SYDNEY, Australia — Australians heading into the Easter long weekend from April 3 to 6, 2026, face a patchwork of retail trading restrictions that vary significantly by state and territory, with major supermarkets, shopping centres and bottle shops observing closures or reduced hours on Good Friday and Easter Sunday in most jurisdictions.
Easter 2026 Trading Hours Australia: When Shops Open This Long Weekend
Good Friday on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6 are national public holidays, while Easter Saturday and Sunday have different status across the country. Retail trading laws, designed to balance worker protections with consumer needs, create a complex landscape that often catches shoppers off guard, particularly for last-minute grocery or essential purchases.
Major supermarket chains including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi will close most stores nationwide on Good Friday, April 3. Exceptions are limited, with some airport or tourist-area outlets potentially operating in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. On Easter Sunday, April 5, restrictions tighten further in New South Wales and South Australia, where the majority of stores will remain closed, while Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia allow more outlets to trade, often with reduced hours.
Easter Saturday, April 4, offers the most normal trading across the country, with supermarkets generally open at standard or slightly adjusted hours. Easter Monday sees most chains reopen, though many operate on public holiday schedules with earlier closing times.
Shopping centres follow similar patterns. Westfield and other major malls will close on Good Friday in most locations. On Easter Saturday, most centres open from around 9am to 5pm, with variations in New South Wales and Victoria. Easter Sunday brings closures in New South Wales and South Australia, while centres in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia open with limited hours, typically 10am to 5pm. Easter Monday trading resumes with many centres operating 10am to 5pm or later in select Sydney locations.
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Department stores such as Myer, David Jones, Target, Kmart and Big W generally align with mall hours, closing on Good Friday and offering restricted trading on Easter Sunday in restricted states. Hardware retailers like Bunnings often remain open on public holidays with standard hours in many areas, though some locations may adjust.
Bottle shops and liquor outlets face strict rules. Dan Murphy’s, BWS and Liquorland typically close on Good Friday nationwide, with limited or no trading on Easter Sunday in several states. Easter Saturday and Monday usually see normal or slightly reduced operations.
State-by-state differences add complexity. In New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are restricted trading days, meaning most non-exempt retail must close. Easter Saturday and Monday have fewer restrictions.
Victoria allows more flexibility on Easter Sunday for some supermarkets and centres, though many still operate reduced hours. Queensland has defined trading areas with specific allowable hours for non-exempt shops, particularly on Easter Sunday.
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South Australia maintains some of the strictest rules, with many metropolitan stores closed on Easter Sunday and limited options on other days. Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory generally offer more open trading, though individual stores may vary.
Pharmacies, including Chemist Warehouse and independent outlets, often remain open throughout the weekend as essential services, though hours may be reduced. Petrol stations and convenience stores like 7-Eleven typically operate as usual, providing vital access to essentials.
Restaurants, cafes and takeaway outlets generally stay open, though many adopt public holiday menus or hours. Tourist attractions, beaches and outdoor venues see high demand during the four-day break, with families taking advantage of the extended weekend.
Consumer groups advise planning ahead. Shoppers should check specific store locators on retailer websites or apps for exact hours, as individual outlets — particularly in regional areas or tourist precincts — may have exemptions. Airport and service station supermarkets often provide limited options when main stores close.
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The Easter period highlights ongoing debates about retail trading laws. Retail industry bodies argue for greater flexibility to meet consumer demand, while unions emphasise worker rights to family time and rest on significant holidays. Some states have deregulated trading in recent years, leading to more consistent access, but the patchwork remains.
For families preparing Easter meals, the advice is clear: stock up before Good Friday or plan for alternatives such as online delivery where available. Many supermarkets offer click-and-collect or delivery services with adjusted schedules during the long weekend.
Tourism operators expect strong domestic travel, with families heading to beaches, regional getaways or staying local for barbecues and gatherings. Public transport and road networks will operate on holiday timetables in many areas.
As Australians enjoy the break — with Good Friday and Easter Monday as national public holidays — retailers prepare for a surge in spending on non-restricted days. The long weekend provides a welcome respite after the busy summer period, though navigating trading restrictions requires some preparation.
