Weekly Economic Recap (April 28 – May 4, 2025)

The global economy saw notable developments this past week, with key updates on U.S. labor markets, interest rates, oil and gold prices, and manufacturing data from China.

🇺🇸 United States: Strong job growth, Fed holds interest rates steady

Jobs Report:
In April, the U.S. economy added 177,000 jobs, exceeding forecasts of 138,000. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, indicating a resilient labor market.

Federal Reserve:
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 4.25%–4.50% and hinted at two potential rate cuts in 2025, depending on economic conditions.

🛢️ Oil prices fall sharply amid demand concerns

Brent Crude:
Brent ended the week at $61.29/barrel, down significantly from the prior week due to concerns about weak global demand and rising trade tensions.

Outlook:
Barclays cut its 2025 forecast for Brent to $70/barrel, citing a potential supply surplus and worsening trade tensions.

🪙 Gold prices dip slightly following upbeat US data

Global Gold Price:
Spot gold closed the week at $3,249/oz, slightly lower as upbeat U.S. job data curbed safe-haven demand.

Vietnam Domestic Gold Price:
SJC gold in Vietnam hovered around 121.3 million VND/tael, largely unchanged from last week.

🇨🇳 China: Manufacturing shows contraction

PMI Data:
China’s official manufacturing PMI dropped to 49.0 in April, below expectations, indicating contraction.

Contributing Factors:
The slowdown is attributed to weaker global demand and ongoing trade-related pressures.

🔍 Summary

This week’s economic data highlighted a strong U.S. labor market and steady Fed policy, while oil prices dropped due to global demand concerns. Gold prices dipped slightly, and China’s manufacturing sector contracted — signaling potential headwinds for global growth.

InfoFinance