Category: Statistics

MIL-OSI China: China’s Q1 retail sales record faster expansion via spending stimulus boost

Source: China State Council Information Office

China’s retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of the country’s consumption strength, expanded 4.6 percent year on year in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, as government pro-consumption policies paid off, official data showed on Wednesday.

This growth pace is 1.1 percentage points faster than the 2024 level, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Total retail sales of consumer goods reached 12.47 trillion yuan (about 1.73 trillion U.S. dollars) in the January-March period.

In March alone, retail sales of consumer goods rose 5.9 percent year on year, accelerating from the 4 percent growth recorded in the first two months, according to the NBS.

China’s online retail sales went up 7.9 percent year on year during the first quarter, sustaining relatively fast growth. Backed by the government’s consumer goods trade-in program, sales of communication devices surged 26.9 percent, while that of home appliances and audio equipment went up 19.3 percent.

China has positioned the boosting of spending and expansion of domestic demand as a priority in this year’s economic work agenda. The country unveiled a comprehensive pro-spending policy package last month, which aimed to strengthen consumer confidence via measures including the promotion of income growth and a reduction of financial burdens.

In a broader push to bolster domestic demand, China also renewed its consumer goods trade-in program in 2025, increasing funding from last year’s 150 billion yuan to 300 billion yuan through ultra-long special treasury bonds and extending subsidies to more electric gadgets and home appliances, such as smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.

“Given the current situation, these policies are taking effect and their impact is becoming increasingly evident,” Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the NBS, told a press conference on Wednesday.

He cited data from the commerce ministry which shows that as of April 7, Chinese consumers had purchased 35.71 million units of home appliances through the trade-in program and submitted 2.085 million applications for automobile trade-in subsidies.

Notably, services consumption expanded even faster than that of goods, with retail sales of services growing by 5 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared with a year earlier.

Sheng, in particular, noted the double-digit growth in consumption related to upgrading of consumption structure. In the first three months of this year, China’s per capita expenditure on transportation and communications grew by 10.4 percent year on year, while that on education, culture and entertainment increased by 13.9 percent.

“Services spending is a key sector to support future consumption growth, which boasts substantial growth potential,” Sheng told the press.

Wednesday’s data also revealed that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025. The country’s economy grew 5 percent year on year in 2024, and the Chinese government has targeted full-year economic growth at around 5 percent for 2025.

MIL OSI China News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s industrial production grows at faster pace amid economic recovery

Source: China State Council Information Office

China’s industrial production posted strong growth in March, as the country’s economic recovery gained momentum amid the government’s efforts to support growth and counter external economic headwinds.

The country’s value-added industrial output expanded 7.7 percent year on year in March, according to data the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released on Wednesday.

During the January-March period, the value-added industrial output increased 6.5 percent year on year, accelerating from a rise of 5.9 percent registered in the first two months of the year.

The country’s industrial production in March climbed 0.44 percent month on month, according to the NBS.

The NBS uses the value-added industrial output to measure the activity of large enterprises boasting an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.77 million U.S. dollars).

A breakdown of the data showed that the equipment and high-tech manufacturing sectors are making greater contributions to industrial output, signaling ongoing progress in the country’s efforts to make industry smarter, greener and more high-end, NBS deputy head Sheng Laiyun told a press conference.

Output of the equipment manufacturing sector, which took up 33.7 percent of the overall industrial output, climbed 10.9 percent in the first quarter of the year.

The high-tech manufacturing sector, which accounted for 15.7 percent of the total industrial output, saw its value-added output climb 9.7 percent year on year during this period. The production of new energy vehicles and industrial robots increased by 45.4 percent and 26 percent, respectively, according to the NBS data.

Wednesday’s data also showed that China’s GDP grew 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter, compared with an annual growth of 5 percent last year. The country has set its full-year economic growth target at around 5 percent for 2025.

MIL OSI China News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Europe’s elderly need migrant caregivers – whether we like it or not

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Zuzanna Marciniak-Nuqui, Senior Analyst, RAND Europe

Yuri A/Shutterstock

Who will care for your ageing relatives when you can’t? It’s a question that many families in Europe are having to answer, as demographic changes caused by Europe’s ageing populations become more deeply embedded.

As loved ones get older or face long-term illnesses and disabilities, the demand for care is skyrocketing. But the workforce isn’t keeping up. One in five Europeans is already 65 or older, and by 2050, that number will hit 30%. This demographic shift will drive a 23.5% increase in demand for long-term care workers – but where will they come from?

Right now, the numbers don’t add up. Europe’s long-term care sector employs around 6.3 million people, yet there is already a massive shortfall of carers. Millions of families are stepping in, with 44 million Europeans – mostly women – providing unpaid, informal care for elderly relatives. This burden is neither sufficiently acknowledged nor sustainable. Our recent research shows the extent to which migrant care workers bridge this gap.

Across the EU, nearly 10% of long-term care workers are foreign-born. Some come from within the EU, but many arrive from South America (20%), Africa (12%), and Asia (10%). Once in Europe, they plug a critical gap in the care system, taking on jobs that local workers won’t or can’t do.

Despite their essential role, migrant care workers frequently suffer poor treatment. Many work on temporary contracts, earning lower wages than their European counterparts and contending with exploitative conditions. Some work in undeclared jobs, leading to informal roles with no legal protections, making them vulnerable to abuse.

In Norway, migrant carers tend to be given lower-status jobs, even when their qualifications match or exceed those of their local colleagues. They are also perceived as less professional, despite their experience and training. In Germany, a family hiring a Polish caregiver through an agency was shocked to learn she received just €1,000 (£860) per month, while they were paying €2,800 (£2400) – with the agency pocketing the difference.

In some EU countries, restrictive immigration policies make things harder for migrant care workers. In Cyprus and Malta, for example, migrant care workers on temporary visas are denied access to social benefits, even after years of service. Many also struggle with language barriers, making it harder to assert their rights or have their qualifications recognised.

Labour shortages

Nearly all EU countries face critical labour shortages in long-term care. The problem is worse in lower-income EU countries, where attracting and retaining care workers is more difficult. Low wages and difficult working conditions make these jobs unattractive to locals, pushing many to seek employment in western European countries with better pay.

The disparities are stark. In the Netherlands, long-term care workers earn 96% of the national average hourly wage. In Bulgaria, it is just 62%. Many eastern European and Baltic states also suffer from a lack of home care services, forcing families to rely on underfunded nursing homes or informal, unregulated care.

shutterstock.
M-Production/Shutterstock

The European Commission introduced the skills and talents package in 2022, to improve conditions and legal migration processes for workers in sectors with shortages. This included a proposal for the EU Talent Pool – a digital platform to connect employers in the EU with skilled workers from non-EU countries. The European Parliament’s civil liberties committee endorsed the plan in March of this year, paving the way for a new approach to international recruitment.

If properly implemented, this initiative could help fill Europe’s care workforce gap and provide a legal, structured pathway for skilled migrants to join the sector. But public resistance to migration remains a huge barrier.

Anti-immigration sentiment

Europeans want their elderly relatives to receive quality care, but many are unwilling to accept that foreign workers are one of the ways to make that happen. This tension between public attitudes and economic realities threatens the future of long-term care in Europe.

Research shows that western European Millennials (born 1982–1991) are now more anti-immigrant than those born between 1952–1961.

The EU recognises the need for foreign workers, yet politicians are reluctant to make the case publicly. Public attitudes towards migration remain deeply divided, with preference often given to migrants from other EU countries or from Ukraine, following Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Read more:
What Britons and Europeans really think about immigration – new analysis

The EU’s reliance on migrant care workers will only increase in the coming decades. However, simply recruiting more foreign workers is not a sustainable solution unless the system itself changes.

Several measures could help ensure that migrant care workers receive fair treatment. Firstly, introducing a specific care visa for non-EU workers would ensure they have legal status and job security. Stronger legal protections against exploitative contracts and unfair wages are necessary. And making it easier to recognise foreign qualifications would allow skilled workers to take on roles that better match their experience.

Fairer wages and working conditions are essential to attract and retain both migrant and local workers. International cooperation between the EU and third countries could also create ethical, regulated migration pathways.

The bottom line is this: Europe’s population is getting older, and without migrant workers, millions of families will struggle to find care for their loved ones. Europe must support and protect workers, both migrant and local, in the care system for its own sake.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Europe’s elderly need migrant caregivers – whether we like it or not – https://theconversation.com/europes-elderly-need-migrant-caregivers-whether-we-like-it-or-not-250121

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 16, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK House Price Index for February 2025

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

UK House Price Index for February 2025

The UK HPI shows house price changes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The February data shows:

on average, house prices haven’t changed since January 2025
there has been an annual price rise of 5.4% which makes the average property in the UK valued at £268,000

England

In England the February data shows, on average, house prices rose by 0.3% since January 2025. The annual price rise of 5.3% takes the average property value to £292,000.

Yorkshire and the Humber experienced the most significant monthly increase with a movement of 1.6%
London saw the greatest monthly price fall, with a fall of -1.1%
The North West experienced the greatest annual price rise, up by 8%
London saw the lowest annual price growth, with a rise of 1.7%

The regional data for England indicates that:

Price change by region for England

Region	Average price February 2025	Annual change % since February 2024	Monthly change % since January 2025
East Midlands	£241,000	6	0.4
East of England	£338,000	4.2	0
London	£556,000	1.7	-1.1
North East	£160,000	7.9	0.4
North West	£212,000	8	0.7
South East	£385,000	4.6	-0.3
South West	£308,000	3.9	0.7
West Midlands	£247,000	6	1.1
Yorkshire and the Humber	£205,000	7.5	1.6

Repossession sales by volume for England

The lowest number of repossession sales in December 2024 was in the South West, West Midlands and East Midlands.

The highest number of repossession sales in December 2024 was in the North West and London.

Repossession sales	December 2024
East Midlands	1
East of England	3
London	14
North East	11
North West	14
South East	6
South West	1
West Midlands	1
Yorkshire and the Humber	8
England	59

Average price by property type for England

Property type	Feb 2025	Feb 2024	Difference %
Detached	£471,000	£447,000	5.3
Semi-detached	£286,000	£270,000	6.1
Terraced	£242,000	£228,000	6.1
Flat/maisonette	£226,000	£220,000	2.8
All	£292,000	£277,000	5.3

Funding and buyer status for England

Transaction type	Average price February 2025	Annual price change % since February 2024	Monthly price change % since January 2025
Cash	£278,000	4.8	0.4
Mortgage	£297,000	5.5	0.3
First-time buyer	£245,000	5.7	0.4
Former owner occupier	£353,000	4.9	0.2

Building status for England

Building status*	Average price December 2024	Annual price change % since December 2023	Monthly price change % since November 2024
New build	£447,000	30	6.9
Existing resold property	£285,000	3.1	-0.2

*Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

London

London shows, on average, house prices decreased by 1.1% since January 2025. House prices have shown an annual price increase of 1.7% meaning the average price of a property is £556,000.

