Credit card interest rates remained stubbornly high in early 2026, while the UK economy experienced sluggish growth at the end of 2025, according to multiple reports. Meanwhile, US tariff revenue saw a significant increase under the Trump administration, even as a Supreme Court battle loomed, and the popular VR game Gorilla Tag continued to thrive.
Credit card APRs averaged above 22% as of early 2026, according to CBS News, contributing to a total US credit card debt that surpassed $1.28 trillion. This high-rate environment translated to potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars in compounded interest charges annually for many Americans.
The UK economy grew by only 0.1% in the last three months of 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as reported by BBC Business. This was slightly slower than economists had expected, and the ONS described the overall growth picture as "subdued." However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves pointed to the full-year figures, noting that the economy's 1.3% growth for the whole of 2025 had exceeded analysts' forecasts.
US tariff revenue climbed 300% since Donald Trump's return to office, according to Fox News, reaching $124 billion for the fiscal year. In January alone, duties totaled $30.4 billion, up 275% from the previous year. This increase has become a cornerstone of Trump's economic agenda, with the administration arguing that tariffs can generate revenue for domestic priorities. However, a study by the New York Fed, as reported by Ars Technica, found that US businesses and consumers paid nearly 90% of the cost of Trump's tariffs last year, undercutting the president's claim that foreign companies would bear the burden. "Our results show that the bulk of the tariff incidence continues to fall on US firms and consumers," the study's authors wrote.
In the world of virtual reality, the popular game Gorilla Tag was breaking audience records, according to The Verge. The game's makers were also working on a mobile offshoot, a TV show, and a Gorillacon live event.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment