Global economy stories - Page 2

Firgun's debut quantum fund deal backs Canada's Photonic from its $250m pot, deepening cross-border UK-North America ties.

Late payments now make up 37% of global pay cycles, with firms waiting 51 days on average to be paid, Sidetrade data reveals.

Holiday refunds jumped 18.1% in 2025, with each USD $1 million in refunds costing retailers about USD $1.3 million once overheads are included.

Global business travel spend hit USD $1.57 trillion in 2025, with AI-driven, intentional trips set to power faster growth into 2026.

C-suite leaders plan to double down on AI, cost cuts and flexible work by 2026, despite tight budgets and rising tech and labour pressures.

The global digital economy is forecast to surge 9.5% in 2026 to USD $28 trillion, triple the pace of overall worldwide economic growth.

AI-driven demand is set to unleash up to USD $3 trillion in global data centre investment, doubling capacity to 200GW by 2030.

Undersea fibre-optic cables, carrying 95% of international internet traffic, are expanding rapidly to support soaring AI and cloud computing data demands.

EIU unveils Viewpoint AI, a tool that uses generative AI to simplify global market insights and support strategic decision-making in over 200 markets.

Multinational US firms outperform domestic companies by 16% amid dollar volatility, but domestic businesses eye growth as interest rates fall and investment rises.

Ebury launches a mobile app enabling SMEs to manage international payments and FX on the go, offering real-time rates for over 130 currencies.

Manufacturers face supply chain pressures and skills shortages but embrace AI and digital tech to boost efficiency and resilience globally.

Enterprises prioritising digital sovereignty over AI and data achieve up to five times higher ROI, outperforming peers with secure, scalable AI platforms, says study.

Global business hotel bookings fell 5.35% in H1 2025, led by a 10.65% US decline amid tariff uncertainty and reduced advance planning.

Stripe unveils AI-powered payments model and stablecoin accounts, enhancing fraud detection and global money management in 101 countries.

Tata Consultancy Services climbs to 45th in Kantar BrandZ 2025 report, hitting a brand value of USD $57.3bn with 28% annual growth.

OpenAI's forum revealed how reasoning AI, like the new O-series models, is set to transform global economics, work, and international security strategies.

EY has launched the EY.ai Agentic Platform with NVIDIA, aiming to enhance tax, risk, and finance sectors through AI-driven solutions.

Perforce's 2025 State of Software Report reveals automotive developers face rising AI integration and safety challenges, with 50% citing the global economy as a key issue.

A study by Modulr reveals that 75% of UK accountants are facing rising demand for advisory services, while inefficiencies in payment processes hinder productivity.