Average price by property type for London

Property type	February 2025	February 2024	Difference %
Detached	£1,143,000	£1,099,000	3.9
Semi-detached	£705,000	£678,000	4
Terraced	£629,000	£608,000	3.4
Flat/maisonette	£442,000	£442,000	-0.1
All	£556,000	£546,000	1.7

Funding and buyer status for London

Transaction type	Average price February 2025	Annual price change % since February 2024	Monthly price change % since January 2025
Cash	£589,000	-0.4	-1.7
Mortgage	£549,000	2.4	-1
First-time buyer	£478,000	1.8	-1.1
Former owner occupier	£688,000	1.6	-1.2

Building status for London

Building status*	Average price December 2024	Annual price change % since December 2023	Monthly price change % since November 2024
New build	£598,000	22.6	4.7
Existing resold property	£552,000	0	-1.2

*Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

Wales

Wales shows, on average, house prices fell by 0.7% since January 2025. An annual price increase of 4.1% takes the average property value to £207,000.

There were 6 repossession sales for Wales in December 2024.

Average price by property type for Wales

Property type	February 2025	February 2024	Difference %
Detached	£324,000	£315,000	3.1
Semi-detached	£206,000	£197,000	4.5
Terraced	£165,000	£157,000	4.7
Flat/maisonette	£132,000	£127,000	3.3
All	£207,000	£199,000	4.1

Funding and buyer status for Wales

Transaction type	Average price February 2025%	Annual price change % since February 2024	Monthly price change % since January 2024
Cash	£207,000	3.3	-1.1
Mortgage	£208,000	4.4	-0.6
First-time buyer	£178,000	4.6	-0.9
Former owner occupier	£248,000	3.5	-0.9

Building status for Wales

Building status*	Average price December 2024	Annual price change % since December 2023	Monthly price change % since November 2024
New build	£381,000	27.8	9.4
Existing resold property	£204,000	1.8	0.6

*Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

UK house prices

UK house prices rose by 5.4% in the year to February 2025, up from the revised estimate of 4.8% in the 12 months to January 2025. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices in the UK remain unchanged between January 2025 and February 2025, compared with a decrease of 0.5% from the same period 12 months ago (January 2024 and February 2024).

The UK Property Transactions Statistics showed that in February 2025, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the estimated number of transactions of residential properties with a value of £40,000 or greater was 108,000. This is 28.1% higher than a year ago (February 2025). Between January 2025 and February 25, UK transactions increased by 13% on a seasonally adjusted basis.

House price monthly increase was highest in Yorkshire and the Humber where prices increased by 2.3% in the year to January 2025. The highest annual growth was in the North West, where prices increased by 8% in the year to February 2025.

See the economic statement..

The UK HPI is based on completed housing transactions. Typically, a house purchase can take 6 to 8 weeks to reach completion. As with other indicators in the housing market, which typically fluctuate from month to month, it is important not to put too much weight on one month’s set of house price data.

Access the full UK HPI

Background

We publish the UK House Price Index (HPI) on the second or third Wednesday of each month with Northern Ireland figures updated quarterly. We will publish the March 2025 UK HPI at 9:30am on Wednesday 21 May 2025. See calendar of release dates.
We have made some changes to improve the accuracy of the UK HPI. We are not publishing average price and percentage change for new builds and existing resold property as done previously because there are not currently enough new build transactions to provide a reliable result. This means that in this month’s UK HPI reports, new builds and existing resold property are reported in line with the sales volumes currently available.
The UK HPI revision period has been extended to 13 months, following a review of the revision policy (see calculating the UK HPI section 4.4). This ensures the data used is more comprehensive.
Sales volume data is available by property status (new build and existing property) and funding status (cash and mortgage) in our downloadable data tables. Transactions that require us to create a new register, such as new builds, are more complex and require more time to process. Read revisions to the UK HPI data.
Revision tables are available for England and Wales within the downloadable data in CSV format. See about the UK HPI for more information.
HM Land Registry, Registers of Scotland, Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Valuation Office Agency supply data for the UK HPI.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency calculate the UK HPI. It applies a hedonic regression model that uses the various sources of data on property price, including HM Land Registry’s Price Paid Dataset, and attributes to produce estimates of the change in house prices each month. Find out more about the methodology used from the ONS and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.
We take the UK Property Transaction statistics from the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) monthly estimates of the number of residential and non-residential property transactions in the UK and its constituent countries. The number of property transactions in the UK is highly seasonal, with more activity in the summer months and less in the winter. This regular annual pattern can sometimes mask the underlying movements and trends in the data series. HMRC presents the UK aggregate transaction figures on a seasonally adjusted basis. We make adjustments for both the time of year and the construction of the calendar, including corrections for the position of Easter and the number of trading days in a particular month.
UK HPI seasonally adjusted series are calculated at regional and national levels only. See data tables.
The first estimate for new build average price (April 2016 report) was based on a small sample which can cause volatility. A three-month moving average has been applied to the latest estimate to remove some of this volatility.
The UK HPI reflects the final transaction price for sales of residential property. Using the geometric mean, it covers purchases at market value for owner-occupation and buy-to-let, excluding those purchases not at market value (such as re-mortgages), where the ‘price’ represents a valuation.
HM Land Registry provides information on residential property transactions for England and Wales, collected as part of the official registration process for properties that are sold for full market value.
The HM Land Registry dataset contains the sale price of the property, the date when the sale was completed, full address details, the type of property (detached, semi-detached, terraced or flat), if it is a newly built property or an established residential building and a variable to indicate if the property has been purchased as a financed transaction (using a mortgage) or as a non-financed transaction (cash purchase).
Repossession sales data is based on the number of transactions lodged with HM Land Registry by lenders exercising their power of sale.
For England, we show repossession sales volume recorded by government office region. For Wales, we provide repossession sales volume for the number of repossession sales.
Repossession sales data is available from April 2016 in CSV format. Find out more information about repossession sales.
We publish CSV files of the raw and cleansed aggregated data every month for England, Scotland and Wales. We publish Northern Ireland data on a quarterly basis. They are available for free use and re-use under the Open Government Licence.
HM Land Registry is a government department created in 1862. Its vision is: “A world-leading property market as part of a thriving economy and a sustainable future.”
HM Land Registry’s purpose is: “We protect your land ownership and provide services and data that underpin an efficient and informed property market.”
HM Land Registry safeguards land and property ownership valued at £8 trillion, enabling over £1 trillion worth of personal and commercial lending to be secured against property across England and Wales. The Land Register contains more than 26.5 million titles showing evidence of ownership for more than 89% of the land mass of England and Wales.
For further information about HM Land Registry visit www.gov.uk/land-registry.
Follow us on @HMLandRegistry, our blog, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact

Press Office

Trafalgar House
1 Bedford Park
Croydon
CR0 2AQ

Email HMLRPressOffice@landregistry.gov.uk

Phone (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm) 0300 006 3365

Mobile (5:30pm to 8:30am weekdays, all weekend and public holidays) 07864 689 344

Published 16 April 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 16, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Euro area monthly balance of payments: February 2025
Source: European Central Bank

16 April 2025
- Current account recorded €34 billion surplus in February 2025, down from €40 billion in previous month
- Current account surplus amounted to €411 billion (2.7% of euro area GDP) in the 12 months to February 2025, up from €299 billion (2.0%) one year earlier
- In financial account, euro area residents’ net acquisitions of non-euro area portfolio investment securities totalled €738 billion and non-residents’ net acquisitions of euro area portfolio investment securities totalled €800 billion in the 12 months to February 2025
Chart 1

Euro area current account balance

(EUR billions unless otherwise indicated; working day and seasonally adjusted data)

Source: ECB.

The current account of the euro area recorded a surplus of €34 billion in February 2025, a decrease of €6 billion from the previous month (Chart 1 and Table 1). Surpluses were recorded for goods (€34 billion) and services (€14 billion). These were partly offset by deficits for secondary income (€10 billion) and primary income (€3 billion).

Table 1

Current account of the euro area

Source: ECB.
Note: Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

Data for the current account of the euro area

In the 12 months to February 2025, the current account surplus widened to €411 billion (2.7% of euro area GDP), up from €299 billion (2.0% of euro area GDP) one year earlier. This increase was driven by larger surpluses for goods (up from €320 billion to €371 billion), services (up from €128 billion to €169 billion) and primary income (up from €20 billion to €45 billion). The deficit for secondary income increased from €169 billion to €174 billion.

Chart 2

Selected items of the euro area financial account

(EUR billions; 12-month cumulated data)

Source: ECB.
Notes: For assets, a positive (negative) number indicates net purchases (sales) of non-euro area instruments by euro area investors. For liabilities, a positive (negative) number indicates net sales (purchases) of euro area instruments by non-euro area investors.

In direct investment, euro area residents made net investments of €172 billion in non-euro area assets in the 12 months to February 2025, following net disinvestments of €312 billion one year earlier (Chart 2 and Table 2). Non-residents disinvested €48 billion in net terms from euro area assets in the 12 months to February 2025, following net disinvestments of €386 billion one year earlier.

In portfolio investment, euro area residents’ net purchases of non-euro area equity increased to €199 billion in the 12 months to February 2025, up from €73 billion one year earlier. Over the same period, net purchases of non-euro area debt securities by euro-area residents increased to €539 billion, up from €453 billion one year earlier. Non-residents’ net purchases of euro area equity increased to €408 billion in the 12 months to February 2025, up from €216 billion one year earlier. Over the same period, non-residents made net purchases of euro area debt securities amounting to €392 billion, declining from net purchases of €414 billion one year earlier.

Table 2

Financial account of the euro area

Source: ECB.
Notes: Decreases in assets and liabilities are shown with a minus sign. Net financial derivatives are reported under assets. “MFIs” stands for monetary financial institutions. Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

Data for the financial account of the euro area

In other investment, euro area residents recorded net acquisitions of non-euro area assets amounting to €427 billion in the 12 months to February 2025 (up from €199 billion one year earlier), while they recorded net incurrences of liabilities of €110 billion (following net disposals of €174 billion one year earlier).

Chart 3

Monetary presentation of the balance of payments

(EUR billions; 12-month cumulated data)

Source: ECB.
Notes: “MFI net external assets (enhanced)” incorporates an adjustment to the MFI net external assets (as reported in the consolidated MFI balance sheet items statistics) based on information on MFI long-term liabilities held by non-residents, available in b.o.p. statistics. B.o.p. transactions refer only to transactions of non-MFI residents of the euro area. Financial transactions are shown as liabilities net of assets. “Other” includes financial derivatives and statistical discrepancies.

