Economy

Commodity prices fell in April

The energy price index fell 7.6% in April, led by declines in U.S. natural gas (-17.6%) and crude oil (-6.8%), the World Bank’s Pink Sheet reported. Non-energy prices decreased by 2.6%.

The agricultural price index eased by 0.7%. Food prices edged down 0.5%, raw materials dipped 0.9%, and beverage prices declined by 0.8%. Fertilizer prices inched up 0.7%.

Metal prices dropped 7%, led by aluminum (-10.8%) and zinc (-9.3%), with copper, lead, and nickel each down around 6%. Precious metals rose 6.3%, driven by gold (+7.9%), while platinum and silver edged lower.

The Pink Sheet is a monthly report that monitors commodity price movements.

Source : World Bank

GLOBAL BUSINESS AND FINANCE MAGAZINE

Recent Posts

The unequal burden of oil shocks: Labour markets and monetary policy

The war in Iran has sent oil prices sharply higher, reviving the question of who…

3 days ago

When private insurance buys faster access to public care

Supplemental private health insurance is becoming more common in universal healthcare systems as a way…

3 days ago

Pension funds, unlisted firms, and Europe’s Capital Markets Union

Europe's Capital Markets Union debate is again centred on how to turn savings into productive…

3 days ago

Increasing employment in pre-retirement years slows cognitive decline

Dementia affects an estimated 6 million Americans. This column uses data from the Health and…

3 days ago

The right balance: how to fix European Union artificial intelligence regulation

EU AI regulation should trade lower ex-ante burden for robust ex-post monitoring, judicial review and…

3 days ago

When oil is scarce and debt is binding: policy sequencing under a severe energy supply shock

With inflation still binding and fiscal space thin, the 2026 Iran shock revives the case…

3 days ago