#TrumpTariffs As of December 17, 2025, the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff policies are at a critical turning point as they face a major legal challenge before the U.S. Supreme Court. Status of Current Tariffs Since January 2025, President Trump has implemented a wide array of duties that have collected over $200 billion in revenue this year. Global Section 232 Tariffs: Imposed on steel (50%), aluminum (50%), and copper (50% on semi-finished products). Automotive Tariffs: A 25% tariff on passenger vehicles, light trucks, and auto parts has been in effect since spring 2025. Reciprocal & Global Baseline: A baseline 10% tariff applies to most imports, with "reciprocal" rates ranging up to 41% for specific countries like China, Canada, and Mexico (though USMCA exemptions exist for some goods). Removal of De Minimis: As of August 29, the $800 threshold for duty-free low-value shipments was revoked, subjecting nearly all small parcels to entry fees. Recent and Future Actions December 17 Supreme Court Arguments: The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments today regarding the legality of the president's use of emergency powers (under the IEEPA) to bypass Congress and impose these global tariffs. Upcoming Increases (Jan 1, 2026): Tariffs on upholstered products and kitchen cabinets are scheduled to rise to 30% and 50%, respectively, on New Year's Day. New Retaliatory Tariffs: Recent reports indicate the administration suspended a tech deal with the UK and is threatening new measures against the EU over digital services taxes. Economic Impact & Proposals Job Market & Inflation: Unemployment has risen from 4% in January to 4.6% as of December, with core PCE inflation re-accelerating to 2.8%. Household Costs: Estimates suggest the tariffs have cost the average U.S. household between $1,100 and $1,200 in 2025. Tariff Dividend: To counter unpopularity, President Trump has proposed a $2,000 "tariff dividend" rebate check for American families, funded by the collected revenue.
The latest US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report, released on December 16, 2025, for the month of November, showed that 64,000 jobs were added to the US economy, which was above economists' expectations of 50,000. The unemployment rate increased to 4.6%, the highest level since September 2021.
Key Insights Job Gains & Losses: The 64,000 job gain in November followed a significant loss of 105,000 jobs in October, which was primarily driven by federal government workforce reductions after the government shutdown. Sector Performance: In November, job growth was notable in healthcare (+46,000) and construction (+28,000), while federal government employment continued to decline. Wage Growth: Average hourly earnings edged up by only 0.1% month-over-month and rose 3.5% year-over-year in November, the smallest annual gain since May 2021, indicating a cooling of wage inflation. Revisions: Job changes for August and September were revised downward, reducing the previously reported figures by a combined 33,000 jobs, signaling a general weakening trend in the labor market this year.
#USJobsData The latest U.S. labor market data reveals a complex landscape as of December 2025. While some reports indicate moderate job gains, other indicators like the unemployment rate reaching a multi-year high and a rise in recent layoffs suggest a cooling economy. Current Key Indicators (Late 2025) Unemployment Rate: Increased to 4.4% in September 2025, the highest level since October 2021. Nonfarm Payrolls: Added 119,000 jobs in September 2025, rebounding from a weak August. Job Openings: Rose slightly to 7.67 million in October 2025, led by holiday staffing needs in trade and transportation. Initial Jobless Claims: Surged by 44,000 to 236,000 for the week ending December 6, 2025—the largest weekly increase since 2020. Layoffs: Reached 1.85 million in October 2025, the highest level since early 2023. Top Growth vs. Declining Sectors Growth Sectors Declining Sectors Healthcare (+43,000 jobs) Transportation & Warehousing (-25,000 jobs) Food Services (+37,000 jobs) Federal Government (-3,000 jobs) Social Assistance (+14,000 jobs) Manufacturing (-6,000 jobs) Official Data Resources For the most granular and real-time updates, you can use these primary tools: National Statistics: Access the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment Situation for monthly summaries of national hiring and unemployment. Interactive Charts: View historical trends via the BLS Civilian Unemployment Rate Chart. Job Openings Data: Monitor turnover and vacancies through the JOLTS Summary. Weekly Reports: Track the latest layoffs and benefit filings at the Department of Labor Weekly Claims site.