The monetary presentation of the balance of payments (Chart 3) shows that the net external assets (enhanced) of euro area MFIs increased by €471 billion in the 12 months to February 2025. This increase was driven by the current and capital accounts surplus and, to a lesser extent, by euro area non-MFIs’ net inflows in portfolio investment equity and debt, other investment and other flows. These developments were partly offset by euro area non-MFIs’ net outflows in direct investment.

In February 2025 the Eurosystem’s stock of reserve assets increased to €1,477.8 billion up from €1,457.5 billion in the previous month (Table 3). This increase was mainly driven by positive price changes (€17.9 billion), mostly due to an increase in the price of gold, and, to a lesser extent, by net acquisitions of assets (€1.3 billion) and positive exchange rate changes (€1.0 billion).

Table 3

Reserve assets of the euro area

Source: ECB.
Notes: “Other reserve assets” comprises currency and deposits, securities, financial derivatives (net) and other claims. Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

Data for the reserve assets of the euro area

Data revisions

This press release incorporates revisions to the data for January 2025. These revisions did not significantly alter the figures previously published.
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: More Chinese cities report rising home prices in March

Source: China State Council Information Office

Commercial home prices in March rose in more Chinese cities from a month ago as transactions became more vibrant in the real estate market, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Wednesday.

An NBS survey covering 70 major cities said the prices of new houses were higher in 24 cities last month, up from 18 in February, while resold homes in 10 cities logged price increases, up by 7.

Home prices in first-tier cities, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, increased last month compared to February, while second and third-tier cities in general registered narrowed price declines, according to the official data.

On a yearly basis, Chinese cities at large continued to see smaller home price drops in March, the NBS said.

MIL OSI China News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: US tariff hikes won’t change China’s long-term positive growth prospects: official

Source: China State Council Information Office

U.S. tariff increases on Chinese products will exert some pressure on China’s trade and economy in the short term, but won’t alter the Chinese economy’s long-term positive trajectory, a senior official with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Wednesday.

“We strongly oppose the United States imposing tariff barriers and engaging in trade bullying, as such actions are detrimental to all parties,” NBS Deputy Director Sheng Laiyun told a press conference.

Citing the Chinese economy’s solid fundamentals and strong resilience, Sheng said the country has the confidence and capability to tackle external challenges and achieve its economic development goals.

China aims to grow its GDP by around 5 percent year on year in 2025. NBS data showed that the Chinese economy expanded 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, up 1.2 percent compared with the previous quarter.

Since reform and opening up, China’s economy has weathered significant challenges and gained extensive experience in terms of macroeconomic management, Sheng noted, while adding that China will implement incremental policies in response to changes in the external environment.

“A robust toolbox of policy measures ensures our capacity to address external shocks and challenges,” Sheng explained.

MIL OSI China News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Half of Australian landlords sell their investments after 2 years, adding to renters’ insecurity

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ranjodh B. Singh, Senior Economics and Finance Lecturer, Curtin University

Marc Bruxelle/Shutterstock

Australia’s renters have to battle rising rents and a lack of available properties. They also face ongoing instability. Our new research suggests half of all landlords sell their investment properties after only two years, adding to renters’ insecurity.

Our study released by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, models the behaviour of landlords using longitudinal data from 2001 to 2021. It looks at what motivates small-scale investors to buy, sell or keep their rental properties.

This work can inform future planning for the private rental sector, which has been projected to continue expanding. Both Labor and the Coalition were strongly criticised for making little mention of renters or supply in their housing policies released on Sunday.

The short-term owners

Those landlords who got rid of their investment after two years, sometimes sooner, often did so because they hadn’t counted on the additional costs of property ownership or their circumstances changed because they divorced or lost their job.

While younger people aged 25–34 years were more likely to buy a rental
property compared to other age groups, this group was also more likely to sell their property sooner.

Landlords who sold after two years or less, were more likely to be women, unemployed, unmarried and with low-to-moderate incomes.

How this makes renting less secure

Landlords who sell after a relatively short investment period disrupt the supply of private rental housing, which can potentially have a negative impact on both tenant security and affordability.

This includes unplanned moves for renters after a notice period, as well as possible increases in the amount of rent they have to pay. This type of exposure to precarious housing conditions adversely affects the wellbeing of tenants.

This is especially important given that the share of private renters in Australia has risen over the last 20 years and there is ongoing concern about affordability among private renters. Private renters now represent about 30% of the market.

What motivates landlords?

Understanding the factors that increase the likelihood of landlords holding onto a property will contribute to tenure security in the rental sector.

These landlords tend to have higher educational qualifications, higher incomes and smaller mortgages on their own homes. As such, these landlords are financially stable and are able to withstand the higher economic costs of holding a rental property.

Our findings show there is value in establishing programs that offer education on property investment. This could support landlords’ efforts to hold their rental properties. It could also increase the supply of long-term rental housing for tenants.

As well, there should be more rigorous financial risk assessments by lenders and appropriate regulations so those who buy rental investment properties can afford to hold them.

Potential impact of policy changes

Policy changes that affect the costs of supplying rental housing for landlords could also have affordability consequences for renters.

Landlords will only continue to invest in the rental market if market conditions offer them income relative to their property values.

For instance, policy changes that apply long-term freezes to rent increases will reduce rental yields for landlords. This might in turn hurt the supply of rental properties available to renters.

Changes to policies affecting landlords’ tax positions could also have major impacts on whether they keep their rental investment over time.

For instance, if changes are made to capital gains tax and interest rates that directly increase the landlord’s cost of holding an investment property, they will likely pass these costs on to tenants.

As a consequence, rents would become less affordable. Any changes to tax settings that affect landlords need to be rolled out incrementally. This will avoid destabilising rental markets and reducing the supply of housing available for tenants.

Why we need a secure rental market

Increasing the supply of private rental dwellings would help make renting more affordable.

Individuals who can afford investment properties add to the supply of private rental stock. And if they can hold their rentals for long periods, the rental market becomes even more secure.

Those who can’t hold their rental investments for long can disrupt the supply of private rental housing, with potentially negative impacts on affordability and security.

Our study has focused on individual landlords, which make up the majority of suppliers of rental housing in Australia. However, improving tenure security for renters will require more than just encouraging a stable flow of rental housing from individual landlords.

For instance, increasing institutional investment in rental stock might result in more diverse and affordable housing options for renters.

Social housing is also a crucial source of secure housing for those who cannot compete in the private rental market. There is now an urgent need to redress decades of under-investment in social housing in Australia.

Ranjodh B. Singh has received funding from AHURI.

Chris Leishman receives funding from AHURI, SMCA, ARC, ESRC, the Office of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Scottish Government, UK Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Government, South Australia Government. He is a non-executive director of Housing Choices Australia, a Trustee for the UK’s Housing Studies Charitable Trust, Chair of the Australasian Housing Studies Association, editor of the Urban Studies journal, guest editor of the Regional Studies, Regional Studies journal. He is not a member of any political party in any country.

Rachel Ong ViforJ is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project FT200100422). She also receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

Jack Hewton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Half of Australian landlords sell their investments after 2 years, adding to renters’ insecurity – https://theconversation.com/half-of-australian-landlords-sell-their-investments-after-2-years-adding-to-renters-insecurity-254578

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s fixed-asset investment up 4.2 pct in Q1

Source: China State Council Information Office

China’s fixed-asset investment went up 4.2 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, 1 percentage point higher than the full-year growth rate of 2024, official data showed Wednesday.

The investment totaled 10.32 trillion yuan (about 1.43 trillion U.S. dollars) during the period, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement.

Investment in infrastructure construction rose 5.8 percent from a year ago during the period, and manufacturing investment increased 9.1 percent, according to the NBS data.

Excluding the property sector, the country’s fixed-asset investment rose 8.3 percent in the first three months of 2025. Investment in property development fell 9.9 percent year on year during the period.

MIL OSI China News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s GDP expands 5.4 pct year on year in Q1

Source: China State Council Information Office

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Wednesday.

The country’s GDP reached 31.8758 trillion yuan (about 4.42 trillion U.S. dollars) during this period, the NBS data showed.

On a quarterly basis, the economy increased 1.2 percent in the first three months.

China’s GDP grew 5 percent year on year last year and the country has targeted its full-year economic growth at around 5 percent for 2025.

MIL OSI China News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s industrial output up 6.5 pct in Q1

Source: China State Council Information Office

China’s value-added industrial output expanded 6.5 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, official data showed on Wednesday.

The growth accelerated from a rise of 5.9 percent registered in the first two months.

In March alone, the industrial output grew 7.7 percent from one year earlier, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The industrial output is used to measure the activity of large enterprises each with an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.77 million U.S. dollars).

MIL OSI China News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Labor and the Greens likely to gain Senate seats at the election

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

As well as the election for the full House of Representatives, there will be an election on May 3 for 40 of the 76 senators. The 72 state senators have six-year terms, with half of them up for election every three years. The four territory senators are all up for election with each House election.

In a double dissolution election, all senators are up for election, but this election won’t be a double dissolution. State senators elected at this election will begin their six-year term on July 1.

The six states are entitled to equal representation in the Senate, so each state has 12 senators. This system greatly overrepresents Tasmania relative to its population. The ACT and Northern Territory have two senators each.

Senators are elected by proportional representation in their jurisdictions with preferences. At a half-Senate election, with six senators in each state up for election, a quota is one-seventh of the vote, or 14.3%. For the territories, a quota is one-third or 33.3%. Half a quota on primary votes (7.1% in a state) is usually enough to give a party a reasonable chance of election.

Voters will be instructed to number at least six boxes above the line or 12 below the line, but only one box above the line or six below is needed for a formal vote. Preferences are voter-directed, with the group ticket voting system scrapped before the 2016 election. Owing to exhausted votes, the final seats in states are likely to be filled on less than a full quota.

To become law, legislation must pass both the House and Senate in the same form. With the Senate’s proportional representation, it’s very unlikely to be under government control, so governments need to negotiate with other parties to pass their legislation through the Senate.

Party standings and seats up for election

The Coalition holds 30 of the 76 total senators, Labor 25, the Greens 11, One Nation two, the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) one, the United Australia Party (UAP) one and all others six.

During this term, Lidia Thorpe defected from the Greens, Fatima Payman from Labor and Tammy Tyrrell from JLN. As all three are state senators who were last elected in 2022, none will be up for election until 2028. The Coalition also lost two senators to defections (Gerard Rennick and David Van) – both were last elected in 2019 and will be up for election this year.

Other than the ACT and NT seats, the seats up for election were last up in 2019. At that election, the Coalition won 17 of the 36 state senators, Labor 11, the Greens six, One Nation one and Jacqui Lambie one.

