The member states of the EU have approved the signing of a free trade agreement between the European Union and the Latin American states of Mercosur, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. A recent addition, Bolivia, will eventually be able to participate in the same. The agreement, in the making since 1999, will form a trade bloc of more than 700 million people with 90% of tariffs to be removed by 2040. What this will mean in practice is two-fold in strong validation of g

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) yesterday reported preliminary figures indicating that 50,000 jobs were added in December 2025, and a slightly lower unemployment rate of 4.4% vs. 4.6% in November 2025. Jobs figures were reportedly shared a day before official release by President Trump, but that is another story. Reports the BLS, "Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, health care, and social assistance. Retail trade lost jobs." In co

A report released Dec. 23, 2025 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) showed an unexpected jump in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) driven primarily by an increase in consumer spending and exports. The U.S. economy, according to the report grew at a rate of 4.3% compared to economist estimates of around 3.2-3.3% in the third quarter. On its own, the Q3 2025 GDP report paints a remarkably rosy picture and highlights the strong resilience of the U.S. economy, especially con