Economy

Consumer Prices Rise by 0.56% in August

This is Beirut 22/09 20:10 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Economy Lebanon’s Central Administration of Statistics Consumer Price Index

Lebanon’s Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.56% in August 2025. On a year-on-year basis, the index increased by 14.17%, the agency said in a statement. The highest monthly increases were recorded in the North Lebanon governorate (+0.96%), followed by South Lebanon (+0.80%), Beirut ...

Aradina: A Green Boost for Lebanese Agriculture

This is Beirut 22/09 19:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Economy Nizar Hani Aradina Fair Trade Lebanon the French Development Agency

Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani on Monday launched the Aradina project, a four-year program to be implemented in partnership with CIHEAM Montpellier, Action Against Hunger and Fair Trade Lebanon. Aradina is funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and aims to support 2,500 farmers and 145 cooperatives across Lebanon in adopting sustainable ...

Pfizer to Acquire Obesity-Drug Maker Metsera for $4.9 Bn

This is Beirut 22/09 15:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Pharmaceutical Obesity Pfizer Metsera

US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will acquire Metsera, a maker of drugs for obesity and heart disease, for $4.9 billion, the companies said Monday. With the purchase Pfizer aims to expand its portfolio by entering the huge and growing market for medicines to treat obesity. "Obesity is a large and growing space with over 200 health conditions ...

Burberry Returns to London's Top Shares Index

This is Beirut 22/09 12:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Burberry Luxury Fashion Stocks FTSE 100

British luxury fashion label Burberry rejoined London's FTSE 100 on Monday, one year after exiting the top-tier stock index, and ahead of unveiling its latest collection at London Fashion Week. The company is in the midst of a turnaround plan aimed at boosting sales and cutting costs as the global luxury sector struggles with weak consumer ...

Lebanese Businesses Reject Proposed 3% Tax

This is Beirut 22/09 11:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

EDL lebanon Budget 2026

Lebanese business organizations voiced strong opposition on Monday to a proposed 3% tax outlined in Article 31 of the 2026 draft budget, describing it as illogical, inflationary, and punitive for compliant companies in a country where the informal economy thrives. Officially framed as an advance on income tax, the measure, business leaders warn, ...

Figure of the weekPublic Sector Shake-Up: 10,000 Jobs Under Review

Liliane Mokbel 20/09 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

European Union

A total of 2,600 job titles are set to be eliminated from the public administration, as proposed by Nisrine Machmouchi, President of the Civil Service Council. These roles, considered obsolete, are the result of years of what she describes as “anarchic recruitment” and “unusual” job titles, often lacking clear job descriptions. To ...

Iraq–Lebanon: A Vital but Uneven Partnership

Christiane Tager 20/09 12:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Iraq economy fuel trade

For the first time in a decade, the Lebanese–Iraqi Joint Commission reconvened in Baghdad in September 2025, concluding its second session with the signing of seven accords. These span the economy, industry, transport and justice, including a treaty on prisoner transfers. The move sends a strong political signal and builds on an already pivotal ...

Budget 2026: Balancing Fiscal Discipline and Social Promises in Lebanon

This is Beirut 19/09 20:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

UNIFIL Cabinet Budget Environment Lebanon

The Council of Ministers resumed discussions on the 2026 draft budget on Friday, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Ministers who had not yet reviewed the funds allocated to their portfolios presented their remarks, including the Ministers of Environment and Tourism. Debate also centered on several articles left unresolved in ...

Two-Wheelers: The New Hazard on Lebanon’s Roads

Christiane Tager 19/09 14:39 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon economy roads motorcycles traffic

Lebanon’s economic collapse has pushed many to seek cheaper modes of transport than cars. Motorcycles and mopeds, consuming less fuel and offering greater flexibility, quickly became the go-to solution, spreading chaotically across the country’s roads. Numbers speak for themselves: according to the Vehicle Registration Authority (known ...

End-of-Service Benefits: The Only Social Safety Net at Risk Since the Crisis

Liliane Mokbel 18/09 16:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

economy Lebanon Indemnities National Social Security Fund retirement

There is no doubt that employees remain the most vulnerable group in the struggle to ensure a dignified retirement. Their end-of-service benefits, intended to preserve part of their purchasing power, have been almost completely eroded by the multidimensional crisis that hit the country at the end of 2019. Employers Plead Powerlessness Employers ...

Swiss Exports to US Tumble After Tariff Punch

This is Beirut 18/09 12:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Swiss

Swiss exports to the United States fell to their lowest level since 2020 in August when massive US tariffs came into effect, official data showed Thursday. The Alpine country's exports to the United States reached 3.1 billion Swiss francs ($3.9 billion) in August, a 22.1 percent drop from July, customs figures showed. Donald Trump imposed a ...

AI May Boost Global Trade Value by Nearly 40%: WTO

This is Beirut 17/09 15:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

AI WTO Technology Economy

Artificial intelligence could boost the value of global trade by almost 40 percent by 2040 thanks to cost reductions and productivity gains, the World Trade Organization said Wednesday. In its latest annual World Trade Report, the WTO identified AI as one of the few bright spots as the global trading system has been upended by the United States ...