It's the economy, stupid. Well, economies.
The economic world keeps turning. Even in January [1].
- Australia had its biggest trade surplus in seven years: $3.5 billion.
- Australia's inflation rate fell to +1.5% for 2016.
- US GDP grew at 1.6% in 2016, pretty weak effort, that (as Ritchie would have said).
- Eurozone GDP grew at 1.7% in 2016. Ditto.
- German inflation rose at 1.7% in 2016, the highest in three years. Some say the rise in inflation is a good thing.
- China's GDP grew at 6.7% in 2016. Rubbery figures?
So what does this mean for you? Not much. The world is still growing. Australia is still growing. Inflation is low. The sun is shining.
[1] Except for Australia's Reserve Bank, which does not meet in January. It's vacation time, of course.