No sooner had the global economy started to put the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic behind it than a whole new set of challenges opened up for 2025.

In 2024, the world¡¯s central banks were finally able to start lowering interest rates after largely winning the battle against inflation without sparking a global recession.

Stocks hit record highs in the United States and Europe, and Forbes declared a ¡°banner year for the mega-wealthy¡± as 141 new billionaires joined its list of the superrich.