February 19, 2026
United States:
US Trade Deficit Widens, Capping One of Biggest Since 1960
The US trade deficit widened in December, capping a turbulent year of erratic tariff policy.
The goods and services trade gap expanded from the prior month to $70.3 billion, Commerce Department data showed Thursday. The shortfall culminated in a full-year deficit of $901.5 billion, still one of the largest in data back to 1960.
Europe:
German Wage Growth Quickened at Year-End, Bundesbank Says
German wage growth quickened at the end of 2025, though recent agreements point to smaller salary increases ahead, according to the Bundesbank.
Fourth-quarter negotiated pay rose 3.4% from a year ago after more or less stagnating in the the previous three months, the central bank said Thursday in its monthly report.
Asia:
IMF Warns China’s Economic Policies Are Causing Damage to Others
The International Monetary Fund faulted China’s economic policies for causing waste at home and damage abroad and called for a reorientation by Beijing to embrace a model based on domestic consumer spending.
“Transitioning to a consumption-led growth model should be the overarching priority,” the IMF’s executive directors said in a statement Wednesday released alongside the Washington-based lender’s annual review of China’s economy, known as an Article IV consultation.
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