Inflation

    30 October 2026
    Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda, speaking at a news conference on Oct. 30, says the bank's 2% inflation target has been achieved, but not yet on a stable basis. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama)
    U.S. President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, speaks to media at the White House, following the Supreme Court's ruling that Trump had exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs. 
    U.S. midterm elections

    Trump holds off overcapacity tariffs as US midterms near

    Administration weighs voter concerns over prices against fragile China trade truce

    30 October 2026
    Christine Lagarde has resigned and will step down on as ECB president in February 2027, the central bank says.
    Economy

    ECB keeps December rate hike on table amid mounting inflation risks

    Rates left unchanged after Christine Lagarde steps down as central bank chief

    30 October 2026
    Polls show rising gas prices and the cost of living are increasingly on voters' minds for the U.S. midterm elections.
    U.S. midterm elections

    China issues fade in US as midterm voters focus on prices

    Trump's warmer stance toward Xi also tempers rhetoric, though farmland remains a target

    29 October 2026
    Prices rose for 4,965 food and beverage items in September, more than triple the number from a year earlier. (Nikkei montage)
    Inflation

    Japan girds for new wave of food price hikes as tanker rates soar

    Consumer prices could rise next year, erasing Takaichi's consumption tax cut

    29 October 2026
    U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh holds a press conference in Washington on Oct. 28 following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.
    Economy

    Fed holds rates steady less than week before US midterm elections

    'We're working on it,' Warsh says as inflation stays high

    29 October 2026
    Residents fleeing flooded areas gather to receive food handouts in a village in Punjab province, Pakistan, in August 2025.
    Economy

    Pakistan trails India, Bangladesh, Nepal in battle against hunger

    Experts cite limited jobs for women, child malnutrition as key factors

    22 October 2026
    As banks in Japan raise mortgage rates, homebuyers find themselves able to borrow less than before. (Photo by Shun Kato)
    Property

    Tokyo area condo prices hit half-year record, but signs of slowdown emerge

    Rising interest rates start to squeeze how much homebuyers can afford

    21 October 2026
    Singapore's Dan's Steaks restaurant chain is set to close in the coming months: The owner citied rising operating costs as the reason for shutting down the business. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
    Inflation

    Singapore's AI-backed growth masks strains in food services

    Consumer-facing sector sees little upside from tech boom as inflation persists

    20 October 2026
    BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda was in Bangkok late last week for Group of 20 and other international meetings. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
    Bank of Japan

    BOJ spies a chance to pivot to sustaining inflation as 2% goal nears

    Japan's central bank wary of sending mixed messages with government

    20 October 2026
    IMF data on electronic board in Bangkok on Oct. 17. Thailand hosted the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings for the first time in 35 years. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
    Economy

    AI, climate and private capital reveal Asia's diverging fortunes

    IMF meetings end with region's resilience increasingly uneven and under pressure

    18 October 2026
    Hotter-than-expected consumer and producer inflation reports this week showed price pressures were extending beyond energy commodities. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
    Equities

    AI stocks slide as debt fears grip Wall Street

    CoreWeave yields top 15% as chip shares extend their losing streak

    17 October 2026
    Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said Group of 20 officials discussed the Middle East conflict and the artificial intelligence boom and their impact on economic growth and prices. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
    Bank of Japan

    BOJ's Ueda says inflation can't be allowed to rise further

    Japanese central bank chief avoids dropping hints about October meeting

    16 October 2026
    U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh gestures during the “Managing Director’s Fireside Chat” at the IMF and World Bank's annual meetings in Bangkok on Oct. 16. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
    Markets

    Fed's Warsh warns of financial stability risk as investment rises

    US central bank chief offers no signal on October rate move with capital pouring into tech

    16 October 2026
    The companies say the fare increases reflect rising costs from inflation and service improvements. (Photo by Kazumi Saito)
    Transportation

    Japan bullet trains to raise super express fares in 2027

    JR Central and JR West fares to go up by $4 between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka

    16 October 2026
    Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama answers reporters' questions following the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Bangkok on Oct. 15. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
    Markets

    Japan finance minister: G20 concerned over yields, FX volatility

    Katayama also urges G7 to monitor developments with 'heightened sense of vigilance'

