Economic history, financial data, and major events for every country — 1900 to 2026
The US administration announced sweeping tariff changes affecting multiple trading partners, prompting retaliatory measures and reshaping global trade relationships.
Multiple central banks including those of China, Saudi Arabia, India, and others continued record gold purchases, diversifying reserves away from any single currency.
SVB, the 16th largest US bank, collapsed in the second-largest bank failure in US history, followed quickly by Signature Bank, sparking concerns about regional banking stability.
Generative AI led by large language models drove significant investment and market capitalization gains, with AI-related stocks adding trillions in value during 2023-2024.
Russia launched a large-scale military operation in Ukraine, leading to the most significant armed conflict in Europe since WWII and triggering sweeping Western sanctions.
Western nations removed major Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system, representing unprecedented financial sanctions and accelerating discussions about alternative payment systems.
The Fed raised rates from near-zero to combat inflation reaching 9.1%, the most aggressive tightening cycle in decades, eventually reaching 5.25-5.50%.
A novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, spread globally, causing the most severe pandemic since 1918 and unprecedented economic shutdowns worldwide.
The US enacted approximately $5 trillion in fiscal stimulus and the Federal Reserve expanded its balance sheet by over $4 trillion to counter the pandemic economic shock.
China imposed tariffs on Australian barley, wine, and other exports after Australia called for an independent investigation into COVID-19 origins, straining a key trade relationship.
Drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramcos Abqaiq processing facility temporarily knocked out 5.7 million barrels per day — roughly 5% of global supply — causing the largest single-day oil price spike in decades.
The US imposed tariffs on Chinese goods worth billions, initiating a trade dispute between the worlds two largest economies affecting global supply chains.
The lira lost over 40% of its value against the dollar amid concerns about central bank independence, high inflation, and diplomatic tensions with the US.
The United Kingdom voted 52% to 48% to leave the European Union, initiating a complex multi-year withdrawal process completed in January 2020.
The Indian government withdrew 86% of currency in circulation overnight to combat corruption and informal economy, causing significant short-term economic disruption.
Brazils economy contracted sharply amid falling commodity prices, fiscal mismanagement, and a massive corruption scandal (Operation Car Wash), leading to the worst recession in a century.
The Swiss National Bank abruptly removed the CHF 1.20 per euro floor, causing the franc to surge 30% in minutes — the largest single-day move in a major currency in modern history.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine following a disputed referendum, triggering the first round of Western sanctions and the beginning of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami and nuclear meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi, causing over 19,000 deaths and $360 billion in damage.
Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, the largest in US history. This triggered a global financial crisis and the Great Recession, the worst economic downturn since the 1930s.