Official data released Thursday showed overall export prices rose 5% in April from a year ago, the biggest gain since April 2023 and a reversal from years of almost unbroken contraction.

The increases were concentrated in global commodities like crude oil, metals and semiconductors. These goods rallied worldwide as the war in Iran triggered an energy crisis and massive corporate investments in AI prompted global supply scrambles.

Outside of these sectors, however, the picture looks very different. Prices for most Chinese goods are still falling, as intense domestic competition and an oversupply of products have limited what factories can charge buyers.

“Chinese products are not what’s driving prices hikes. China is still largely a price taker,” said Xing Zhaopeng, senior China strategist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group. “Even if prices continue to rise down the road, it will be a passive reaction rather than an active choice.”

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The data highlights how conflicts in West Asia affect the world’s largest exporter. As higher oil prices lift the cost of things from plastics to chemical fibers, some Chinese factories have started raising prices for consumer items including swimsuits and bandages.
This shift, if sustained, could spell trouble for shoppers overseas. For years, international markets relied on cheap Chinese manufacturing to keep their own everyday living costs down.However, a weak domestic economy prevents Chinese factories from passing on all their higher costs. Intense local competition means manufacturers must absorb much of the raw material spike, heavily squeezing profit margins downstream.

For China, this profit squeeze threatens to trigger a painful economic loop. Lower corporate earnings will likely depress worker wages, further hobbling the domestic consumer spending that Beijing has been trying to revive.

“The DRC has said that on May 27, a patient recovered and left the hospital and has been discharged into the community,” the WHO’s Anais Legand told reporters.

She said it marked the “first” among patients who had been confirmed to have Ebola, but stressed that she expected there had been other recoveries among people who have not yet received laboratory confirmation of test results.

“This is the first one” to be discharged from a care centre “following two negative tests”, said Legand, a WHO technical officer on viral haemorrhagic fevers.

She said the WHO had to date recorded 17 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in the DR Congo since the outbreak was declared on May 15, out of 125 confirmed cases and over 900 suspected cases.

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In neighbouring Uganda, seven cases have also been confirmed, including one death.

Amy Gonyea is a Minnesota-based real estate professional known for her client-focused approach and steady leadership in the residential and investment property market.

With more than a decade of experience working throughout the Twin Cities, she has built a reputation for helping buyers, sellers, and investors navigate real estate transactions with clarity and confidence.

Amy’s career has included both real estate sales and management, giving her a broad understanding of the industry from both the client and operational sides. She has worked across a range of property types, including single-family homes and townhouses, and is recognised for her ability to simplify what can often feel like a stressful process.

She believes that strong communication is one of the most important parts of real estate. Clients and colleagues frequently describe her as responsive, professional, and committed to building long-term relationships rather than focusing only on transactions.

Over the years, Amy has also been involved in investment-focused real estate initiatives connected to community impact. This includes support for charitable efforts that benefit homeless veterans, a cause she believes reflects the importance of creating stability and opportunity through housing.

Known for her practical mindset and people-first philosophy, Amy continues to be a respected voice in Minnesota real estate. Her approach combines market experience, operational knowledge, and a commitment to helping clients make informed decisions with confidence.

Q&A With Minnesota Real Estate Professional Amy Gonyea

Q: How did you first get started in real estate?

Amy Gonyea: I was drawn to real estate because it combines people, business, and problem-solving. Early on, I realised that every transaction is different. Some clients are buying their first home. Others are investing or selling a property tied to major life changes. I liked the fact that the work was always moving and always personal at the same time.

I also wanted to understand more than just the sales side. That led me into management roles as well, which gave me a broader view of how the industry works behind the scenes.

Q: What did those management experiences teach you?

Amy Gonyea: They taught me how important communication and organisation are. A lot of people only see the final result of a transaction, but there are many moving parts involved. Timing, paperwork, negotiations, inspections, expectations. Everything has to stay aligned.

Being involved operationally helped me understand where problems usually happen and how to prevent them early. That experience still shapes how I work with clients today.

Q: You have worked throughout the Twin Cities market for many years. What stands out about the area?

Amy Gonyea: The Twin Cities market has always been active and competitive, but it has also changed a lot over time. Buyers today are dealing with more information, faster decisions, and more pressure than they were years ago.

At the same time, clients are more educated and more engaged. People want transparency. They want direct answers. I think that has made communication even more important.

Q: What do clients value most during the process?

