Economic

• Pemerintahan Trump telah mengumumkan 'Operation Economic Fury,' menerapkan blokade komprehensif terhadap Iran sebagai bagian dari kampanye sanksi yang diperluas. • Inisiatif ini mewakili eskalasi signifikan dalam tekanan ekonomi terhadap Iran, yang menandai pergeseran kebijakan luar negeri AS menuju tindakan yang lebih agresif. • Tindakan ini terjadi di tengah ketegangan geopolitik yang lebih luas di Timur Tengah dan menyusul ketegangan diplomatik selama berbulan-bulan antara AS dan Iran.

• Output kuartal pertama, didorong oleh investasi AI dan belanja pemerintah, meningkat seiring guncangan minyak memicu kekhawatiran inflasi • Gross domestic product (GDP) AS meningkat 2% dalam tiga bulan pertama tahun 2026, meskipun pengeluaran konsumen melambat karena perang dengan Iran terus berdampak pada harga energi. • Angka GDP terakhir untuk kuartal keempat tahun 2025 menunjukkan bahwa pertumbuhan ekonomi AS melambat ke laju 0,5%, sebagian besar akibat kontraksi belanja pemerintah menyusul PHK massal pegawai federal tahun lalu.

• Harga gas telah melonjak di atas $4 per galon dan harga penerbangan meroket karena blokade Selat Hormuz berdampak pada pasar energi di tengah perang AS-Israel dengan Iran, mengikis keunggulan politik utama Trump. • Lebih dari tiga perempat pemilih terdaftar—termasuk lebih dari separuh Republik dan 82% independen—kini menyalahkan Trump atas krisis biaya hidup yang memengaruhi bahan bakar, bahan makanan, perumahan, dan layanan kesehatan. • Rating persetujuan masa jabatan kedua Trump telah turun jauh lebih cepat dibandingkan presiden sebelumnya setelah penghentian operasi pemerintah (government shutdown), tarif, dan serangan gabungan AS-Israel terhadap Iran, dengan Ketua Federal Reserve Jerome Powell memperingatkan bahwa perang tersebut memicu inflasi.

Actions expected to exceed 3,000 as unions and groups expand protests inspired by Minnesota ICE crackdownLabor unions, democratic organizations and community groups are organizing an economic blackout this year to commemorate May Day, International Workers Day, inspired by the economic blackout in Minnesota during the massive ICE operation in the state.May Day Strong events are being planned across the US, with organizers calling for “no school, no work, no shopping”, in protest of government policies they say put billionaires’ needs above those of workers. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump signed a series of emergency executive orders from the Oval Office on April 25, 2026, enacting the 'World's Most Powerful Reset' to address national security and economic stability. • The orders grant the administration vast new powers over the U.S. economy and financial system, potentially altering the Federal Reserve's role amid foreign threats. • The actions have triggered fierce debate over constitutional authority, with volatile reactions from Democrats and Republicans, and shockwaves in global markets.

• President Donald Trump signed a series of emergency executive orders from the Oval Office, dubbed the 'World's Most Powerful Reset,' targeting U.S. economic stability and national security. • The orders grant the administration expanded powers over the economy and financial system, including potential alterations to the Federal Reserve's role amid foreign threats. • The actions have triggered market volatility, fierce partisan debate, and questions over constitutional authority from Democrats and some Republicans.

• The U.S. market advanced 1.7% over the past seven days, continuing its strong performance with a 34% gain over the past year. • Earnings are projected to grow by 16% annually, reflecting broad-based economic expansion across sectors. • The sustained market strength indicates investor confidence in corporate profitability and economic fundamentals heading into late April.

Consumer confidence hit its lowest level since October 2023 this month, with surveys showing the cost pressures companies are facingConfidence in the UK economy has fallen sharply amid the mounting economic fallout from the Iran war, surveys show, as businesses prepare to raise their prices and consumers brace for a fresh cost of living shock.Highlighting the knock-on impact of the Middle East crisis in Britain, several closely-watched surveys of business activity and consumer confidence blamed the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran for a marked deterioration in the outlook in April. Continue reading...