Tariff fears cloud global factory outlook despite bright spots in Asia and Europe
Concerns over new U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump are weighing on global manufacturing, though June data show signs of resilience in countri...
Global food commodity prices experienced a notable decline in May, driven by significant drops in the cost of grains, sugar, and vegetable oils, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Friday.
This downward trend offers a glimmer of relief amidst ongoing concerns about food security and affordability worldwide.
The FAO Food Price Index, a closely watched benchmark that monitors monthly fluctuations in a basket of internationally traded food commodities, registered an average of 127.7 points in May. This figure represents a 0.8% decrease from the April reading, indicating a broad-based softening in prices across several key food groups. The most substantial declines were observed in grain prices, sugar prices, and the cost of vegetable oils.
"The downward movement in May's food price index is a positive development," stated an FAO spokesperson. "While various factors influence these trends, the current decline is largely attributable to improved supply prospects and easing demand in certain sectors."
In a separate and equally significant report, the FAO delivered an optimistic forecast for global grain production. The organization now anticipates a record-breaking output of 2.911 billion tons of grains in 2025. This revised estimate is a substantial increase from its previous projection of 2.848 billion tons, signalling a potentially more robust supply of staple grains in the coming year. This anticipated surge in grain production could play a crucial role in stabilising global food markets and potentially lead to further price moderation in the future. Increased supply often translates to lower prices, which would be welcome news for consumers and food-importing nations grappling with inflationary pressures.
The FAO continues to monitor global food markets closely, providing vital data and analysis to inform policy decisions aimed at ensuring global food security and sustainable agricultural development.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Arab Fund have signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize a strategic partnership focused on advancing sustainable infrastructure in shared priority regions.
Tesla’s new car registrations plunged sharply in June, dropping 64.4% in Sweden and 61.6% in Denmark compared to last year, highlighting growing challenges for the U.S. electric vehicle maker in these Nordic markets.
More than $2.5 billion in new deals and commitments between the United States and African partners were announced at the 17th summit, underscoring the U.S. commitment to prioritizing trade over aid by engaging Africans as equal partners in investment-driven growth, the State Department announced.
Gold prices edged higher on Monday after slipping to their lowest level in more than a month, supported by a weakening U.S. dollar and easing geopolitical tensions that have tempered safe-haven demand.
The French Riviera town of Cannes will restrict large cruise ships from docking starting from January 2026, as part of new efforts to manage over tourism and protect local infrastructure.
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