Amy Gonyea: Consistency. People want to feel informed. Even small updates matter because real estate can feel overwhelming if clients are left guessing.

I try to explain things clearly and avoid unnecessary confusion. I have always believed that if clients understand the process, they feel more confident making decisions.

Q: You work with buyers, sellers, and investors. How does your approach change with each group?

Amy Gonyea: Every client has different priorities. First-time buyers usually need more guidance and reassurance because the process is new to them. Sellers are often focused on timing and preparation. Investors usually look at things from a longer-term perspective.

The key is listening first. I do not believe in using the same approach for everyone. Real estate is personal, so communication has to be personalised too.

Q: What challenges do you think the industry is facing right now?

Amy Gonyea: One challenge is information overload. Clients have access to endless opinions online, but not all of it is helpful or accurate. That can create confusion and unrealistic expectations.

Another challenge is keeping the process human. Technology has changed the industry in many positive ways, but relationships still matter. People want honesty and responsiveness. That never changes.

Q: Your work has also included involvement in community-focused initiatives. Why is that important to you?

Amy Gonyea: Housing affects stability, opportunity, and quality of life. That is one reason I have appreciated being connected to initiatives that support homeless veterans and other community causes.

I think businesses should look beyond transactions when possible. Even small efforts can make a difference in people’s lives.

Q: What leadership qualities matter most in real estate?

Amy Gonyea: Staying calm under pressure is important. So is being direct and transparent. Clients appreciate honesty, even when conversations are difficult.

I also think leadership means being dependable. In this industry, trust is built through consistency over time, not through one big moment.

Q: What keeps you motivated after more than a decade in the industry?

Amy Gonyea: The relationships. Real estate is one of the biggest decisions people make, so it is rewarding when clients trust you during those moments.

I also enjoy learning. The market changes constantly, and there is always something new to understand. That keeps the work interesting.

Q: What do you hope clients remember most about working with you?

Amy Gonyea: I hope they remember feeling informed, respected, and supported throughout the process. At the end of the day, I want people to feel confident that someone was looking out for their best interests and communicating honestly with them from start to finish.

This article was written by

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Costco’s gas stations saw a surge in demand in the most recent quarter as consumers sought out its low-priced gasoline, which helped the company top the market expectations for its third-quarter sales.

Costco CEO Ron Vachris noted the “backdrop of ongoing macro uncertainty” has consumers searching out affordable options given the pressure on household budgets, which helped attract members to its gas stations.

“Nowhere has this been more apparent in the third quarter than our gas business. As events in the Middle East have had a significant impact on product supply and gas prices, our focus, as always, is to be there for our members by staying in stock and offering the best value,” Vachris said.

“The result was record-breaking volumes, all three four-week fiscal periods of the quarter set successive all-time company volume sales records, with the final five weeks for the quarter becoming our top five volume weeks ever,” he said.

HIGH ENERGY PRICES RISK KEEPING INFLATION ABOVE 2% TARGET, CONCERNING FED POLICYMAKERS

Costco cited “unprecedented demand” for its low-cost gas in the latest quarter. (Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Vachris commended the Costco team’s work managing the deliveries necessary to meet demand, “which requires multiple daily gas deliveries to many locations.”

Energy markets were upended by the Iran war, which sent gas prices surging above $4 a gallon around the country as global oil supplies were constrained by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which sent crude prices above $100 a barrel.

AMERICANS LEAN ON CREDIT CARDS AND BUY NOW, PAY LATER AS GAS PRICES EAT BIGGER SHARE OF INCOME

The latest AAA data shows the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $4.39 on Friday, up about 38% from the average of $3.17 a gallon a year ago.

Vachris noted that the low-cost gasoline offered at Costco stations helped attract new members and customers into stores, driving more sales momentum for the wholesale club in the future.

GAS PRICE SURGE HITTING LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HARDEST, FED STUDY FINDS

Costco said that low gas prices helped drive new memberships as sales volumes rose. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)

“The high consumer price sensitivity, which fueled these record volumes, also drove many members to use our gas stations for the very first time in the third quarter. We believe this will drive even greater loyalty with these members in the future as members who use our gas stations typically spend more with us in the warehouse,” he said.

Costco CFO Gary Millerchip added that Costco’s volumes of gas sales allowed the company to widen its price gap with higher-cost stations, adding that the company knows “that’s something that’s very high on our members’ minds.”

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Reuters contributed to this report.