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Easter 2026 falls slightly later than in some recent years, with Good Friday on April 3. This timing aligns with milder autumn weather in southern states, encouraging outdoor activities.
Retail experts note that while major chains dominate headlines, independent grocers, butchers and bakeries often provide valuable alternatives on restricted days, particularly in suburban and regional communities.
For the latest updates, consumers should consult official state government resources, retailer websites or apps. Trading hours can be subject to last-minute changes based on local conditions or individual store decisions.
The Easter long weekend remains one of Australia’s most significant consumer periods outside Christmas, blending religious observance with family celebrations and retail activity. Understanding the varied trading rules helps shoppers make the most of the break while respecting the holiday’s traditions.
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In summary, while Good Friday brings widespread closures and Easter Sunday limits options in several states, Easter Saturday and Monday offer more normal access. Planning ahead remains the best strategy for a stress-free long weekend across Australia.
FOX Business’ Ashley Webster reports on Atlanta’s first government-funded grocery store, where millions in taxpayer-backed loans are fueling a bold experiment to address food deserts.
Albertsons is closing additional stores and cutting jobs nationwide as it works to stabilize operations following the collapse of its $24.6 billion merger with Kroger, intensifying pressure on the grocery chain.
The Boise, Idaho-based company — which operates banners including Safeway, Vons and Pavilions — has announced a new round of closures in recent weeks as it pivots to cost-cutting and operational changes.
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The company has closed roughly 20 stores in 2025, underscoring mounting pressure as it competes with larger rivals such as Walmart and other low-cost operators.
In Southern California, Vons stores in Escondido and Redlands will close in April, eliminating 135 jobs. An Albertsons store near Riverside, California, shut down in March, cutting 75 workers, while a Safeway in Northern California closed earlier this year, affecting 76 employees.
An employee stocks food inside an Albertsons grocery store in San Diego, California. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The cuts extend beyond the West Coast. Two Albertsons-owned stores in North Texas are set to close by late April, impacting 138 workers, and a Safeway in Washington, D.C., is slated to shut down in May, eliminating 87 positions.
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Industry analysts say the closures reflect ongoing fallout from the blocked Kroger merger, which Albertsons had framed as key to achieving scale and competing more effectively on pricing.
In response, the company is leaning on cost reductions and technology investments, including automation and artificial intelligence, as digital sales grow — often requiring fewer in-store workers.
A worker pushes shopping carts outside an Albertsons supermarket in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Albertsons is also facing investor skepticism, with its stock down over the past year.
Meanwhile, the legal fight that killed the merger is still playing out. California and a coalition of states are seeking more than $10 million to cover the cost of blocking the deal.
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Shoppers walk outside an Albertsons grocery store on February 26, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Regulators argued the merger would reduce competition and raise grocery prices. A federal judge agreed in 2024, halting what would have been the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history.
Kroger and Albertsons spent roughly $1.5 billion pursuing the deal, underscoring the scale of the failed tie-up.
Now operating independently, Albertsons is navigating a more competitive grocery landscape while restructuring its footprint and workforce to adjust to shifting consumer demand and margin pressure.
Jim Ratcliffe has thrown his support behind Conservative proposals to scrap carbon taxes, intensifying the debate over the cost of net zero policies and their impact on UK industry.
The billionaire founder of Ineos said he welcomed plans from Kemi Badenoch to remove levies on carbon emissions, arguing that current policies are undermining competitiveness and driving up energy costs for businesses and households.
Ratcliffe said he supported a pragmatic approach to energy policy that ensures affordability while maintaining environmental goals, warning that excessive taxation risks damaging domestic industry.
The Conservative proposal would scrap carbon pricing mechanisms such as the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which requires industrial firms to purchase allowances to cover their emissions.
Supporters of the move argue that these costs place UK manufacturers at a disadvantage compared with international competitors, particularly in countries where carbon pricing is less stringent or absent.
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Major industrial players, including ExxonMobil and Huntsman Corporation, have echoed these concerns, warning that high carbon costs are eroding margins, threatening jobs and contributing to the relocation of production overseas.
