Economy

• Consumer spending contributes nearly 70% of US economic activity, making retail sales one of the most influential macroeconomic indicators.

• Sterling has strengthened against the US dollar and remains near its strongest level in more than a month despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

• Congress is reviewing requests for additional funding to enhance security for US Supreme Court justices and the broader federal judiciary.

• Congress is holding extensive discussions over the Trump administration's strategy toward Iran following recent military and diplomatic developments.

• Core inflation also moderated, reinforcing hopes that price pressures are gradually easing.

The United Kingdom is once again confronting difficult questions surrounding the safety of its elected representatives after the targeted killing of former Conservative minister and former MP Ann Widdecombe. The incident has prompted Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham to call for what he describes as …

• The UK government has announced plans to become thefirst major advanced economyto issue adigital sovereign bondbyearly 2027, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of global capital markets.