The Coalition and One Nation combined won four of the six Queensland senators. In Tasmania, Labor and the Greens won three seats, the Liberals two and Lambie one. All other states were tied between the left and right blocs.

In the 2022 election, Labor and the Greens combined won four of the six Western Australian senators, Tasmania once again went three Labor and Greens, two Liberals and Tyrrell from JLN, and the other states were tied between the left and right. The state senators elected in 2022 are not up for election.

The four territory senators elected in 2022 will be up for election. In 2022, the ACT split one Labor and one for independent David Pocock, the first time its senators had not split one Labor, one Liberal. The NT is expected to once again be one Labor, one Country Liberal Party.

Here is a table of Senate seats up for election in 2025. I have ignored the defections of Rennick and Van from the Coalition in Queensland and Victoria. The good news for the left is that only Pocock’s ACT seat looks winnable for the right.

Left-wing parties likely to gain Senate seats

For either the left or the right to win four of the six senators for a state, they need to win nearly four quotas of votes or 57%.

The Poll Bludger’s BludgerTrack by state for the House currently gives Labor a 51.9–48.1 lead in New South Wales, a 52.1–47.9 lead in Victoria, a 56.4–43.6 lead in WA and a 54.7–45.3 lead in South Australia. The Coalition leads in Queensland by 52.7–47.3.

On these vote shares, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and SA would be tied 3–3 between the left and right, while the left would probably repeat their 4–2 win in WA from 2022.

A 3–3 split in Queensland would be a gain for the left from the right, as the right are defending a 4–2 split from 2019. A 4–2 win for the left in WA would also be a gain, as WA was 3–3 in 2019.

Tasmania doesn’t have enough polling to be included in BludgerTrack. But analyst Kevin Bonham, who is a Tasmanian, believes the likely outcome is two Labor, two Liberals, one Green and one to Lambie, the same as in 2019.

There haven’t been any ACT Senate polls, but cities are becoming more left-wing, and the ACT is just a city. In 2022, Labor won the ACT by 67.0–33.0 in the House, a 5.3% two-party swing to Labor. It’s plausible that any Trump-inspired backlash against the Coalition will be strongest in the ACT, so it may be difficult for the Liberals to regain their ACT Senate seat.

If Labor and the Greens gain Senate seats in Queensland and WA, Pocock retains in the ACT, and there are no other changes to the left-right balance, the new Senate would have 38 seats for Labor and the Greens, 33 for the Coalition, One Nation and UAP, and one each of Pocock, Lambie, Thorpe, Payman and Tyrrell.

It’s increasingly likely that Labor will win the House election. Labor and the Greens are likely to increase their Senate numbers. If Labor and the Greens hold 38 of the 76 Senate seats after the election, Labor would only need one more vote to pass legislation supported by the Greens but opposed by right-wing parties. The five others are mostly left-wing, so this shouldn’t be difficult.

Candidate nominations down from 2022

Candidate nominations were declared last Friday. The Poll Bludger said Saturday that there will be 330 total candidates for the Senate, down from 421 in 2022. The total number of groups (above the line boxes) dropped from 151 to 118.

Victoria has the most groups with 20, Queensland has 19, NSW and WA 18, SA 16 and Tasmania 12. With only two vacancies each, the ACT has seven groups and the NT eight.

Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Labor and the Greens likely to gain Senate seats at the election – https://theconversation.com/labor-and-the-greens-likely-to-gain-senate-seats-at-the-election-253937

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 16, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Homelessness – the other housing crisis politicians aren’t talking about

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Parsell, Professor, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland

Igor Corovic/Shutterstock

Measures to tackle homelessness in Australia have been conspicuously absent from the election campaign.

The major parties have rightly identified deep voter anxiety over high house prices. They have responded with a raft of policies, with big dollars attached, to try to make housing more affordable.

But in doing so, homelessness has been rendered a silent crisis. We all see the destitute and displaced on our city streets or sleeping in their cars. But we are hearing very little from Labor and the Coalition about how to help the 122,000 Australians who are without permanent shelter.

This is despite evidence that homeless services are witnessing significantly increased demand, with the rate of homelessness soaring above pre–pandemic levels.

Election efforts to promote home ownership should be welcomed. But they will not help Australia’s homeless, who will remain excluded from shelter, a basic human right.

Impossible dream

Although people experiencing homelessness are not a homogeneous group, they have one thing in common – poverty. People who are homeless are overwhelmingly likely to be living in financial hardship.

Even if they aspire to home ownership, their poverty means buying a home is an improbable solution to their homelessness, regardless of the various incentives on offer during an election campaign.

Further, the experience of homelessness creates health problems and barriers to accessing mainstream services. People’s lives become transient, unpredictable and often dangerous.

When homelessness is lost in major policy announcements about addressing only part of the housing crisis, we fail to confront and deal with the related harms homelessness inflicts.

Strategic plan

The first thing needed to confront the problem is a national housing and homelessness strategic plan. Governments should set measurable targets to end and prevent homelessness and avoid vague terms such as “address” or “respond”.

Overseas experience shows it can be done. A strategic plan in the United States contributed to massive reductions in homelessness among military veterans.

If a standalone homelessness plan sounds familiar, it might be because it was a Labor commitment leading up to the 2022 election. Despite an issues paper and consultation with the sector, the plan has never seen the light of day.

Housing supply

It is self-evident that ending and preventing homelessness, as the recent Australian Homelessness Monitor demonstrates, requires an increase in housing supply.

Trying to fix homelessness without providing shelter would be like trying to prevent polio without vaccines, or ending illiteracy without books.

Extra supply needs to include more social housing for people on low incomes. And permanent supportive housing, which combines affordable housing with health and social services for our most marginalised citizens.

A whole-of-society response is required to find shelter for the 122,000 Australians who are homeless.
TK Kurikawa/Shutterstock

Some progress has been made by the Albanese government, which has increased the availability of social housing and boosted subsidies to renters in the private market.

The Liberal Party’s policy platform for the election does not mention homelessness. Rather, it assumes increasing home ownership though measures like the tax deductibility of mortgage repayments for first homebuyers will be a remedy.

More than houses

Housing is critical to ending the scourge of homelessness. But it doesn’t tell the whole story.

A much broader approach is needed that recognises we don’t live siloed lives. Poor connections with a range of health, social and charitable services can drive people into homelessness, and make ending it even harder.

A more integrated approach would reduce the risk of homelessness. For example, ensuring people are not discharged from institutions such as prisons, hospitals, and foster care onto the street. The connections between homelessness and other critical areas of human need must be prioritised.

An exclusive focus on building more dwellings will never fix homelessness. This is because the problem and its solutions cut across society, ending and preventing homelessness will require a society wide approach.

Achieving that will be anything but simple.

What do we value?

Societies have worked out ways to overcome many harms to human life. Homelessness can also be remedied, but only if there is the social and political will to do so.

In Australia we achieved significant success for a short time during the COVID pandemic when many people sleeping rough were accommodated. It can be done again.

But any policies to end and prevent homelessness must confront the importance of values. Facts and data are needed to inform policy, but facts and data must always be framed by what we value in society.

The way we respond to people who are homeless would demonstrate how we value each other, and how we can achieve equity and social cohesion well beyond the election campaign.

Cameron Parsell receives funding from the Australian Research Council, as well as from numerous nonprofit organisations.

Karyn Walsh is the CEO of Micah Projects which receives funding from the Commonwealth, state and local governments, and philanthropic and private entities to provide a range of homelessness, health, and community services. Neither Karyn nor Micah Projects will receive any financial benefit from this article

– ref. Homelessness – the other housing crisis politicians aren’t talking about – https://theconversation.com/homelessness-the-other-housing-crisis-politicians-arent-talking-about-254453

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: February Crime Statistics

Source: New South Wales – News

Serious criminal trespass and theft related offending in South Australia have again recorded significant declines, the latest crime statistics have revealed.

The February rolling year crime statistics reveal house break-ins have dropped for the eighth successive period, shop theft and car theft have also continued to decline at a steady rate and robbery and related offences have again dropped significantly.

The latest figures reveal the number of house break-ins declined by seven per cent from 5,899 to 5,465 reported offences. This followed a five per cent decline in the January period and a six per cent decline in the December period.

The number of non-residential break-ins declined by five per cent from 3,648 to 3,479 reported offences. This followed a two per cent decline in the January period.

Acting Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations Service) John de Candia said the continued reduction in both residential and non-residential serious criminal trespass offences was encouraging.

“The results reflect the proactive work being done by frontline officers across all of our policing districts,’’ he said.

“Identifying the recidivist offenders responsible for a significant number of these offences and then targeting them with specific operations to uncover the depth of their offending, gathering the necessary evidence and then charging them accordingly is paying dividends.

“In a number of these matters the courts have recognised their serious level of offending and they have been refused bail which contributes to a reduction in further offending.’’

One recent joint operation, dubbed Sentinel, involved detectives from the Northern, Eastern and Southern District Criminal Investigation Branches who probed the activities of a group of individuals responsible for committing multiple serious offences across several suburbs.

Operation Sentinel resulted in seven individuals – several of whom were significant recidivist offenders – being charged with 29 offences including aggravated serious criminal trespass, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, firearms possession, illegal use and driving while disqualified. All have been refused bail.

Another protracted investigation into a recidivist offender committing offences across suburbs including North Adelaide, Kent Town, Marden and Evandale in February and March resulted in the arrest of a Queensland man, 41.

The man has been charged with 35 offences involving theft and non-residential serious criminal trespass. The man also had outstanding warrants for offences committed in Queensland, including multiple counts of rape and indecent assault.

A separate investigation into a string of thefts from hardware stores between September 2024 and March 2025 resulted in the arrest of a Henley Beach South man, 49, who is facing multiple counts of theft in connection with goods worth more than $10,000.

The latest figures reveal shop theft has continued to decline with a fourth successive decrease recorded. The number of offences dropped by eight per cent – from 18,743 to 17,268 offences – this period. This followed a five per cent decline in the January period, three per cent in December and two per cent in November.

Robbery and related offending have continued to decrease with a 15 per cent decline – from 887 to 742 offences recorded. This followed a 20 per cent decline in the January period, 22 per cent in December and a 26 per cent drop in the November period.

Within that category aggravated robbery declined by 19 per cent or 96 offences in the February period – from 512 offences to 416 offences – while non-aggravated robbery declined by five per cent – from 79 offences to 75 offences.

Car theft and theft from a vehicle have also continued to steadily decrease. Car theft dropped by 11 per cent or 408 offences – from 3,865 to 3,457 offences. This followed a 12 per cent decrease in the January period, an 11 per cent decrease in December and an eight per cent decline in the November period.

