Oil Prices Experience Largest Weekly Drop Since October Amid U.S. Policy Uncertainty

by News Editor

March 7, 2025

In a remarkable shift, oil prices are on track to witness their largest weekly decline since October last year. The pivotal factor contributing to this downturn is the ambiguity surrounding the U.S. trade policy, which threatens to dampen oil demand in the world’s largest economy.

Key Figures

Brent crude oil futures saw a slight rise by 0.43% to $69.76 per barrel.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 0.38% to $66.61 per barrel.
Despite these increments, both contracts are expected to end the week with a significant drop—Brent by 4.9% and WTI by 4.8%.

Market Dynamics

The oil market, like many others, finds itself in turmoil due to the fluctuating trade policies of the United States—the world’s biggest oil consumer. Recent statements by President Trump indicate a temporary halting of enhanced tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico until April 2. Yet, tariffs on steel and aluminum will proceed as planned. This partial suspension fails to address Canadian energy products, which still face a 10% levy.

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For an in-depth analysis of similar economic fluctuations, check out our article on Cyprus Exports to the US.

Expert Insight

Vandana Hari, the founder of Vanda Insights, notes, “Financial markets seem engulfed in panic mode, with limited solace found in President Trump’s delays. Even as crude prices hover around a four-month low, further declines remain possible.”

Future Outlook

According to a report by Fitch, the risk to pricing persists following OPEC+’s decision to boost petroleum output in April. This could lead to an oversupply, sending Brent prices to their lowest since December 2021.

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Cyprus Outpaces EU Average In Working-Age Population Share, Eurostat Finds

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 6, 2026

Cyprus had a working-age population share of 61.6 per cent on January 1, 2025, placing the country above the European Union average of 58.3 per cent, according to Eurostat.

Cyprus Stands Above The EU Benchmark

The figures show that people aged 20 to 64 made up more than three-fifths of Cyprus’ population at the start of last year. In Eurostat’s regional demographic breakdown, Cyprus is treated as a single region because of its size, rather than being divided into multiple NUTS level 3 areas.

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Wide Gaps Across The Bloc

Across the EU, 58.3 per cent of the population was of working age on January 1, 2025. The share reached at least 63.0 per cent in 39 NUTS level 3 regions, most of them in Germany. The group also included island regions in Spain, alongside several capital regions and their surrounding areas.

Capital And Island Regions Lead

At the top of the range was the Danish capital region of Byen København, where 68.9 per cent of residents were of working age. The same proportion was recorded in Spain’s island region of Eivissa y Formentera, while Fuerteventura stood at 68.3 per cent and Lanzarote at 67.3 per cent.

Rural Europe Skews Older

At the other end of the spectrum, working-age residents accounted for less than 55.0 per cent of the population in 189 EU regions. These areas were largely rural, including inland Portugal, much of rural France, most of eastern Germany, and rural areas in Bulgaria, Greece and the Nordic EU countries.

In six regions, fewer than half of the population was of working age. Those regions were Bornholm in Denmark, Creuse and Lot in south-west France, Etelä-Savo in south-east Finland, the Arrondissement of Veurne in Belgium and the French outermost region of Mayotte.

What The Data Measures

Eurostat’s regional demographic data measure the share of people aged 20 to 64, not the share of people who are actually employed. Cyprus’ 61.6 per cent figure was 3.3 percentage points above the EU average, though still below the highest regional levels recorded across the bloc.

The data underline how sharply Europe’s age structure varies from one region to another, with working-age shares differing significantly between urban centres, capital regions, islands and predominantly rural areas.

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