Services trade growth slows in first quarter of 2025
you are currently viewing::Services trade growth slows in first quarter of 2025July 31, 2025--Global services trade growth slowed in the first quarter of 2025 to 5% year-on-year, roughly half the pace recorded in both 2024 and 2023. The appreciation of the US dollar against the euro and other currencies, coupled with increased economic uncertainty, contributed to the slowdown in services trade in the early months of the year. Services exports in Europe and North America increased by only 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, down from 8% and 11% respectively in the first quarter of 2024. In contrast, strong growth was sustained in Asia at 9%. The overall slowdown in services trade was mainly due to "Other commercial services," a category that encompasses a wide variety of mostly digitally deliverable services ranging from financial to professional services. In 2024, "Other commercial services" accounted for some 60% of global services trade, with Europe contributing 40% of those exports. Source: World Trade Organization (WTO) |
April 14, 2026-The global economy faces renewed tests as the war in the Middle East threatens to disrupt growth and disinflation.
After withstanding higher trade barriers and elevated uncertainty last year, global activity now faces a major test from the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Assuming that the conflict remains limited in duration and scope, global growth is projected to slow to 3.1 percent in 2026 and 3.2 percent in 2027.