Paul Greenwood of ExxonMobil’s UK operations said his company pays “hundreds of millions of pounds” annually in carbon-related costs, while Peter Huntsman described the current system as a driver of “deindustrialisation”.
Carbon levies also feed directly into electricity costs. Under the UK’s Carbon Price Support mechanism, introduced in 2013, power generators must pay for emissions associated with fossil fuel use.
Because gas-fired power stations often set the wholesale electricity price, these costs are passed through to consumers, increasing bills across the economy.
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Analysis from energy think tank Ember suggests that carbon taxes account for a significant proportion of generation costs, with implications for both businesses and households.
The proposal has exposed a sharp political divide over the future of the UK’s energy and climate policy.
Badenoch said scrapping carbon taxes would help reverse decades of industrial decline and strengthen national resilience, arguing that current policies are making it harder for businesses to operate competitively.
However, critics warn that removing carbon pricing could undermine efforts to reduce emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources.
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Greenpeace UK has argued that carbon taxes remain a critical tool for driving investment in low-carbon technologies, while also questioning how the government would replace the lost revenue.
Scrapping carbon levies could also put the UK at odds with international frameworks, particularly the European Union’s planned carbon border adjustment mechanism, which is designed to level the playing field for industries facing carbon costs.
A divergence in policy could create new trade complexities, particularly for exporters operating across European markets.
Trade bodies representing energy-intensive sectors, including the Chemical Industries Association and Ceramics UK, have warned that many green technologies required to decarbonise industry are not yet commercially viable.
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As a result, companies argue they are being forced to bear high costs without access to practical alternatives, creating a risk of plant closures and reduced investment.
The debate over carbon taxes reflects a broader challenge facing policymakers: balancing the need to reduce emissions with the imperative to maintain economic competitiveness and energy security.
For businesses, the outcome will have significant implications for costs, investment decisions and long-term strategy.
For the government, the question is whether adjustments to the current framework can address industry concerns without undermining progress towards net zero.
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As pressure mounts from both industry and environmental groups, the future of carbon pricing is set to remain a central issue in the UK’s economic and energy policy agenda.
Amy Ingham
Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.
First group of 186 homes in South Heywood Masterplan area
George Lythgoe and Local Democracy Reporter
16:00, 02 Apr 2026
How the 186-home Northstone development in south Heywood could look(Image: Northstone)
The early stage of a 1,000-home scheme in south Heywood has been approved – bringing with it 186 houses. The overall South Heywood Masterplan would see the 1,000 homes, employment space, primary school and new link road brought to land off Hareshill Road North.
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The site of the 186 homes is an oddly shopped bit of land where Hares Hill Farm used to be. Once complete, the residential development would be accessed off the new link road built to feed the wider scheme – Queen Elizabeth II Way.
The giant scheme, which would effectively bring a new town to the southern echelons of Heywood, forms part of the Places for Everyone (PfE) plan, which has been adopted by nine out of 10 Greater Manchester councils. PfE is expected to bring thousands of jobs, new homes, and sustainable growth across the city-region by 2039.
Northstone, the developer, will build a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced homes, alongside a single bungalow and a number of apartments. These will mainly be three and four-bedroom properties, but there is a range from one to six bedroom homes.
Northstone bought the plot of land on Hareshill Road North, between junctions 18 and 19 of the M66 motorway, and intend to drive forward this phase of the scheme. The sale was facilitated by Russell LDP, who successfully fronted the overall South Heywood masterplan.
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This parcel of land would see the 186 homes built just off the new link road route, with public open space, a wild flower meadow and tree-lined streets all in the proposals.
Planning papers read: “At the heart of this proposal are the principles of good design, desirability and creating housing choice with the intent of creating a sustainable community where people want to live.
“The high quality architectural design will provide visually attractive and energy efficient homes, which are of an appropriate mix, layout and scale surrounded by effective landscaping.
“The proposed development will establish and maintain a strong sense of place, creating an attractive, welcoming and distinctive housing development which aims to reduce its impact on the environment and local ecosystems.