Theft from a vehicle decreased by 22 per cent – from 10,212 to 7,938 offences. This followed a 20 per cent drop in January and a 19 per cent decline in the December and November periods.

The homicide rate in South Australia has continued to decrease with a 64 per cent decrease reported in the period – from 25 to nine offences.

MIL OSI News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Aotearoa New Zealand’s population passes 5.3 million people – Stats NZ media and information release: Estimated resident population (2023-base): At 30 June 2023

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand’s population passes 5.3 million people – 16 April 2025 – Aotearoa New Zealand’s estimated resident population was 5,311,100 as at 31 December 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

These are the first population estimates to fully incorporate the 2023 Census and 2023 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) results. Estimates back to 2018 have now been revised, and estimates after 30 June 2023 will now use the 2023-base estimated resident population as a starting point.

“Census data and the coverage results from the PES are used to recalibrate national and subnational population estimates,” population estimates, projections, and coverage spokesperson Victoria Treliving said.

“This recalibration ensures the population estimates are the best-possible measure of how many people live in communities across the country.”

For more:

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: North Island population passes 4 million while South Island population grows faster – Stats NZ media and information release: Estimated resident population (2023-base): At 30 June 2023

Source: Statistics New Zealand

North Island population passes 4 million while South Island population grows faster – 16 April 2025

The population living in the North Island now exceeds 4 million, according to estimates released by Stats NZ today.

The North Island’s population has grown by an average of 1.3 percent a year since 2018, reaching 4.04 million at 30 June 2024. The South Island’s population has grown at a slightly faster rate of 1.4 percent a year, reaching 1.24 million at 30 June 2024.

“It took just over two decades for the North Island’s population to increase from 3 million in late 2002 to 4 million in late 2023,” population estimates and projections spokesperson Victoria Treliving said.

“Over the same time, the South Island population increased by almost 300,000 people.”

For More:

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Aotearoa New Zealand’s population passes 5.3 million people – Stats NZ media and information release: Estimated resident population (2023-base): At 30 June 2023
Source: Statistics New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand’s population passes 5.3 million people – 16 April 2025 – Aotearoa New Zealand’s estimated resident population was 5,311,100 as at 31 December 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

These are the first population estimates to fully incorporate the 2023 Census and 2023 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) results. Estimates back to 2018 have now been revised, and estimates after 30 June 2023 will now use the 2023-base estimated resident population as a starting point.

“Census data and the coverage results from the PES are used to recalibrate national and subnational population estimates,” population estimates, projections, and coverage spokesperson Victoria Treliving said.

“This recalibration ensures the population estimates are the best-possible measure of how many people live in communities across the country.”

For more:

Aotearoa New Zealand’s population passes 5.3 million people

Estimated resident population (2023-base): At 30 June 2023
MIL OSI –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: North Island population passes 4 million while South Island population grows faster – Stats NZ media and information release: Estimated resident population (2023-base): At 30 June 2023
Source: Statistics New Zealand

North Island population passes 4 million while South Island population grows faster – 16 April 2025

The population living in the North Island now exceeds 4 million, according to estimates released by Stats NZ today.

The North Island’s population has grown by an average of 1.3 percent a year since 2018, reaching 4.04 million at 30 June 2024. The South Island’s population has grown at a slightly faster rate of 1.4 percent a year, reaching 1.24 million at 30 June 2024.

“It took just over two decades for the North Island’s population to increase from 3 million in late 2002 to 4 million in late 2023,” population estimates and projections spokesperson Victoria Treliving said.

“Over the same time, the South Island population increased by almost 300,000 people.”

For More:

North Island population passes 4 million while South Island population grows faster

Estimated resident population (2023-base): At 30 June 2023
MIL OSI –
April 16, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: More bulk billing is fine. But what the health system really needs this election is genuine reform
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne

Worrying signs are emerging about aspects of Australia’s health system, which will require the attention of whoever wins the May election.

Despite big money pledged for Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), only limited attention has been paid by the major parties to key reform priorities.

Any fresh reform agenda will be starting from a position of relative strength. Australia has a good health system that consistently ranks well compared with other wealthy nations, including on life expectancy, which is on the high side.

Medicare remains the right infrastructure for funding primary care. But it is now more than 40 years old and needs to be updated and improved.

Policy action is necessary on five fronts:
- financial barriers to care
- managing chronic conditions
- mental health and dental care
- public hospitals
- workforce
Priced out of care

Despite Medicare’s promise of universality, around one in ten people defer seeing a doctor because of the cost.

And despite the provision of subsidised drugs via the PBS, people also report missing out on filling prescriptions.

Health Minister Mark Butler has said that Medicare is in its ‘worst shape’ in its 40 year history.
Robyn Mackenzie/Shutterstock

Labor has announced big-ticket measures to improve bulk-billing rates and cap PBS prices at A$25 a prescription. Given cost-of-living pressures are central to the election, it’s unsurprising the Coalition has pledged to match both policies.

But, critically, neither party has announced anything to improve access to other medical specialists. The gap continues to grow between what specialists charge and what Medicare will cover. This means some patients are delaying or avoiding necessary care altogether.

Complex chronic conditions

The health system has not adapted to the rising prevalence of chronic disease in the Australian community. In 2023–24, 18% of the population saw three or more health professionals. But for 28% of those people, no single provider coordinated their care.

Medicare was designed in a different age and needs to be refurbished to respond to this new reality of more patients who are suffering multiple health conditions.

The Strengthening Medicare Task Force and the GP Incentives Review have proposed new systems to fund general practices to facilitate multidisciplinary care.

Work needs to continue in this direction, regardless of who forms the next government.

Forgotten care

Dental and mental health are largely the forgotten sectors of health care. The number of people delaying access to oral health services because of affordability issues is more than twice the 10% who are missing out in other areas of the health system.

Seeing a dentist is very much dependant on income. More than a quarter of Australians living in the most disadvantaged areas defer getting their teeth fixed because of the cost involved. Uncapped access to dental care, as proposed by the Greens, is not the answer. What is needed is a more sophisticated route towards universal access.

By contrast, the pattern for mental health care is different, with people in both poor and rich areas facing access problems.

The Coalition has promised to restore the maximum number of Medicare-subsidised fee-for-service mental health sessions to 20, despite it being regarded as an inequitable policy.

More fee-for-service mental health care is not the right approach. By contrast, Labor is making a $1 billion commitment to expanding services which are free to the consumer. This includes Medicare Mental Health Services and headspace clinics, which generally employ salaried professionals.

Both parties should support another initiative already underway: the universal program for people with low-to-moderate mental health needs, which doesn’t require either a referral or a co-payment. Labor announced the plan in the last budget, scheduled to start in January 2026.

Inadequate hospital funding

The Commonwealth share of public hospital funding has been trending down for the last few years, reversing the growth in its share over much of the last decade.

A deal has been reached to lift the Commonwealth share of hospital funding to 45%.
Rose Marinelli/Shutterstock

Some states have fared worse than others, which means some hospitals have become squeezed and waiting times have blown out.

In late 2023, National Cabinet reached a new funding deal which would lift the Commonwealth share to 45% by 2035–36.

But subsequent negotiations have become bogged down in a quagmire of claims and counter-claims. The Albanese government has responded with an interim one-year funding down payment. But both major parties need to address this issue and commit to implementing the full 45% in the agreed time frame.

No doctor in the house

In 2014, the Abbott government abolished Health Workforce Australia, the national agency responsible for health workforce planning. Ten years later, it’s no surprise we are in the middle of a critical shortage of doctors and nurses.

The Albanese government has implemented changes to speed up the recruitment of internationally trained health professionals. It is also offering incentives to encourage more clinicians to work in rural and remote Australia.

But these are just more of the same, similar to the plethora of policies which have left us in the mess we are in. Ensuring we have the right workforce mix to address rural health needs requires a fresh approach. That includes revised funding models – as proposed in the GP incentives review – and allowing all health professionals to work to their full scope of practice.

Reform hard slog

Although health often ranks in the top three issues people say are important to them in elections, cost of living is the main focus of media and political commentary.

The promise to increase bulk billing will help lower primary care costs.

But genuine health care reform does not attract much media attention, which means it doesn’t get the profile necessary to prompt the right political promises.

The hard slog of change takes years, and involves much more than a few carrots thrown to voters in an election. It takes careful negotiation with stakeholders and getting the infrastructure right.

Given the initiatives listed above, Health Minister Mark Butler has done well on reform this term. Unfortunately, voters don’t see that, and appear not to value systematic and coherent reform strategies.

It is hoped that whoever is health minister after the election will continue on the reform path to a more sustainable and affordable health system.

This is the eighth article in our special series, Australia’s Policy Challenges. You can read the other articles here.

Stephen Duckett was a member of the Strengthening Medicare Task Force, the Review of General Prcatice Incentives, the Mental Health Reform Advisory Group, and the Expert Panel on the National Early Intervention Service

– ref. More bulk billing is fine. But what the health system really needs this election is genuine reform – https://theconversation.com/more-bulk-billing-is-fine-but-what-the-health-system-really-needs-this-election-is-genuine-reform-250644
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Democratic Women’s Caucus Urges Chavez-DeRemer to Stand with Women Workers and Protect Women’s Bureau at DOL

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) members Ilhan Omar (MN-05) & Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Servicewomen, Women Veterans, and Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) led 48 DWC members in a letter to U.S Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging her to stand with women workers by protecting and strengthening the Women’s Bureau at the DOL. In particular, the Members call on Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to preserve current staffing and strengthen the Bureau’s capacity to fulfill its mandate: advancing the rights and economic opportunity of women workers, as Congress intended.

The Women’s Bureau has formulated standards and policies to improve the welfare, working conditions, and opportunities of working women since Congress established the Bureau in 1920. It has fulfilled that mission through research, policy, and grants—improving outcomes for women across the workforce. In particular, it administers the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Technical Assistance (WANTO) Grant Program, which helps recruit, train, and retain women in high-wage, high-skill jobs where they are historically underrepresented, such as in the skilled trades and technical fields, and manages the National Database of Child Care Prices.

In their letter, Members explained the importance of the Women’s Bureau, especially at the current moment of increased economic challenges for women and families, and as Trump claims to prioritize American jobs:

“Women gained only 43 percent of new jobs in February, a decline from 54 percent in 2023. And the gender wage gap has widened for the first time in two decades. These numbers are not just statistics; they reflect growing economic headwinds for women and families that must be addressed. Weakening the Bureau by reducing its already limited staffing or closing regional offices would severely undermine its ability to address these persistent and growing economic disparities.”

The Members continued:

“If the Trump administration is serious about bringing more jobs to America, it must ensure that women can access those jobs. That means investing in initiatives that address the structural barriers women face in the workforce—barriers the Women’s Bureau was built to dismantle. We urge you to preserve current staffing and strengthen the Bureau’s capacity to fulfill its mandate, as Congress intended. The choice before you is clear—and we urge you to stand with women workers.”

