Global trade leans territorial, Freight markets face mixed fortunes

Stocks and bonds wobble as global economy throws off mixed signals

Investors have gone from bracing for a U.S. recession to positioning for the world's biggest economy to keep chugging along. European growth is also better than anticipated a few months ago, a challenge for traders trying to divine how much central bankers will lower interest rates... Read more

BOE Sends Clearest Sign Yet of Interest-Rate Cuts

The Bank of England sent its clearest signal yet that it was closing in on interest-rate cuts, with Governor Andrew Bailey indicating markets were underpricing the pace of easing in the months ahead... Read more

U.S. and China trade divisions threaten a ‘reversal’ for global economy, IMF official warns

Differences between U.S.-led Western and China-aligned economic blocs threaten global trade cooperation and economic growth, a top official with the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday… Read more

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Global trade growth set to more than double this year

The OECD, IMF and World Trade Organization are forecasting a sharp rebound in the global flow of products this year after a slowdown in 2023 driven by higher prices, surging interest rates and sluggish demand... Read more

Sweden’s Central Bank Cuts Key Rate as Europe Moves Ahead of the Fed

Sweden’s central bank lowered its key interest rate for the first time in more than eight years on Wednesday, underlining the readiness of European policy makers to move ahead of the Federal Reserve as inflation cools... Read more

German economy likely to stagnate in 2024, IW forecasts

Germany's economy will stagnate in 2024 despite a stronger than expected start to the year, and will continue to lag behind European peers, according to German economic institute IW... Read more

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EU restates readiness to launch trade war with China over cheap imports

The EU has restated its readiness to launch a trade war with China over imports of cheap electric cars, steel and cheap solar and wind technology, with Ursula von der Leyen saying the bloc will “not waver” from protecting industries and jobs... Read more

EU foresees economy improving, but inflation still painful

The European Union's executive branch has raised its economic growth forecast for the year, saying Europe will narrowly avoid a recession and has already passed its inflation peak as natural gas prices fall from astronomical highs... Read more

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UK exits recession with fastest growth in nearly three years

Britain's economy grew by the most in nearly three years in the first quarter of 2024, ending the shallow recession it entered in the second half of last year and delivering a boost to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of an election... Read more

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Japan economy expected to shrink in Q1 due to weak consumption

Japan's economy likely contracted an annualised 1.5% in the January-March quarter as all key drivers of growth slumped due to an uncertain outlook, a Reuters poll showed, which will probably set back Bank of Japan efforts to raise interest rates... Read more

Japan real wages fall in March, marking 2 years of decline

Japan's inflation-adjusted real wages in March fell 2.5% from a year earlier, marking declines for two straight years, labour ministry data showed on Thursday. The pace of declines accelerated from the previous month's 1.8% drop as the rising costs of living outpaced nominal wages... Read more

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South Africa posts slowest economic growth since 2009 as strikes hit output

South Africa's economy grew in the third quarter at its slowest pace since a 2009 recession, dragged down by a contraction in manufacturing after weeks of strikes in the automotive sector... Read more

FedEx Freight to close 7 service centers nationwide in 2024

FedEx Freight, the less-than-truckload unit of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), confirmed Tuesday that it is closing seven service centers across the U.S. this year as the division continues to make alignments to its freight network... Read more

Freight Market Stabilization Bolsters M&A Optimism

As trucking mergers and acquisitions followed the freight market into a down cycle, conditions have stabilized, showing positive signs for the sector going forward... Read more

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No sign of air freight demand easing as ‘slow’ summer nears

The more than six-month long bull market for air cargo, thanks to relentless North American e-commerce demand, is showing no signs of letting up as the traditionally slower summer months approach, according to forwarders and analysts... Read more

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Growth in freight market hasn’t turned a corner, FTR analysts say

Looking at the current state of economy in the U.S., contrary to what it may seem, consumers are still spending, explained Eric Starks, CEO and chairman of FTR, during FTR’s State of Freight webinar on Thursday... Read more

Boeing quality issue delays Alaska Airlines’ converted freighters

Unspecified problems with two used aircraft that recently were converted by Boeing to carry cargo have forced Alaska Airlines to open a new freighter service to Los Angeles with smaller Boeing 737-700s from its existing fleet... Read more

33% of Carriers Predict Freight Demand to Increase in the Next 3 – 6 Months

According to the latest Bloomberg | Truckstop survey, which polled owner-operators and small fleets, sentiment among North American carriers operating in the truckload spot market has improved over the past three months, but some concerns still linger... Read more

Red Sea crisis resurrects China-Europe rail freight transit through Russia

The route, which lost its importance in 2022 because of sweeping western sanctions imposed on Moscow in response to the Ukrainian conflict, had been actively used in previous years for the delivery of automotive products, including finished vehicles... Read more

A.P. Moller-Maersk Launches Air Freight Gateway in Miami to Serve U.S., Asia, Latin America

A.P. Moller-Maersk announced has expanded its air freight operations with the activation of a full-service, in-transit air freight gateway in Miami. The new gateway, modeled after operations in Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles, will focus on transshipping European and Asian cargo via Miami... Read more

?OpenEnvoy partners with CMA CGM on AI Freight Audit

OpenEnvoy, a leading provider of Accounts Payable (AP) automation solutions, is pleased to announce its partnership with CMA CGM, one of the world's largest and most respected shipping lines... Read more

Amazon debuts electric trucks in ocean freight operations

Amazon is deploying nearly 50 heavy-duty electric trucks in the region, marking its largest fleet of these vehicles in any country so far. The fully electric trucks will haul cargo containers and customer packages in Amazon’s first... Read more