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“The scheme is designed to be safe, inclusive and accessible while promoting health and well-being via the provision of generous sized private gardens and public open space and as such would be an asset to the local area.”
Northstone, part of the Peel Group, was launched by its parent company in 2018 to drive forward the delivery of its residential pipeline in the North West. Sustainability and energy efficiency are highlighted as their ‘key drivers’.
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Donald Glover greet Yoshi after throwing out the first pitch before a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Ryan Sirius Sun | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
A group of regional sports networks is set to wind down, marking the demise of a once lucrative business and leaving the fate of local baseball, basketball and hockey broadcasts in the balance — even as live sports command the highest TV ratings.
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RSNs have felt arguably the greatest pressure from the losses that plague the pay TV bundle as consumers switch to streaming. Now, the model is in rapid decline.
Last week, as the 2026 MLB season got underway, the league announced it was taking over media distribution for 14 teams. In large part, this was the result of the inevitable wind down of Main Street Sports – formerly Fox Sports networks, which have been through different owners since 2019 and several name changes since 2021.
Main Street emerged from bankruptcy protection in late 2024, and despite touting subscriber growth as recently as last spring, the operator faced another liquidity crunch earlier this year when MLB rights payments were due, according to people familiar with the matter.
Main Street owned roughly 15 channels, but at one point aired 30 MLB, NHL and NBA teams after exiting bankruptcy.
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Though the company was in sale talks earlier this year with the likes of DAZN and Fubo, the discussions never amounted to a deal, according to the people.
Rumors of liquidation circulated — in the middle of the NBA and NHL seasons — but Main Street has so far been able to stave that off. Instead, MLB teams went their separate ways at the beginning of the season – some shifting to MLB distribution, and some like the Anaheim Angels and Atlanta Braves are taking over the production and distribution of their own regional channels.
The NBA and NHL regular seasons are expected to be completed through their current Main Street-owned networks – now branded as FanDuel Sports networks. But after the NBA regular season and the first round of the NHL playoffs, Main Street plans to begin an earnest end-of-business process, one of the people said.
The future for the remaining NBA and NHL teams are yet to be determined, although some are likely to find homes with broadcast station owners that have been acquiring local rights, such as Scripps, according to a person close to the negotiations.
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And the end of the RSN model doesn’t stop there.
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The fees long paid by the networks to host games have propped up professional sports leagues for a long time – especially MLB, known to have some of the most expensive rights fees and the most tonnage of local games. The upending of the RSN model is sure to send ripple effects throughout these teams.
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Those that have already exited the RSN model have sought refuge in direct-to-consumer streaming apps, which are pretty expensive monthly or annual costs for fans, and through agreements with broadcast station owners, which argue they offer the widest reach of any platform for sports games.
There’s also been an increased emphasis on advertising, but that revenue stream is helpful when it comes to the NBA and NHL, it doesn’t go as far to support MLB, according to industry insiders.
There’s also been little, if any, crossover for MLB teams to the affiliate networks, once again because of the expense and number of games, according to people familiar with the matter.
Going it alone
While not every channel is made equal, even those airing games for big market teams are facing the same pressures as the Main Street-owned channels — just not as severely.
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Last year MSG Networks, which airs games for the NBA’s New York Knicks as well as the NHL’s New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, was facing financial turmoil as it needed to refinance a whopping debt load and dealt with a carriage dispute that resulted in a blackout for nearly two months. Bankruptcy was reportedly on the table until the James Dolan-owned company refinanced its debt.
Also in the New York-area, SNY, the regional home of the New York Mets, had been exploring its options in the last year, according to people familiar with the matter. The network had earlier put itself up for sale, some of the people said. While no deal was ever reached, sources say Mets owner Steve Cohen was part of the discussions at one point as a potential acquirer.
The network, which is majority backed by former Mets owners, the Wilpon family, has also counted Comcast and Charter Communications as investors for some time. But in recent months, Comcast sold its stake to Charter for an undisclosed amount, according to people familiar with the matter.
Comcast owns a handful of networks but has been slowly inching away from the RSN world.