The full letter can be accessed here.

In addition to leads Ilhan Omar, Suzanne Bonamici, and Chrissy Houlahan, the letter was signed by Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Julia Brownley, Shontel Brown, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Diana DeGette, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Lois Frankel, Sylvia Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Julie Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, LaMonica McIver, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Brittany Pettersen, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Hillary Scholten, Terri Sewell, Mikie Sherrill, Melanie Stansbury, Haley Stevens, Emilia Sykes, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Nellie Pou.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS ON BASE 2012=100 FOR RURAL,

Source: Government of India

Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS ON BASE 2012=100 FOR RURAL,

URBAN AND COMBINED FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, 2025

Posted On: 15 APR 2025 4:00PM by PIB Delhi

I. Key highlights:

Year-on-year inflation rate based on All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of March, 2025 over March, 2024 is 3.34% (Provisional). There is a decline of 27 basis points in headline inflation of March, 2025 in comparison to February, 2025. It is the lowest year-on-year inflation after August, 2019.

Food Inflation: Year-on-year inflation rate based on All India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for the month of March, 2025 over March, 2024 is 2.69% (Provisional). Corresponding inflation rate for rural and urban are 2.82% and 2.48%, respectively. All India inflation rates for CPI (General) and CFPI over the last 13 months are shown below. A sharp decline of 106 basis point is observed in food inflation in March, 2025 in comparison to February, 2025. The food inflation in March, 2025 is the lowest after November, 2021.

The significant decline in headline inflation and food inflation during the month of March, 2025 is mainly attributed to decline in inflation of Vegetables, Eggs, Pulses & products, Meat & fish, Cereals & Products and Milk & products.
Rural Inflation: Sharp decline in headline and food inflation in rural sector observed in March, 2025. The headline inflation is 3.25% (provisional) in March, 2025 while the same was 3.79% in February, 2025. The CFPI based food inflation in rural sector is observed as 2.82% in March, 2025 in comparison to 4.06% in February, 2025.
Urban Inflation: Marginal increase from 3.32% in February, 2025 to 3.43% (Provisional) in March, 2025 is observed in headline inflation of urban sector. However, significant decline is observed in food inflation from 3.15% in February, 2025 to 2.48% in March, 2025.
Housing Inflation: Year-on-year Housing inflation rate for the month of March, 2025 is 3.03%. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of February, 2025 was 2.91%. The housing index is compiled for urban sector only.
Fuel & light: Year-on-year Fuel & light inflation rate for the month of March, 2025 is 1.48%. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of February, 2025 was -1.33%. It is the combined inflation rate for both rural and urban sector.
Education Inflation: Year-on-year Education inflation rate for the month of March, 2025 is 3.98%. The inflation rate observed in the month of February, 2025 was 3.83%. It is the combined education inflation for both rural and urban sector.
Health Inflation: Year-on-year Health inflation rate for the month of March, 2025 is 4.26%. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of February, 2025 was 4.12%. It is the combined health inflation for both rural and urban sector.
Transport & Communication: Year-on-year Transport & communication inflation rate for the month of March, 2025 is 3.30%. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of February, 2025 was 2.93%. It is combined inflation rate for both rural and urban sector.
Top five items with highest inflation: The top five items showing highest year on year Inflation at All India level in March, 2025 are coconut oil (56.81%), coconut (42.05%), gold (34.09%), silver (31.57%) and grapes (25.55%)
Top five items with lowest inflation: The key items having lowest year on year inflation in March, 2025 are ginger (-38.11%), tomato (-34.96%), cauliflower (-25.99%), jeera (-25.86%) and garlic (-25.22%). For other data related to All India Item Index and Inflation, please visit the website www.cpi.mospi.gov.in.
Top five major states with high Year on Year inflation for the month of March, 2025 are shown in the graph below.

All India Inflation rates (on point to point basis i.e. current month March, 2025 viz-a-viz last Month, i.e. February, 2025 and over same month of last year i.e. March, 2024), based on General Indices and CFPIs are given as follows:

All India year-on-year inflation rates (%) based on CPI (General) and CFPI: March, 2025 over

March, 2024

		March, 2025 (Prov.)			February, 2025 (Final)			March, 2024
		Rural	Urban	Combd.	Rural	Urban	Combd.	Rural	Urban	Combd.
Inflation	CPI (General)	3.25	3.43	3.34	3.79	3.32	3.61	5.51	4.14	4.85
Inflation	CFPI	2.82	2.48	2.69	4.06	3.15	3.75	8.55	8.41	8.52
Index	CPI (General)	193.9	189.9	192.0	194.5	190.1	192.5	187.8	183.6	185.8
Index	CFPI	193.1	198.2	194.9	194.8	199.8	196.6	187.8	193.4	189.8

Notes: Prov. – Provisional, Combd. – Combined

Monthly changes in the General Indices and CFPIs are given below:

Monthly changes (%) in All India CPI (General) and CFPI: March, 2025 over February, 2025

Indices	March 2025 (Prov.)			February, 2025 (Final)			Monthly change (%)
Indices	Rural	Urban	Combd.	Rural	Urban	Combd.	Rural	Urban	Combd.
CPI (General)	193.9	189.9	192.0	194.5	190.1	192.5	-0.31	-0.11	-0.26
CFPI	193.1	198.2	194.9	194.8	199.8	196.6	-0.87	-0.80	-0.86

Notes: Prov. – Provisional, Combd. – Combined

Response rate: The price data are collected from selected 1114 urban Markets and 1181 villages covering all States/UTs through personal visits by field staff of Field Operations Division of NSO, MoSPI on a weekly roster. During the month of March, 2025, NSO collected prices from 100% villages and 98.6% urban markets while the market-wise prices reported therein were 89.8% for rural and 92.6% for urban.
Next date of release for April, 2025 CPI is 12^th May, 2025 (Monday). For more details, please visit the website www.cpi.mospi.gov.in or esankhyiki.mospi.gov.in

List of Annex

Annex	Title
I	All-India General, Group and Sub-group level CPI and CFPI numbers for February, 2025 (Final) and March, 2025 (Provisional) for Rural, Urban and Combined (Annexure I)
II	All-India inflation rates (%) for General, Group and Sub-group level CPI and CFPI numbers for March, 2025 (Provisional) for Rural, Urban and Combined (Annexure II)
III	General CPI for States for Rural, Urban and Combined for February, 2025 (Final) and March, 2025 (Provisional) (Annexure III)
IV	Year-on-year inflation rates (%) of major States for Rural, Urban and Combined for March, 2025 (Provisional) (Annexure IV)
V	Time Series Data for All India General CPI (Base 2012 =100) Since January, 2013 (Annexure V)
VI

Annexure- I

All-India General, Group and Sub-group level CPI and CFPI numbers for February, 2025 (Final) and March, 2025 (Provisional) for Rural, Urban and Combined (Base: 2012=100)

Group Code	Sub-group Code	Description	Rural			Urban			Combined
Group Code	Sub-group Code	Description	Weights	Feb. 25 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Weights	Feb. 25 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Weights	Feb. 25 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)
*(1)*	*(2)*	*(3)*	*(4)*	*(5)*	*(6)*	*(7)*	*(8)*	*(9)*	*(10)*	*(11)*	*(12)*
	1.1.01	Cereals and products	12.35	200.6	200.8	6.59	198.6	198.9	9.67	200.0	200.2
	1.1.02	Meat and fish	4.38	219.1	218.1	2.73	229.0	228.3	3.61	222.6	221.7
	1.1.03	Egg	0.49	194.9	185.3	0.36	200.0	190.3	0.43	196.9	187.2
	1.1.04	Milk and products	7.72	187.6	187.9	5.33	188.4	188.3	6.61	187.9	188.0
	1.1.05	Oils and fats	4.21	188.9	189.7	2.81	176.0	177.4	3.56	184.2	185.2
	1.1.06	Fruits	2.88	195.1	201.6	2.90	198.7	204.7	2.89	196.8	203.0
	1.1.07	Vegetables	7.46	181.2	171.0	4.41	216.8	204.3	6.04	193.3	182.3
	1.1.08	Pulses and products	2.95	200.2	194.3	1.73	205.1	199.3	2.38	201.9	196.0
	1.1.09	Sugar and Confectionery	1.70	131.4	133.1	0.97	133.8	135.0	1.36	132.2	133.7
	1.1.10	Spices	3.11	224.8	222.9	1.79	222.1	220.5	2.50	223.9	222.1
	1.2.11	Non-alcoholic beverages	1.37	188.3	188.9	1.13	177.3	178.0	1.26	183.7	184.3
	1.1.12	Prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc.	5.56	202.4	202.9	5.54	214.0	214.9	5.55	207.8	208.5
1		Food and beverages	54.18	195.4	194.0	36.29	201.3	200.1	45.86	197.6	196.2
2		Pan, tobacco and intoxicants	3.26	209.0	209.7	1.36	213.4	213.8	2.38	210.2	210.8
	3.1.01	Clothing	6.32	200.7	201.0	4.72	190.8	191.2	5.58	196.8	197.1
	3.1.02	Footwear	1.04	194.1	194.3	0.85	176.2	176.7	0.95	186.7	187.0
3		Clothing and footwear	7.36	199.8	200.0	5.57	188.6	189.0	6.53	195.4	195.6
4		Housing	–	–	–	21.67	183.7	183.6	10.07	183.7	183.6
5		Fuel and light	7.94	182.8	182.7	5.58	171.0	171.3	6.84	178.3	178.4
	6.1.01	Household goods and services	3.75	187.7	187.3	3.87	179.1	179.6	3.80	183.6	183.7
	6.1.02	Health	6.83	201.6	202.4	4.81	196.3	197.4	5.89	199.6	200.5
	6.1.03	Transport and communication	7.60	177.7	178.1	9.73	166.6	166.9	8.59	171.9	172.2
	6.1.04	Recreation and amusement	1.37	181.9	181.1	2.04	177.3	177.7	1.68	179.3	179.2
	6.1.05	Education	3.46	192.6	193.1	5.62	188.2	188.6	4.46	190.0	190.5
	6.1.06	Personal care and effects	4.25	214.2	216.8	3.47	216.3	219.2	3.89	215.1	217.8
6		Miscellaneous	27.26	192.9	193.5	29.53	183.8	184.6	28.32	188.5	189.2
General Index (All Groups)			100.00	194.5	193.9	100.00	190.1	189.9	100.00	192.5	192.0
Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)			47.25	194.8	193.1	29.62	199.8	198.2	39.06	196.6	194.9

Notes:

Prov. : Provisional.
CFPI : Out of 12 sub-groups contained in ‘Food and Beverages’ group, CFPI is based on ten sub-groups, excluding ‘Non-alcoholic beverages’ and ‘Prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc.’.

