The UK labor market has shown signs of gradual stabilization, and according to recruitment firms, the economy is moving past the worst phase of the hiring downturn. Although permanent hiring continued to decline in January, the pace of contraction slowed to its lowest level in 18 months, and temporary hiring increased again after several months. Despite these developments, the labor market remains fragile, with job vacancies declining and the number of jobseekers rising.

Real wages of Japanese workers declined in every month of 2025, highlighting persistent inflationary pressure. In December, real wages fell by 0.1 percent, while nominal wages rose by 2.4 percent. The decline in household purchasing power has fueled public dissatisfaction and strengthened support for the expansionary fiscal policies of the Takaichi government. Economists expect real wages to improve in the coming months as inflation, particularly food prices, begins to ease.

Since the early October market crash, investors have pulled about $3.3 billion from Ethereum ETFs in the U.S., with more than $500 million withdrawn this year. Ethereum ETF assets have fallen below $13 billion, the lowest level since July. Ethereum is down nearly 60 percent from its all-time high and has posted negative monthly returns since September. While Bitcoin’s sharp decline has drawn market attention, Ethereum is also under pressure amid weaker risk appetite and tighter liquidity.

According to the New York Fed survey, U.S. consumer expectations for inflation and the labor market improved slightly in January. One-year inflation expectations fell to 3.1 percent and the probability of job loss decreased, while the likelihood of finding a new job rose to about 46 percent. These signs of relative labor market stability reinforced the Fed’s recent decision to hold interest rates steady after three consecutive rate cuts. However, long-term inflation expectations for three and five years remain unchanged at 3 percent