U.S. Economy
How the explosives shortage could make everyday items even more expensive
The United States is facing a shortage of TNT, a high explosive that is essential to the manufacturing of commercial explosives products, like cast boosters, which are commonly used in the mining and construction industries, according to the Institute of Makers of Explosives, or IME. “Everything from your cellphone to your laptop to the roads […]
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The Trump administration wants to allow crypto-backed mortgages. Here’s why
It’s no secret that buying a home is expensive. The average sales price for U.S. homes has hovered around $400,000 since the end of 2021, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Most homebuyers looking to cover that cost turn to mortgage lenders, who pore over financial details like salaries, bank balances and […]
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COP30 gets underway in Brazil — and a Trump-shaped hole is hanging over the climate summit
The COP30 logo is seen in front of the central building ahead of the COP30 Brazil Amazonia 2025 on November 3, 2025 in Belem, Brazil. Wagner Meier | Getty Images News | Getty Images U.N. climate talks get underway in Brazil on Monday, with delegations from almost every country set to convene on the outskirts […]
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How Chinese EV makers are winning in Brazil
On the streets of Rio de Janeiro, it’s not hard to spot the latest sign of China’s growing global auto ambitions. Electric vehicles from Chinese brands like BYD and Great Wall Motor have been flowing in. “There are a lot of Chinese cars on the streets,” said EV owner Sérgio Ramalho. Brazil has become the […]
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The global critical minerals race is heating up — and rare earths stocks are skyrocketing
A wheel loader takes ore to a crusher at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, U.S. January 30, 2020. Steve Marcus | Reuters The emergence of critical minerals as a new arena of geopolitical competition has coincided with a dizzying rally in U.S.-listed rare earths mining stocks. Despite paring gains in […]
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Voters express frustration with Trump’s handling of economy, NBC News poll shows
Jasondoiy | E+ | Getty Images A recent NBC News poll showed growing frustration among Americans regarding President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy less than a year after entering office. In a poll of 1,000 voters taken between Oct. 25-28, 63% said Trump had fallen short of expectations regarding the economy. Separately, 65% said […]
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Trump-Xi meeting nears with high stakes and hopes, but few details
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump Sergey Bobylev | Kent Nishimura | Reuters A high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could yield a breakthrough in the quarrelsome trade relationship between the two economic superpowers. But while both the Trump administration and Beijing are projecting optimism ahead of […]
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10-year Treasury yield surges back above 4% after Powell says December rate cut far from certain
Treasury yields gained even after the Federal Reserve cut rates for a second time this year as central bank chief Jerome Powell indicated another easing in December was far from certain. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was 7 basis points higher at 4.054%. The 2-year Treasury note yield added 9 basis points to 3.582%. The 30-year bond yield rose 5 basis points […]
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There were two Fed dissenters: Miran wanted a bigger cut and Schmid voted for no easing at all
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran speaks with CNBC during the Invest i America Forum on Oct. 15, 2025. Aaron Clamage | CNBC There were two dissenters from the Federal Reserve’s decision to lower the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday, in two different directions. Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran instead called […]
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Government shutdown could cost U.S. economy up to $14 billion, CBO says
The shutdown of the U.S. federal government could cost the economy up to $14 billion, depending on how long it lasts, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. The shutdown, now in its fourth week, will result in the loss of at least $7 billion of gross domestic product by the end of 2026 as a […]
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