– : CPI (Rural) for housing is not compiled.

Annexure- II

All-India year-on-year inflation rates (%) for General, Group and Sub-group level CPI and CFPI numbers for March, 2025 (Provisional) for Rural, Urban and Combined (Base: 2012=100)

Group Code	Sub-group Code	Description	Rural			Urban			Combined
Group Code	Sub-group Code	Description	Mar. 24 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Inflation Rate (%)	Mar. 24 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Inflation Rate (%)	Mar. 24 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Inflation Rate (%)
*(1)*	*(2)*	*(3)*	*(4)*	*(5)*	*(6)*	*(7)*	*(8)*	*(9)*	*(10)*	*(11)*	*(12)*
	1.1.01	Cereals and products	189.3	200.8	6.08	188.5	198.9	5.52	189.0	200.2	5.93
	1.1.02	Meat and fish	217.9	218.1	0.09	226.7	228.3	0.71	221.0	221.7	0.32
	1.1.03	Egg	192.7	185.3	-3.84	194.3	190.3	-2.06	193.3	187.2	-3.16
	1.1.04	Milk and products	183.2	187.9	2.57	183.6	188.3	2.56	183.3	188.0	2.56
	1.1.05	Oils and fats	160.2	189.7	18.41	154.7	177.4	14.67	158.2	185.2	17.07
	1.1.06	Fruits	172.8	201.6	16.67	176.7	204.7	15.85	174.6	203.0	16.27
	1.1.07	Vegetables	182.5	171.0	-6.30	222.6	204.3	-8.22	196.1	182.3	-7.04
	1.1.08	Pulses and products	199.7	194.3	-2.70	205.0	199.3	-2.78	201.5	196.0	-2.73
	1.1.09	Sugar and Confectionery	128.0	133.1	3.98	130.1	135.0	3.77	128.7	133.7	3.89
	1.1.10	Spices	236.3	222.9	-5.67	228.2	220.5	-3.37	233.6	222.1	-4.92
	1.2.11	Non-alcoholic beverages	182.1	188.9	3.73	170.3	178.0	4.52	177.2	184.3	4.01
	1.1.12	Prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc.	195.9	202.9	3.57	204.6	214.9	5.03	199.9	208.5	4.30
1		Food and beverages	188.5	194.0	2.92	194.4	200.1	2.93	190.7	196.2	2.88
2		Pan, tobacco and intoxicants	204.0	209.7	2.79	210.2	213.8	1.71	205.7	210.8	2.48
	3.1.01	Clothing	195.8	201.0	2.66	185.8	191.2	2.91	191.9	197.1	2.71
	3.1.02	Footwear	191.1	194.3	1.67	172.3	176.7	2.55	183.3	187.0	2.02
3		Clothing and footwear	195.1	200.0	2.51	183.8	189.0	2.83	190.6	195.6	2.62
4		Housing	–	–	–	178.2	183.6	3.03	178.2	183.6	3.03
5		Fuel and light	181.0	182.7	0.94	167.4	171.3	2.33	175.8	178.4	1.48
	6.1.01	Household goods and services	183.3	187.3	2.18	174.0	179.6	3.22	178.9	183.7	2.68
	6.1.02	Health	194.3	202.4	4.17	189.1	197.4	4.39	192.3	200.5	4.26
	6.1.03	Transport and communication	172.0	178.1	3.55	161.9	166.9	3.09	166.7	172.2	3.30
	6.1.04	Recreation and amusement	177.8	181.1	1.86	172.8	177.7	2.84	175.0	179.2	2.40
	6.1.05	Education	186.1	193.1	3.76	181.2	188.6	4.08	183.2	190.5	3.98
	6.1.06	Personal care and effects	191.3	216.8	13.33	192.8	219.2	13.69	191.9	217.8	13.50
6		Miscellaneous	184.2	193.5	5.05	176.0	184.6	4.89	180.2	189.2	4.99
General Index (All Groups)			187.8	193.9	3.25	183.6	189.9	3.43	185.8	192.0	3.34
Consumer Food Price Index			187.8	193.1	2.82	193.4	198.2	2.48	189.8	194.9	2.69

Notes:

Prov. : Provisional.
– : CPI (Rural) for housing is not compiled.

Annexure- III

General CPI for States for Rural, Urban and Combined for February, 2025 (Final) and March, 2025 (Provisional) (Base: 2012=100)

Sl. No.	Name of the State/UT	Rural			Urban			Combined
Sl. No.	Name of the State/UT	Weights	Feb. 25 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Weights	Feb. 25 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Weights	Feb. 25 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)
*(1)*	*(2)*	*(3)*	*(4)*	*(5)*	*(6)*	*(7)*	*(8)*	*(9)*	*(10)*	*(11)*
1	Andhra Pradesh	5.40	196.3	195.7	3.64	198.5	197.9	4.58	197.1	196.5
2	Arunachal Pradesh	0.14	196.9	196.2	0.06	—	—	0.10	196.9	196.2
3	Assam	2.63	196.8	195.8	0.79	194.4	194.0	1.77	196.3	195.4
4	Bihar	8.21	187.8	187.4	1.62	197.8	197.2	5.14	189.3	188.8
5	Chhattisgarh	1.68	186.6	185.7	1.22	181.4	180.8	1.46	184.6	183.8
6	Delhi	0.28	174.5	174.2	5.64	171.6	171.8	2.77	171.8	171.9
7	Goa	0.14	184.0	185.6	0.25	182.1	182.8	0.19	182.8	183.9
8	Gujarat	4.54	189.4	188.7	6.82	178.6	179.0	5.60	183.3	183.2
9	Haryana	3.30	196.2	196.1	3.35	184.0	184.6	3.32	190.5	190.7
10	Himachal Pradesh	1.03	180.0	179.4	0.26	184.9	184.7	0.67	180.9	180.4
11	Jharkhand	1.96	186.2	185.1	1.39	189.6	189.8	1.69	187.5	186.9
12	Karnataka	5.09	199.1	198.3	6.81	201.0	201.0	5.89	200.1	199.8
13	Kerala	5.50	207.6	207.5	3.46	201.6	201.4	4.55	205.5	205.3
14	Madhya Pradesh	4.93	191.5	191.1	3.97	192.4	192.4	4.48	191.9	191.6
15	Maharashtra	8.25	192.4	192.0	18.86	186.7	186.6	13.18	188.6	188.4
16	Manipur	0.23	229.5	227.2	0.12	189.2	188.7	0.18	216.7	215.0
17	Meghalaya	0.28	178.6	178.2	0.15	186.5	186.0	0.22	181.1	180.6
18	Mizoram	0.07	207.3	207.1	0.13	181.5	181.9	0.10	191.6	191.7
19	Nagaland	0.14	202.4	201.5	0.12	184.4	184.3	0.13	194.7	194.2
20	Odisha	2.93	196.4	195.3	1.31	186.7	186.1	2.18	193.7	192.7
21	Punjab	3.31	188.6	188.8	3.09	178.3	179.3	3.21	184.0	184.5
22	Rajasthan	6.63	190.5	189.9	4.23	188.2	188.1	5.51	189.7	189.3
23	Sikkim	0.06	203.1	201.4	0.03	188.1	187.8	0.05	198.2	197.0
24	Tamil Nadu	5.55	202.3	200.3	9.20	199.2	198.3	7.25	200.5	199.1
25	Telangana	3.16	203.4	202.2	4.41	199.9	198.5	3.74	201.5	200.2
26	Tripura	0.35	208.5	209.8	0.14	200.0	199.4	0.25	206.3	207.1
27	Uttar Pradesh	14.83	193.1	192.8	9.54	190.2	190.2	12.37	192.1	191.9
28	Uttarakhand	1.06	187.2	187.4	0.73	192.3	192.7	0.91	189.1	189.4
29	West Bengal	6.99	196.8	196.5	7.20	193.8	193.4	7.09	195.4	195.0
30	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	0.05	200.1	200.1	0.07	188.2	187.6	0.06	194.0	193.7
31	Chandigarh	0.02	189.9	190.0	0.34	177.5	177.6	0.17	178.2	178.3
32	Dadra & Nagar Haveli	0.02	178.5	176.7	0.04	186.3	185.2	0.03	183.7	182.4
33	Daman & Diu	0.02	197.6	196.9	0.02	186.8	186.4	0.02	193.1	192.5
34	Jammu & Kashmir*	1.14	204.7	205.4	0.72	197.7	197.7	0.94	202.2	202.7
35	Lakshadweep	0.01	198.3	197.9	0.01	188.1	189.6	0.01	193.1	193.7
36	Puducherry	0.08	206.6	203.9	0.27	197.6	196.5	0.17	199.9	198.4
All India		100.00	194.5	193.9	100.00	190.1	189.9	100.00	192.5	192.0

Notes:

Prov.: Provisional
–: indicates the receipt of price schedules is less than 80% of allocated schedules and therefore indices are not compiled.
*: Figures of this row pertain to the prices and weights of the combined Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir

and Ladakh (erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir).

