India and the United States are preparing to open formal discussions this week on a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement, taking advantage of a 90-day pause in escalating tariffs. The two nations, long-standing economic and strategic partners, are moving to resolve trade tensions and explore deeper commercial engagement at a time when global trade is under pressure from protectionist trends and economic uncertainty. The initial discussions will be conducted virtually, with officials from both

India’s annual retail inflation rate eased to 3.34% in March 2025, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. This marks the fifth consecutive month of decline and falls below the 3.61% recorded in February, offering significant relief to policymakers and consumers alike. The main factor contributing to this moderation is the continued softening of food prices, which make up a large portion of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Food inflation dr

The City of Dallas has revealed that a miscalculation in commercial remodel permit fees has resulted in a significant financial shortfall, costing the city approximately $8.6 million. The error was disclosed during a recent Economic Development Committee meeting and has prompted urgent calls for reform to prevent further losses. The issue stems from an internal mistake following the adoption of a new permit fee structure introduced in spring 2024. According to the Planning and Development Dep

Artificial intelligence (AI) is on track to become one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century, with its market value expected to surge to $4.8 trillion by 2033, nearly the size of Germany’s economy. This staggering growth, as outlined by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), is set to drive productivity gains and contribute significantly to digital transformation across industries. However, this anticipated boom raises serious concerns, pa

  In the early months of 2025, U.S. consumer spending on air travel, hotels, and restaurants saw a notable decline, signaling a shift in spending habits amid economic uncertainty. According to data from Bloomberg Second Measure, U.S. consumer spending on air travel dropped by 10% in February 2025, while spending on hotels decreased by 6%, compared to the same time last year. In addition, restaurant spending saw a 3.5% decrease, further highlighting

The latest round of tariff hikes by US President Donald Trump has triggered immediate countermeasures from Canada, China, and Mexico, escalating tensions in global trade. Beginning Tuesday, the US is imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada while also raising tariffs on all Chinese imports from 10% to 20%. In response, these nations have announced their own economic retaliations, signaling a sharp rise in trade disputes.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese officia

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump's latest tariffs, calling them “an act of war” and warning about their economic impact. In an interview with CBS on Sunday, Buffett argued that tariffs function as a tax on consumers and ultimately drive up prices.“Tariffs are actually—we've had a lot of experience with them—they're an act of war, to some degree,” Buffett said. He added that consumers, not fore

India and the European Union (EU) have set a year-end deadline to finalize a long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA), marking a crucial milestone in their bilateral trade relations. The announcement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in New Delhi to strengthen India-EU economic and strategic ties.The trade agreement, under negotiation for several years, aims to expand economic cooperation, boost trade, and enhance market access b

The World Bank has advised India to lower import tariffs, ease regulatory restrictions, and simplify trade processes to enhance its global trade competitiveness and attract foreign investment. In a report released on Friday titled the Economic Memorandum on India, the World Bank highlighted that high trade costs caused by import tariffs on intermediate and capital goods, as well as non-tariff barriers, are limiting India's participation in global value chains (GVCs).The report emphasized

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its latest bulletin released on February 19, stated that the tax cuts in the Union Budget 2025, along with moderating inflation, are expected to provide financial relief to the middle class and boost overall household spending. This announcement comes after the February Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, where the newly appointed RBI Governor, Sanjay Malhotra, emphasized the positive economic impact of the tax relief measur

In February 2025, US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 30-day pause on tariffs against Mexico and Canada brought a brief sense of relief to global markets. The decision helped prevent a potential escalation of a full-blown trade war, with US equity futures and international markets responding positively. However, concerns linger about the long-term effects of tariffs on industries such as automotive, semiconductor, consumer goods, e-commerce, and green energy.  

Projected Economic Growth India’s economy is expected to grow between 6.3% to 6.8% in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26). This forecast comes from the Economic Survey 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament. Economic Fundamentals The survey highlights that the

Extended Economic Slowdown Expected: Maneesh Dangi, the CEO of Mosaic Asset Management, predicts that India's ongoing economic slowdown will last for at least another year and a half, contrary to the more optimistic views of many market participants. He believes the country is in the midst of a cyclical slowdown, which is a recurring phase in the economy. Dangi explains that such slowdowns typically last for five to seven quarters and do not recover without substan

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed immense optimism for India's future, declaring that the country has entered its golden era of economic growth. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Naidu highlighted that India's economy is poised for significant growth, predicting it will register the fastest incremental GDP growth from 2028 onwards. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and emphasized the stability provided

US President Donald Trump's economic policies are facing significant challenges, according to market experts like Ramesh Damani and Samir Arora. While Trump has made bold promises, including ramping up US oil production and taking a tough stance on trade with countries like China, the actual implementation of these policies is likely to be constrained by governance realities. Damani pointed out that Trump's ambitious goal of increasing US crude oil production by three millio

Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is gearing up for his highly anticipated trip to Switzerland to participate in the prestigious World Economic Forum (WEF) Summit in Davos. This business-focused event is seen as an excellent opportunity to attract significant investments to the state. In a strategic move ahead of his trip, Naidu has successfully poached a key investment body executive from the neighbori

Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, will embark on a significant trip to Davos on January 20 to participate in the prestigious World Economic Forum (WEF). This marks the return of a well-known tradition for the TDP chief, who has previously used the platform to attract global investments to Andhra Pradesh. The timing of this visit is especially important for Naidu, as it comes after a tumultuous five years under the leadership of his rival, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Redd

Ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26, the government is expected to introduce measures to aid small businesses, farmers, and the export sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently held her fourth pre-budget consultation, where she discussed key economic policies and priorities with stakeholders. Sources suggest that the government may announce tax relief for middle-class citizens to help revitalize the slowing economy, along with support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The Indian rupee ended the trading session stronger after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged, while unveiling measures aimed at improving liquidity in the banking system. The domestic currency gained 3 paise, closing at 84.70 against the US dollar, compared to 84.73 in the previous session. As part of the monetary policy changes, the RBI raised the interest rate ceiling on one-year Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits by 200 basis p

Sri Lanka has committed to completing its foreign debt restructuring by the end of December 2023, aiming to address its $46 billion external debt. After defaulting on debt in April 2022, the country has been working on rebuilding its finances with help from an IMF bailout. Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando confirmed that debt restructuring, which has been delayed for over two years, is critical for the country's economic recovery. The restructuring includes international sovereign bo