The European Central Bank raised interest rates by a half percentage point, pressing ahead with its fight against inflation despite concerns that this could exacerbate strains in the financial system. The ECB said in a statement that it would increase its key rate to 3%, the highest level since 2008, while promising to provide liquidity support to the financial system if needed. The move follows consecutive half-point rate increases in February and December. Many investors had been betting that the ECB might unveil a smaller, quarter-point rate increase on Thursday after last week’s turmoil in the U.S. banking sector spread to Europe.

☆ Global Economy Gets Tailwind From Falling Energy Prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Falling energy prices act like a tax cut, giving households more money to spend and bolstering consumer confidence. FRANKFURT—Energy prices are roiling the global economy for the second time in a year. This time, it’s good news. Plunging oil and natural-gas prices are pumping up economic growth, putting money into consumers’ pockets, boosting confidence and easing pressures on government budgets.

☆ Workers’ Pay Globally Hasn’t Kept Up With Inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Workers often don’t claw back losses in purchasing power during periods of high inflation . Wage growth across advanced economies is plateauing or declining from high levels. For central banks, it is good news: There are no signs of a spiral in which wages push up prices, which push up wages again. Workers’ purchasing power—their average inflation-adjusted wage—was lower last year than in 2019, before the pandemic, according to the report. So despite strong demand for workers and ultralow unemployment, labor’s share of economic output shrank in many advanced economies.

Europe’s major central banks raised their key interest rates by 0.5 percentage point but diverged from the Federal Reserve and each other on their likely next moves, reflecting economic uncertainty amid uneven growth and inflation in the region and the rapid reopening of China’s economy. The European Central Bank on Thursday raised its key rate to 2.5%, its fifth large increase in a row, and signaled it would enact another half-point rate increase in March. That leaves the ECB some way behind the Fed, which raised rates to 4.5% to 4.75% on Wednesday, and the Bank of England, which increased rates by a half percentage point to 4% earlier Thursday.

☆ Germany Sees Its Economy Growing This Year Despite the Ukraine War
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

German has avoided the worst-case scenarios for its economy, Economy Minister Robert Habeck says. FRANKFURT—The German economy will grow this year and might even avoid a shallow recession in the short term, the government said on Wednesday, the latest sign of brightening growth prospects in Europe despite the shock of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Europe’s largest economy is likely to expand by 0.2% this year, the German Economy Ministry said Wednesday in its annual economic report, revising up an autumn forecast for a 0.4% contraction.

☆ Europe’s Mild Winter Cushions Economic Blow of Ukraine War
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Paul Hannon | Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Shoppers in Paris. Any recession in Europe is likely to be shallow and brief, according to fresh data and estimates. Russia’s economic war with the West looks set to claim a much smaller toll on Europe than the brutal recession many economists warned about just months ago, due to falling energy prices and government intervention to buttress the continent’s economy. A mild winter so far, efforts by businesses and households to cut energy consumption, successful moves by governments to find new natural-gas suppliers and hundreds of billions of euros in fiscal support mean Europe’s recession is likely to be shallow and brief—if it happens at all—according to fresh data and estimates.

☆ Europe Skirts a Winter Slump, but War Fallout Clouds Its Economic Future
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Tom Fairless | Paul Hannon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Shoppers at a festive market in Berlin, Germany, where some small businesses are struggling to cope with rising energy prices. But the region’s medium-term problems look harder to fix, and leave Europe facing a struggle to retain its industrial core. Russia’s war on Ukraine and its economic fallout has shaken Europe’s export-oriented business model. Skyrocketing energy prices threaten industries at the heart of the continent’s manufacturing system, such as chemicals and metal production. Businesses around Europe are reducing production and starting to redirect investment overseas, including to the U.S., which is luring foreign companies with hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies.

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