UK food inflation rose in December 2025 for the first time since August, reaching 3.3 percent. According to the British Retail Consortium, this pushed overall shop price inflation to 0.7 percent, while non food price inflation continued to decline. Weak consumer confidence led shoppers to seek cheaper options during the Christmas period, helping discount retailers such as Aldi and Lidl post record sales.

The US government has set a series of strict conditions for Venezuela’s interim leadership, including the expulsion of forces linked to Iran and Cuba, combating drug trafficking, and restricting oil sales to Washington’s rivals. According to Politico, these conditions could affect the lifting of sanctions and the future of Venezuela’s oil industry, and may even limit global supplies of heavy crude. The US has also called for steps toward free elections, although no specific deadlines have been announced, and officials say Washington’s current aim is to assess the new leader’s intentions.

According to informed sources in the OPEC+ alliance, the group is close to officially approving a halt to oil production increases in March. This decision is expected to be ratified at today’s online meeting chaired by Saudi Arabia and Russia. This decision, which was made in November citing seasonal declines in oil consumption, has been confirmed in previous monthly meetings. This decision comes as concerns about a possible US military attack on Iran (an OPEC member) have driven oil prices to their highest level in four months. However, OPEC+ usually acts cautiously in the face of geopolitical tensions, waiting for actual supply disruptions.

A reporter from Axios said that negotiations between Iran and the United States, with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, are ongoing, but no major breakthrough has been achieved so far. The delivery of enriched uranium, zero nuclear activity, recognition of Israel, and ceasing support for proxy groups in the region are the US conditions for negotiations, which directly contradict the Islamic Republic’s red lines. So far, there have been rumors of an agreement on handing over the uranium, but the other conditions remain unclear. Meanwhile, Trump is pressuring Iran through Venezuela's oil.