Overview

• Global government debt has risen by 12 percentage points since 2020, with emerging markets seeing the steepest increases.
• Inflation, driven by post-lockdown spending and supply chain disruptions, peaked in 2022, prompting central banks to raise interest rates unevenly worldwide.
• Labor markets experienced significant shifts, with job losses affecting women and poorer households most, but workforce participation has partially rebounded.
• Travel habits have evolved, with remote work reducing urban commuting and the airline industry recovering to record passenger levels despite high hotel prices.
• The pandemic accelerated digital adoption, stabilizing e-commerce growth and reshaping investment trends, including a surge in cryptocurrency interest.