    15 October 2026
    Vehicles line up for fuel at a gas station run by Indonesia's state energy company Pertamina in Denpasar, Bali, on Oct. 13.
    Energy

    Indonesia fuel shortages spread to Bali, other regions as prices climb

    State energy company faces 'growing pressure on cash flow,' analyst warns

    14 October 2026
    A farmer tills his rice fields, which are affected by a suspended irrigation supply due to looming El Nino effects, in Bulacan province, Philippines, on July 18. The government recently said it is preparing for a worst-case scenario over drought concerns across the island nation.
    Economy

    Philippines braces for El Nino impact as aging water systems falter

    Economists warn of price pressures as government declares state of calamity

    14 October 2026
    Bank of Korea Gov. Shin Hyun-song says a currency appreciation can increase the purchasing power of households and thus help "shift the balance" from the externally facing export sector toward the domestic sector. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
    Inflation

    Central banks navigate inflation uncertainty amid supply shocks

    IMF calls for restrictive policy; BOK chief says exchange-rate stability also matters

    14 October 2026
    A container terminal in Singapore. The city-state's exports are expanding due to high demand in the technology sector.
    Economy

    Singapore Q3 GDP grows 5.4% on sustained AI-driven demand

    Central bank maintains monetary policy, says inflation to ease from mid-next year

    14 October 2026
    People walk past the logo for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Bangkok on Oct. 8. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
    Economy

    Inflation, AI and climate: IMF kicks off key meeting in Bangkok

    Energy prices and bond yields loom over policymakers' weeklong talks

    12 October 2026
    Although Japan's latest bond auction went smoothly, investors remain uneasy over inflation due to the protracted conflict in the Middle East and concerns about the country's fiscal trajectory. (Photo by Mana Ishizaki) 
    Markets

    JGB yield rises despite 30-year-high coupon

    Government debt concerns lead bond yields higher globally

    6 October 2026
    Motorcycle riders wait at a gas station in Hanoi on March 9. Vietnam has extended fuel-related tax breaks through the end of 2026 as it seeks to contain inflation and cushion the economy from energy supply disruptions.
    Energy

    Vietnam extends fuel tax breaks as energy supply disruptions drag on

    Revenue loss from measure estimated at $530m in fourth quarter

    6 October 2026
    Annual core inflation in Tokyo accelerated in September at the fastest pace in 10 months. (Photo by Rie Ishii) 
    Inflation

    Tokyo core inflation rate jumps, bolsters case for more BOJ hikes

    CPI rises 2.7% year on year in September, exceeds 2.4% forecast

    2 October 2026
    Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh. The Fed is under less pressure to raise rates at its next meeting in October.
    Markets

    US rate hike bets fade as revised inflation data points to October pause

    Downward revisions of key price index take pressure off Fed to raise rates

    2 October 2026
    Although rising costs stemming from Middle East tensions have pressured Japan's economy, robust global demand fueled by the AI investment boom is supporting external demand. (Photo by Sae Kamae)
    Bank of Japan

    BOJ Tankan shows sixth straight rise in manufacturer sentiment

    Quarterly survey upbeat on robust AI demand despite higher energy prices

    1 October 2026
    The price of more than 3,000 food and drink products in Japan will go up from Thursday. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Shiho Miyajima, Akitoshi Sugiura and Reuters)
    Inflation

    Japan inflation wave lifts prices on 3,000 food and drink items

    Companies raise prices on baby formula, coffee and snacks while BOJ weighs rate hikes

    1 October 2026
    Rising energy prices and abnormal weather patterns have been adding to inflationary pressures globally, including in Indonesia.
    Economy

    Despite inflation, emerging economies struggle to raise interest rates

    India, others stand pat to balance growth with El Nino, Mideast price risks

    30 September 2026
    Average asking prices for existing condominiums in central Tokyo have also fallen for four consecutive months through August amid rising interest rates. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
    Markets

    Global bond sell-off intensifies, hitting housing markets

    Japan's benchmark yield tops 3.1% as bets grow on cycle of Fed rate hikes

    25 September 2026
    Many affordability-focused young U.S. consumers would consider buying an electric car from Chinese brands like BYD. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
    Comment

    How 'affordability' makes Gen Z Americans open to Chinese EVs, chips

    Consumer attitudes as midterms approach could sway Trump's stance on trade barriers

    24 September 2026