Binance to Support BNB Smart Chain Network Upgrade and Hard Fork
According to the announcement from Binance, the platform will support the upcoming BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) network upgrade and hard fork to ensure optimal user experience. In preparation for this, Binance has scheduled wallet maintenance for the BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) on 2025-12-16 at 06:00 (UTC). As part of this process, deposits and withdrawals on the BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) will be temporarily suspended starting from 2025-12-16 at 05:55 (UTC) and will resume once the maintenance is completed. The maintenance is expected to last approximately one hour.
The BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) network upgrade and hard fork are set to occur on 2026-01-14 at 02:30 (UTC). To facilitate this upgrade, Binance will suspend deposits and withdrawals of tokens on the BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) starting from approximately 2026-01-14 at 02:25 (UTC). It is important to note that the trading of tokens on this network will not be affected during this period. Binance assures users that it will manage all technical requirements involved in the process. Once the network upgrade is deemed stable, deposits and withdrawals for tokens on the BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) will be reopened. No further announcements will be made regarding this matter. Users are encouraged to refer to the original announcement for the most accurate information
#CPIWatch #CPIWatch hashtag is trending as markets monitor U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, a primary measure of inflation and consumer purchasing trends. Recent reporting has been disrupted by a government shutdown, shifting significant focus to the next scheduled release. Current CPI Status and Key Dates Next Release Date: The November 2025 CPI report is scheduled for release on December 18, 2025. Missing Data: The October 2025 report was canceled due to a government shutdown, meaning that both October and November data points will now follow the early December FOMC meeting. Previous Data (September 2025): Headline CPI: Rose 0.3% month-over-month and 3.0% year-over-year. Core CPI (Excluding Food/Energy): Increased 0.2% month-over-month and 3.0% year-over-year. Market Impact and Expectations Investors use #CPIWatch to gauge the Federal Reserve's likely next steps regarding interest rates. Bullish/Bearish Signals: Generally, a higher-than-expected reading is bullish for the USD (as it may lead to higher interest rates), while a lower-than-expected reading is typically bearish for the USD and bullish for risk assets like equities and cryptocurrencies. Market Volatility: Recent reports indicate that inflation is easing faster than some consensus forecasts, leading to dollar weakness and equity rallies. Federal Reserve Outlook: While some core inflation indicators (like Core PCE) remain slightly elevated at 2.8%, the broader trend has supported cautious, continued interest rate cuts. Markets are currently pricing in high odds of further cuts in early 2026, though this remains dependent on upcoming data.
As of December 12, 2025, the relative trading value between Bitcoin and gold sits at approximately 21.39 ounces of gold for every 1 Bitcoin. While both assets reached record highs during late 2024 and throughout 2025, they have recently shown a negative correlation (-0.34), meaning their prices have increasingly moved in opposite directions. Current Trading Values (December 12, 2025) Bitcoin (BTC): Trading at approximately $90,428.56. Gold (XAU): Trading at approximately $4,198.30 per troy ounce. BTC/XAU Ratio: It currently takes roughly 21.39 ounces of gold to purchase 1 Bitcoin. Recent Performance and Market Dynamics Both assets experienced a landmark year in 2024, but their behaviors have diverged since then: 2024 Milestones: Gold rose by approximately 35%, reaching near $2,800/oz by late 2024. Bitcoin more than doubled in value (up 135%), surpassing $100,000 for the first time as the year concluded. Divergence in 2025: The historical trend where gold and Bitcoin moved in tandem began to fray in early 2025. By late 2025, Bitcoin has faced more volatility, dropping roughly 10.59% in value over the last month, while its annual exchange rate against gold has decreased by about 9.1%. Market Capitalization: Gold remains the significantly larger asset with a market cap between $20.8 trillion and $28 trillion. Bitcoin’s market cap has exceeded $2.2 trillion, representing roughly 8–10% of gold’s total value. #BitcoinvsGold