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Comcast has also been one of the toughest distributors for RSNs to deal with recently, pushing to move the networks into the tiered model. That would mean subscribers would opt in for the local channels rather than automatically receiving them – and automatically paying for them.
This had been a sticking point in Comcast’s carriage negotiations last year with the YES Network – a top-tier RSN with some of the highest fees and biggest audiences, as it airs New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets games.
Comcast wanted to shift YES to a tiered model; YES refused and argued that the Mets’ SNY is spared from such a contract change.
Comcast has a long-term carriage deal with SNY that protects it from being tiered through at least 2030, according to people familiar with the deal. Industry insiders surmised that Comcast’s exodus from SNY’s ownership structure freed it from this deal, although sources say nothing has changed on that front. Comcast won’t be returning to the table with YES anytime soon, some of the people said.
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It’s not all bad news: Independent RSNs with big market teams are usually on firmer footing. There’s the Los Angeles Dodgers with their notoriously high priced media rights deal that Charter inherited from its Time Warner Cable deal.
And then there’s NESN, the network that has the benefit of airing some local games to New England’s rabid fan base, as well as Pittsburgh.
The network has been quick to shake things up. NESN was the first RSN to offer a streaming service, which has offered deals that include Red Sox tickets. Plus, its recently installed CEO, David Wisnia, credits himself as an “outsider” who is “taking a fresh perspective on everything.”
NESN has changed its cost structure and has sought new revenue opportunities, Wisnia said in an interview.
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“It’s reallocating resources and getting out of business that we don’t want to be in,” he said.
NESN has also revamped its look and expanded programming on its channels, which are usually filled with throwback matchups and essentially dead air outside of games.
In recent weeks, NESN has been running victory laps that it has broken records for growth on streaming subscription and engagement. The Bruins’ late-season playoff push was a boost, as well as the beginning of the Red Sox 2026 season.
Some Americans are already locking in their summer travel plans, and this year’s top destination may come as a surprise.
New data from AirDNA, which tracks Airbnb and Vrbo listings, shows Jackson Hole, Wyoming, leading the nation in short-term rental bookings for summer 2026, with 45.5% of properties already reserved between June and August, Realtor.com reported.
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Experts say this points to a broader shift in travel preferences.
“We’re seeing a fascinating shift in the short-term rental market for Summer 2026,” Charlie Lankston, executive editor at Realtor.com, told FOX Business in an email. “While a beach house has always been the gold standard, data from AirDNA shows that some travelers are now choosing to trade the ocean for the mountains.”
Jackson Hole’s appeal lies in its mix of outdoor experiences, from whitewater rafting and canoeing to wildlife viewing in Grand Teton National Park, according to Realtor.com.
At the same time, demand is rising sharply in cities set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“We’re also seeing a World Cup windfall with demand in host cities like Fort Worth and Kansas City increasing drastically,” Lankston told FOX Business.
With hotels in those markets expected to fill quickly, short-term rentals are poised to benefit.
“Between the $750 host incentives from Airbnb and the surging occupancy rates, the 2026 rental season is shaping up to be a lucrative side hustle for many American homeowners in these metros,” Lankston added.
Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo. discusses tariffs after the Supreme Court ruling and previews President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on ‘Mornings with Maria.’
One year ago, President Donald Trump launched sweeping global tariffs, ratcheting up trade tensions and fueling new concerns about the U.S. and global economy.
Dubbed “Liberation Day,” the tariffs targeted imports broadly, with Trump arguing they would fix trade imbalances and curb reliance on foreign goods.
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A year later, many of those tariffs have been struck down by the Supreme Court. The federal government is now working on a plan to refund roughly $166 billion in improperly collected duties, with details expected by mid-April.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an event in the Rose Garden on April 2, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
On the heels of “Liberation Day,” duties jumped from $9.6 billion in March to $23.9 billion in May following the rollout of the tariffs.
For fiscal 2025, which ended Sept. 30, collections reached $215.2 billion, according to Treasury data, and the upward trend has continued into fiscal 2026, with receipts already outpacing last year.
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Revenue for the current fiscal year has reached $181.6 billion. Since Trump’s return to office, tariff collections have risen roughly more than 300%, delivering a major windfall to federal coffers.
