Economy

EU Parliament Pushes Larger 2028–34 Budget and New Taxes

The European Parliament has voted in favor of a 10% increase to the EU's next long-term budget and the introduction of new revenue streams. Supporters of the proposal want more funding for agriculture and for poorer regions, calling for nearly €100 billion more than already proposed by the European Commission.

Germany budget strains amid Iran war and spending pressures

Skip next section Sugar, booze, tobacco: what new health-based levies is the government planning? April 29, 2026 Sugar, booze, tobacco: what new health-based levies is the government planning? One new budget proposal that seemingly won't be finalized in time for 2027, but is planned for introduction by 2028, is a tax on sugary drinks.

Powell's Last Fed Meeting Before Leadership Change

The Senate Banking Committee votes Wednesday on Kevin Warsh's nomination to serve as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images North America hide caption toggle caption Andrew Harnik/Getty Images North America Change is coming to the Federal Reserve — even as interest rates are expected to hold steady.

Inflation Undermines Teacher Pay Gains

The average salary for a public school teacher in the U.S. rose to $74,495 in the last school year, up 3.5% from the year before. But adjusted for inflation, today's teachers are estimated to be earning less, not more, than they were in 2017.

Employer Power Behind Low Wages

imagedepotpro/Getty Images This article first appeared in the Planet Money newsletter. You can sign up here . This is Part 2 of the Planet Money newsletter's series on "monopsony power." The first story centered on the labor economics of the classic sci-fi horror movie Alien as an introduction to an extreme version of the concept.

Three key points about Fed nominee Kevin Warsh

3 things to know about Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh Kevin Warsh speaks during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings at the IMF headquarters in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2025. Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Tierney L.

Women Drive Tamil Nadu’s Mundu Chile Economy

Rajeshwari, 44, grades the chiles she has picked in the fields. Her sharp eyes spot the pale white pods in the sea of red: "The ones with the rich red color are the best, but even though the paler ones are of poorer quality, we can still sell these at the market."

New Jobs Flow to Women — Where Do Men Fit In?

The Labor Department says the vast majority of new jobs created over the last year went to women, most of them in health care. melitas hide caption toggle caption melitas In December 2016, as Donald Trump was headed to the White House for the first time, Betsey Stevenson offered the incoming president some economic advice.

Bill Phillips' Water Model of the Economy

Bill Phillips was an unlikely economist. A New Zealander who had worked everything from crocodile hunting to gold mining and electrical engineering, he arrived in postwar London and turned to economics with an engineer's curiosity.

Germany Fears Inflation Amid Iran War and US Tensions

Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Survey: A third of Germans expect the cost of living to increase Merz accuses Trump of "massive escalation" in Iran war Chancellor says German army could help clear mines from Strait of Hormuz German FM Wadephul says Germany now has clarity on US

Trump's Signature to Appear on All US Dollar Bills

The US Treasury Department says it is preparing to add President Donald Trump's signature to all dollar notes, a first for a sitting president. It is expected to appear next to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's signature and take the place of the US treasurer's name, which has been on the currency for more than 100 years.

Germany inflation rises to 2.1% in January 2026

Germany's inflation rate increased to 2.1% in January, confirming preliminary data and showing price pressures have strengthened at the start of the year, particularly with food and services. Consumer prices were up only 0.1% from December, as cheaper energy partly offset higher costs elsewhere, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).