Economic Crisis

Business

Chicago's Downtown Core Faces Unprecedented Office Vacancy Crisis, Raising Economic Alarm

Chicago's downtown office vacancy rate soared to a historic 28.2% at the close of 2025, more than double pre-pandemic levels, as remote work trends and business climate concerns drive a 14th consecutive quarter of record vacancies. Analysts warn of a deepening economic spiral with implications for city services and residents.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Vanishing Numbers: How America's Fraying Economic Data Infrastructure Threatens Jobs and Stability

A quiet crisis is eroding the foundation of U.S. economic decision-making. As key federal data agencies face budget cuts, political pressure, and operational challenges, the resulting information gap could leave policymakers and businesses 'flying blind,' increasing the risks of policy missteps, deeper recessions, and prolonged unemployment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

XRP's Rocky Road: Navigating Economic Headwinds and Fading Catalysts Over the Next Three Years

After a stellar 365% surge in the past three years, XRP faces a challenging horizon. Economic uncertainty, shifting investor sentiment, and the maturation of key growth drivers suggest a potentially turbulent period ahead for the digital asset.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair, Banking on a Traditionalist for an Unconventional Economic Moment

President Donald Trump announces his intent to nominate former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank, seeking a policy shift aligned with his economic vision amid debates over inflation and the Fed's independence.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Syrians Protest 'Impossible' Power Bills as Tariffs Soar Amid Economic Collapse

Damascus residents face electricity bills exceeding their monthly incomes after a massive government price hike, sparking rare public protests and deepening the crisis for a war-weary population.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

UAE's Non-Oil Trade Surpasses $1 Trillion, Narrows Gap with Saudi Arabia in Economic Diversification Race

The United Arab Emirates has achieved a milestone in its economic transformation, with non-oil trade exceeding $1 trillion for the first time in 2025. This rapid growth is closing the export gap with regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, as both Gulf states accelerate their push beyond hydrocarbons.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Washington Braces for Partial Shutdown: Economic Fallout Expected to Be Limited, But Not Painless

With a midnight deadline looming, Congress remains gridlocked, pushing the federal government toward a partial shutdown. While economists predict minimal macroeconomic damage from a brief closure, the disruption to services and federal workers' paychecks will be felt immediately.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Powell's Legacy: A 'Wash' Amid Economic Resilience, Says SoFi CEO as Fed Transition Looms

SoFi CEO Anthony Noto calls the Powell Fed era a mixed bag, praising the ultimate economic stability despite policy stumbles. As the baton passes to a new Treasury Secretary, investors weigh SoFi's record growth against a cautious 2026 outlook.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Three Consumer Stocks Facing Headwinds as Economic Uncertainty Weighs on Discretionary Spending

Amid a volatile economic backdrop, consumer discretionary stocks are lagging the broader market. We examine three companies—Columbia Sportswear, Movado, and iHeartMedia—whose business models and valuations make them vulnerable in the current climate.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Beyond the Bottom Line: How Waste Management Giants Fared in Q3 Amid Economic Crosswinds

As earnings season winds down, the waste management sector reveals a tale of resilience and regulatory reckoning. While Enviri's results disappointed, others like Perma-Fix surprised to the upside, highlighting the industry's complex dance between steady demand and economic sensitivity.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Burkina Faso's Military Government Dissolves All Political Parties, Deepening Democratic Crisis

In a sweeping decree, Burkina Faso's junta has formally dissolved the nation's political parties and seized their assets, a move analysts warn consolidates authoritarian rule and extinguishes a key pillar of democratic life amid an escalating security crisis.

Jan 30, 2026

World

France and Chad Chart New Course, Pivoting from Military Ties to Economic Partnership

Following a rupture in their longstanding security alliance, French President Emmanuel Macron and Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno have agreed to reset bilateral relations, placing future cooperation squarely in the economic and developmental sphere.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Geopolitics vs. Economics: Why Oil Giants Are Betting on Libya Over Venezuela

Despite political instability, Libya's low production costs and proximity to key markets are drawing major investment, while Venezuela's vast reserves remain hamstrung by economic and geopolitical hurdles.

Jan 30, 2026

World

A Nation Preparing for the Inevitable: Zimbabwe's Funeral Insurance Boom Overshadows Healthcare Crisis

In Zimbabwe, where formal employment is scarce and medical costs are prohibitive, a stark financial choice is being made: affordable funeral policies are vastly outpacing health insurance, reflecting a cultural prioritization of dignified burials over accessible healthcare.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Europe's $955 Billion Recovery Fund Faces Uphill Battle to Deliver Lasting Economic Transformation

As the EU's landmark 'Next Generation' fund nears its final payout deadlines, its ambitious goal of modernizing the bloc's economy is being hampered by bureaucracy, skills gaps, and questions over long-term sustainability, despite pockets of innovation.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The AI Boom's Overlooked Crisis: Vertiv CEO Warns of Critical Cooling Bottleneck as Chip Power Soars

As Nvidia's Blackwell and Rubin chips push power densities to unprecedented levels, the $4 trillion AI revolution faces a formidable physical constraint: heat. Vertiv Holdings, a critical infrastructure provider, is emerging as an essential player in solving this thermal challenge, with surging demand signaling a major shift in data center economics.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

Fed Holds Steady, Mortgage Rates Follow Suit: Housing Market Finds Footing Amid Economic Confidence

The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain its benchmark rate signals underlying economic strength, leaving mortgage rates largely unmoved. While affordability challenges persist, a gradual rebalancing of the market offers cautious optimism for buyers and sellers.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Warsh's Fed Nomination Sets Stage for Interest Rate Debate Amid Economic Crosscurrents

President Trump's nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank has ignited market speculation over the future path of interest rates, with analysts divided on whether his leadership would mean more cuts or a return to hawkish restraint.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Climate Crisis Puts Global Seafood Industry on the Brink: Adaptation Demands Urgent Investment

A stark new financial analysis warns that ocean warming and extreme weather could cost the seafood sector $15 billion annually by 2050, threatening food security and economies worldwide.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Exclusive: Europe's $500 Billion Crisis Fund Eyed for Defense Loans Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

The head of the European Stability Mechanism has told Reuters the bloc's 430-billion-euro emergency fund could be repurposed to provide defense loans to member states, signaling a strategic shift as Europe seeks to bolster its military autonomy.

Jan 30, 2026