Tariffs function as a tax on imports, and in many cases, U.S. importers absorb the upfront cost and then pass it along through higher prices for wholesalers, retailers and, ultimately, consumers. That means households and businesses may face increased costs for goods ranging from electronics to raw materials.
Whether tariffs ultimately help or hurt the economy depends on how much of that burden consumers absorb, how domestic producers respond and whether the intended economic or geopolitical advantages are worth the added costs to consumers.
Meanwhile, the revenue surge underscores how central tariffs have become to Trump’s economic agenda, with the administration arguing that duty collections can help fund domestic priorities, reduce the nation’s debt and even deliver a proposed $2,000 dividend to Americans.
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It’s unclear whether that plan is still on the table.
The Bank of England has warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East could push the UK towards a financial crisis scenario, as rising energy costs, higher borrowing rates and market volatility expose underlying vulnerabilities in the economy.
In its latest assessment, the Bank’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) said the Iran conflict has already triggered a “substantial” shock to global markets, tightening financial conditions and increasing inflationary pressures at a time when risks were already elevated.
One of the most immediate impacts is being felt by homeowners. The Bank estimates that around 5.2 million borrowers, more than half of all mortgaged households, are now expected to face higher repayments by 2028, up from 3.9 million before the conflict began.
The increase reflects a sharp shift in market expectations for interest rates, with investors scaling back hopes of cuts and, in some cases, pricing in further rises.
More than 1,500 mortgage products have already been withdrawn from the market as lenders react to increased volatility, further limiting options for borrowers.
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Andrew Bailey cautioned that markets may be overreacting to the outlook for rates, but acknowledged that the environment has become significantly more uncertain.
The conflict has disrupted global energy supplies, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil and gas exports. The resulting surge in energy prices is feeding directly into inflation, raising the prospect of sustained cost pressures across the economy.
The FPC warned that higher inflation would weigh on growth while increasing borrowing costs, creating a challenging environment for both households and businesses.
Fuel prices have already risen sharply, and further increases in household energy bills are expected later in the year, adding to the cost-of-living squeeze.
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The Bank also highlighted growing instability in financial markets. Hedge funds have unwound around £19 billion of positions linked to expectations of falling interest rates, contributing to volatility in short-term borrowing costs.
At the same time, the increasing interconnectedness of equity and bond markets, partly driven by hedge fund activity, raises the risk that stress in one area could quickly spread to others.
“A sharp correction in equity markets could transmit stress to gilt markets,” the committee warned, pointing to the potential for broader financial disruption.
Particular concern has been raised about the $18 trillion private credit sector, which has expanded rapidly since the financial crisis and now plays a significant role in corporate lending.
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The recent collapse of Market Financial Solutions was cited as an example of vulnerabilities in the sector, including high leverage, limited transparency and optimistic valuations.
Bailey drew parallels with the early stages of the 2008 crisis, noting that initial warnings about isolated problems can sometimes underestimate systemic risks.
The report also flagged rising risks in sovereign debt markets, with governments, including the UK, issuing large volumes of bonds to finance spending.
The UK is expected to spend more than £100 billion this year on debt interest alone, limiting fiscal flexibility and reducing the ability to respond to future shocks.
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The FPC warned that the combination of higher borrowing costs and weaker growth could create a “debt trap” for some economies, further amplifying global financial risks.
Despite the warnings, the Bank stressed that the UK’s core financial system remains resilient, with banks well capitalised and capable of absorbing shocks.
However, it cautioned that the combination of multiple pressures, including high household debt, market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, increases the risk of a more severe downturn if conditions deteriorate further.
The Bank’s assessment underscores the fragility of the current economic environment, where global events are quickly feeding into domestic financial conditions.
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For households, the prospect of higher mortgage payments and rising living costs presents a significant challenge. For businesses, tighter financial conditions and weaker demand could constrain investment and growth.
For policymakers, the task is to navigate a narrow path between controlling inflation and supporting economic stability, while preparing for the possibility that the current shock could evolve into a broader financial crisis if multiple risks materialise at once.
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