The first sign. Given the situation in the oil market, a half of the shale companies will declare insolvency by the end of the current year. It is possible that they will simply be sold.
The second sign. The number of drilling rig systems continues to decline, as the US oil industry is about to collapse. It seems unimaginable, but it's a fact: the number of operating drilling rigs has been decreasing for 19 weeks in a row.
The third sign. McDonald's reported a reduction of 700 fast food restaurants because of "inefficiency" in the current year. The company will hardly venture upon such a step with a favorable situation in the country's economy.
The fourth sign. Greece faces the possibility of default. The country's government has already stopped denying that it has been operating with an empty treasury since the beginning of February. According to the Greek authorities, if the funds to pay debts to their international creditors and wages for millions of public sector employees are not found, the country will become bankrupt in a week.
The fifth sign. Coal accounts for about 40% of all produced electric power of the world. The decline in coal prices indicates that the economy activity is becoming slower. In 2008, shortly before the financial crisis, the coal price increased significantly, and then the prices fell down rapidly.
The sixth sign. The PRC leads in the volume of world trade. So the fact, that the indicators of the Chineese exports and imports are sharply decreasing, raises fears. According to the latest data, last month exports in yuan fell by 14.6% year-on-year, and imports — by 12.3%. In both cases, analysts didn't expect such a strong reduction.
The seventh sign. New home sales in America have been decreasing at the fastest pace for almost two years.
Economic inequality remains one of the most pressing issues in today's world. To measure the gap between the rich and the poor in each country, the Gini index is used. This coefficient reflects how income is distributed within a society: the closer the index is to 100, the greater the inequality. Let's explore which countries currently have the highest Gini index values
This year has been pivotal for Bitcoin, the world's leading cryptocurrency. One of the key milestones was the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In April 2024, Bitcoin also experienced a halving event, which is typically seen as a positive development for the digital asset. This year, the cryptocurrency is up 57%, and analysts remain optimistic about its future. However, they highlight four key factors that could influence Bitcoin's trajectory, both for better and for worse
Analytical periodical US News and World Report has presented its ranking of the best countries in the world in terms of quality of life, based on a survey of nearly 17,000 people. The list considers factors such as economic and political stability, a strong labor market, income equality, family-friendliness, safety, the quality of education, and healthcare systems. Let's find out which countries made it to the top of this list.
