No sooner had the global economy started to put the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic behind it than a whole new set of challenges opened up for 2025. In 2024, the world's central banks were finally able to start lowering interest rates after largely winning the battle against inflation without sparking a global recession. Stocks hit record highs in the United States and Europe, and Forbes declared a "banner year for the mega-wealthy" as 141 new billionaires joined its list of the superrich.
.
Business
Risks stack up for the global economy in 2025
New spending priorities beckon for national budgets already stretched after the pandemic, from tackling climate change to boosting armies to caring for aging populations.