Review of the year 2025 - from tariffs to Labubu

Review of the year 2025 - from tariffs to Labubu

Author: BBC World Service December 25, 2025 Duration: 26:27

Frey Lindsay looks back on the stories shaping the world of money and work in 2025. It's been a year where tariffs have grabbed many of the headlines and we hear from our correspondents around the world on the impact they've had. We also hear about the biggest toy and collector craze of 2025 - the Labubu doll.

(Picture: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Carlos Barria)


Every weekday, the World Business Report from the BBC World Service cuts through the noise to deliver essential global business and finance intelligence. This isn't just a summary of market movements; it's a grounded analysis of the forces shaping economies, industries, and livelihoods across continents. You'll hear directly from the BBC's unparalleled network of correspondents, on the ground in financial hubs and emerging markets alike, providing context that turns headlines into understanding. Each episode focuses on the day's most pressing stories, from corporate mergers and policy shifts to technological disruptions and trade dynamics, all explained with the BBC's trademark clarity and depth. Tuning into this podcast means getting a truly international perspective, hearing how decisions in one corner of the world ripple out to affect prices, jobs, and opportunities elsewhere. It's designed for anyone who needs to grasp the interconnected nature of modern commerce, whether you're directly involved in the business world or simply want to comprehend the economic currents influencing daily life. The reporting is timely, authoritative, and always prioritizes factual accuracy, making it a reliable resource in a fast-changing landscape. For a concise yet comprehensive daily briefing on global economic affairs, the World Business Report delivers consistent insight.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 71

World Business Report
Podcast Episodes
Musk and Altman are 'toddlers' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:30
Tech journalist Kara Swisher describes Elon Musk and Sam Altman as 'toddlers' as their trial concludes. In a unanimous verdict, the jury agreed that Elon Musk's claims essentially expired after waiting too long to file h…
Major rail strike brings New York to a halt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:56
Long Island Rail Road workers walk out, leaving hundreds of thousands of commuters scrambling for alternatives and raising concerns about the wider economic impact of the disruption.Elsewhere, rising fuel prices around t…
Trump heads home after high-stakes China talks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:36
As the US president leaves Beijing for Washington, it's clear both parties are eager to improve their economic relationship. We reflect on the last two days with American and Chinese experts.Across the pond, it's been a…
Trump and Xi talks come to a close [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:44
Ahead of President Trump's and President Xi's China summit, there were hopes of deals agreed on both trade and tariffs. But has anything actually been achieved? Leanna Byrne finds out. And less than a month from the star…
Will Donald Trump's visit to China benefit the global economy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
The US president and his Chinese counterpart struck a positive tone at a banquet dinner in Beijing today. But what was actually achieved in a day of meetings between the two world leaders?Protests have broken out in Hava…
The start of the deal: Trump and Xi meet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:51
Presidents Trump and Xi meet in Beijing: What's at stake for both in terms of trade and tariffs? And Honda reports its first annual loss in 70 years. Has the Japanese car giant misjudged its electric vehicle strategy? Al…
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping discuss tariffs, trade, and AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:27
US President Donald Trump is in China to meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping. They're expected to discuss their current tense trade relationship, the Middle East war, and negotiate an extension of their trade truce agre…
Trump flies to China for talks with Xi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:57
Tariffs, tech competition, the Iran war and Taiwan top the agenda for the two superpowers. Trump, last visited in 2017. He returns to a stronger, more assertive China. Tens of thousands take to the streets of Buenos Aire…
US price worries: customers tighten purse strings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:26
Are higher prices in the US starting to show up in household bills as inflation moves closer to 4%? We’ll be looking at where that pressure is coming from, how long it might last, and what it means for businesses and con…
US inflation leaps to 3.8% [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:56
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have caused higher energy and grocery prices. The average US price for a gallon of unleaded is at its highest level since July 2022, at $4.50.A Japanese snack maker says it's been for…