Annexure- IV

Year-on-year inflation rates (%) of major^@ States for Rural, Urban and Combined for March, 2025 (Provisional) (Base: 2012=100)

Sl. No.	Name of the State/UT	Rural			Urban			Combined
Sl. No.	Name of the State/UT	Mar. 24 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Inflation Rate (%)	Mar. 24 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Inflation Rate (%)	Mar. 24 Index (Final)	Mar. 25 Index (Prov.)	Inflation Rate (%)
*(1)*	*(2)*	*(3)*	*(4)*	*(5)*	*(6)*	*(7)*	*(8)*	*(9)*	*(10)*	*(11)*
1	Andhra Pradesh	191.6	195.7	2.14	191.9	197.9	3.13	191.7	196.5	2.50
2	Assam	189.4	195.8	3.38	184.8	194.0	4.98	188.5	195.4	3.66
3	Bihar	182.2	187.4	2.85	188.7	197.2	4.50	183.1	188.8	3.11
4	Chhattisgarh	177.4	185.7	4.68	174.5	180.8	3.61	176.3	183.8	4.25
5	Delhi	169.6	174.2	2.71	169.4	171.8	1.42	169.4	171.9	1.48
6	Gujarat	183.9	188.7	2.61	174.3	179.0	2.70	178.5	183.2	2.63
7	Haryana	188.9	196.1	3.81	177.8	184.6	3.82	183.7	190.7	3.81
8	Himachal Pradesh	173.9	179.4	3.16	178.7	184.7	3.36	174.8	180.4	3.20
9	Jharkhand	182.5	185.1	1.42	184.0	189.8	3.15	183.1	186.9	2.08
10	Karnataka	190.5	198.3	4.09	191.9	201.0	4.74	191.3	199.8	4.44
11	Kerala	193.4	207.5	7.29	191.1	201.4	5.39	192.6	205.3	6.59
12	Madhya Pradesh	184.7	191.1	3.47	187.4	192.4	2.67	185.8	191.6	3.12
13	Maharashtra	186.3	192.0	3.06	179.0	186.6	4.25	181.4	188.4	3.86
14	Odisha	188.8	195.3	3.44	181.3	186.1	2.65	186.7	192.7	3.21
15	Punjab	181.4	188.8	4.08	173.8	179.3	3.16	178.0	184.5	3.65
16	Rajasthan	184.9	189.9	2.70	183.6	188.1	2.45	184.4	189.3	2.66
17	Tamil Nadu	193.3	200.3	3.62	190.9	198.3	3.88	191.9	199.1	3.75
18	Telangana	201.8	202.2	0.20	195.0	198.5	1.79	198.1	200.2	1.06
19	Uttar Pradesh	187.2	192.8	2.99	184.8	190.2	2.92	186.3	191.9	3.01
20	Uttarakhand	181.9	187.4	3.02	183.6	192.7	4.96	182.5	189.4	3.78
21	West Bengal	190.5	196.5	3.15	187.3	193.4	3.26	189.0	195.0	3.17
22	Jammu & Kashmir*	196.8	205.4	4.37	191.4	197.7	3.29	194.9	202.7	4.00
All India		187.8	193.9	3.25	183.6	189.9	3.43	185.8	192.0	3.34

Notes:

Prov. : Provisional.
* : Figures of this row pertain to the prices and weights of the combined Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir).
^@ : States having population more than 50 lakhs as per Population Census 2011.

Annexure-V

Time Series Data for All India General CPI (Base 2012 =100) Since January, 2013

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2013	104.6	105.3	105.5	106.1	106.9	109.3	111.0	112.4	113.7	114.8	116.3	114.5
2014	113.6	113.6	114.2	115.1	115.8	116.7	119.2	120.3	120.1	120.1	120.1	119.4
2015	119.5	119.7	120.2	120.7	121.6	123.0	123.6	124.8	125.4	126.1	126.6	126.1
2016	126.3	126.0	126.0	127.3	128.6	130.1	131.1	131.1	130.9	131.4	131.2	130.4
2017	130.3	130.6	130.9	131.1	131.4	132.0	134.2	135.4	135.2	136.1	137.6	137.2
2018	136.9	136.4	136.5	137.1	137.8	138.5	139.8	140.4	140.2	140.7	140.8	140.1
2019	139.6	139.9	140.4	141.2	142.0	142.9	144.2	145.0	145.8	147.2	148.6	150.4
2020	150.2	149.1	148.6	151.4	150.9	151.8	153.9	154.7	156.4	158.4	158.9	157.3
2021	156.3	156.6	156.8	157.8	160.4	161.3	162.5	162.9	163.2	165.5	166.7	166.2
2022	165.7	166.1	167.7	170.1	171.7	172.6	173.4	174.3	175.3	176.7	176.5	175.7
2023	176.5	176.8	177.2	178.1	179.1	181.0	186.3	186.2	184.1	185.3	186.3	185.7
2024	185.5	185.8	185.8	186.7	187.7	190.2	193.0	193.0	194.2	196.8	196.5	195.4
2025	193.4	192.5	192.0*

Notes:

* : Index Value for March 2025 is Provisional.

Annexure-VI

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2014	8.60	7.88	8.25	8.48	8.33	6.77	7.39	7.03	5.63	4.62	3.27	4.28
2015	5.19	5.37	5.25	4.87	5.01	5.40	3.69	3.74	4.41	5.00	5.41	5.61
2016	5.69	5.26	4.83	5.47	5.76	5.77	6.07	5.05	4.39	4.20	3.63	3.41
2017	3.17	3.65	3.89	2.99	2.18	1.46	2.36	3.28	3.28	3.58	4.88	5.21
2018	5.07	4.44	4.28	4.58	4.87	4.92	4.17	3.69	3.70	3.38	2.33	2.11
2019	1.97	2.57	2.86	2.99	3.05	3.18	3.15	3.28	3.99	4.62	5.54	7.35
2020	7.59	6.58	5.84	–	–	6.23	6.73	6.69	7.27	7.61	6.93	4.59
2021	4.06	5.03	5.52	4.23	6.30	6.26	5.59	5.30	4.35	4.48	4.91	5.66
2022	6.01	6.07	6.95	7.79	7.04	7.01	6.71	7.00	7.41	6.77	5.88	5.72
2023	6.52	6.44	5.66	4.70	4.31	4.87	7.44	6.83	5.02	4.87	5.55	5.69
2024	5.10	5.09	4.85	4.83	4.80	5.08	3.60	3.65	5.49	6.21	5.48	5.22
2025	4.26	3.61	3.34*

Notes:

* : Inflation Value for March 2025 is Provisional.
– : Inflation was not compiled and released due to Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.

Click here to see PDF.

****

Samrat

(Release ID: 2121843)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 16, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: Des Moines food pantries face spiking demand as the Iowa region’s SNAP enrollment declines

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lendie R. Follett, Associate Professor of Business Analytics, Drake University

A volunteer loads food into a bag at the Des Moines Area Religious Council food pantry in 2020. AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

As part of its drive to cut federal spending, the Trump administration has paused over US$500 million of funds that had previously flowed annually to food banks across the U.S. It’s not the only policy change that could make it harder than it already is for many Americans to get enough to eat.

I’m a professor of statistics who finds hidden patterns in data related to food insecurity in Iowa. I also serve on the board of directors of Iowa’s largest network of food pantries.

Food pantries in Iowa have seen demand for their assistance soar in recent years. At the same time, fewer Iowans have been enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, through which low-income Americans get money from the government to buy groceries.

Hunger in the breadbasket of the world

It may seem illogical that anyone in Iowa would need help obtaining food.

Known as the “breadbasket of the world,” my state plays a crucial role in food production as a top supplier of grain, meats and eggs to both domestic and international markets.

For example, in 2023, Iowa led the nation in corn production, harvesting over 2.5 billion bushels. It’s also the top producer of eggs, supplying more than 13 billion eggs per year.

Despite this agricultural abundance, food insecurity – not being able to maintain an adequate diet – is a pressing issue. In 2022, an estimated 1 in 9 Iowans were hungry. This rate was even higher among children: 1 in 6.

Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry worker Patrick Minor looks over a cooler full of ground pork packages during a pantry stop in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2020.
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Food pantries struggle to keep up

Many food-insecure families turn to food pantries to fill their refrigerators and cupboards.

The Des Moines Area Religious Council operates 14 food pantries in the Polk County area. This network of food pantries has been seeing record-breaking demand. It provided food to more than 70,000 people in 2024, up from 59,000 a year earlier.

About 35% of the people it supports are children. This rate has been increasing since government phased out COVID-19 pandemic-era programs, such as the Child Tax Credit expansion and summer EBT, a federal nutrition program that helped low-income families feed their kids when schools were closed.

Some 19% of food pantry clients in the Des Moines region are unemployed adults, only 8% are people who are 65 and up, and 38% are adults who are either working or have disabilities.

Scaling back benefits in 2022

Early in the pandemic, Congress temporarily expanded SNAP by providing everyone enrolled in the program with the maximum amount of benefits for which they were eligible based on the number of people in their family, regardless of their income. Normally, only 37% of the people who get SNAP benefits get the maximum amount. For 2025, for example, a family of three can get up to $768 a month through the program.

In March 2022, Iowa became one of the first states to end this policy, creating a natural experiment of sorts at a time when food prices were rising quickly.

As you might expect, the number of clients visiting food pantries surged once that policy changed. This trend continued throughout 2024, with many months of record-breaking demand at the state’s food pantries.

Hunger is up, SNAP enrollment is down

While most food pantry visitors in Polk County qualify for at least some SNAP benefits, only around 1 in 3 are enrolled in the program today, down from 44% in 2020.

This decline in SNAP enrollment is placing more pressure on the food pantries trying to make up the difference.

Low SNAP enrollment rates can be partly explained by low benefit amounts, which is all that some eligible individuals and families qualify for.

Recent laws have made it more difficult for families to be eligible to receive benefits. In 2023, Iowa introduced a state-specific asset test, which limits the total assets of all members of a family to $15,000 in order to maintain eligibility. This test includes the value of boats, vacation homes and savings accounts. It also includes a second vehicle used for household transportation purposes, but not a family’s primary residence.

Another consideration is time management, especially in light of the additional administrative hurdles.

“The time it is taking these working households to get and maintain their SNAP benefits is significantly more time and effort than simply visiting a local food pantry,” said Matt Unger, Des Moines Area Religious Council’s CEO. “Here in Iowa, we are facing nearly a 17-year low in SNAP enrollment while food banks and food pantries across the state are breaking records every month. Something just doesn’t add up.”

Congress is currently deciding whether to cut SNAP spending. If lawmakers do that, benefits will decline, increasing the strain on food pantries in Iowa and everywhere else across the country.

Lendie R. Follett is affiliated with the Des Moines Area Religious Council. She currently serves on the board of directors.

– ref. Des Moines food pantries face spiking demand as the Iowa region’s SNAP enrollment declines – https://theconversation.com/des-moines-food-pantries-face-spiking-demand-as-the-iowa-regions-snap-enrollment-declines-252351

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Sees Continued Housing Starts Growth

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on April 15, 2025

Province Ranks First in Canada for Growth in Urban Housing Starts

Today, Statistics Canada released data showing that urban housing starts in Saskatchewan increased by 96.5 per cent in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This places Saskatchewan first among the provinces for growth in this category.

“Saskatchewan is growing at rates not seen for more than a century and these numbers are demonstrating the effectiveness of our economic growth initiatives,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “By creating jobs, encouraging investment and expanding opportunities, we are delivering the programs, services and infrastructure needed for a growing province.”

In March 2025, urban housing starts in Saskatchewan increased by 160.8 per cent, compared to March 2024. This ranks third among the provinces for year-over-year growth.

In March 2025, housing starts on single family dwellings increased by 90.8 per cent, and multiple units increased by 193.3 per cent, compared to March 2024.

Housing starts are a measure of the number of new housing builds where construction has begun.

Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2023 real GDP reached an all-time high of $77.9 billion, increasing by $1.8 billion, or 2.3 per cent. This ties Saskatchewan for second in the nation for real GDP growth, and above the national average of 1.6 per cent.

Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 17.3 per cent to $14.7 billion, ranking first among provinces for growth. Private capital investment is projected to reach $16.2 billion in 2025, an increase of 10.1 per cent over 2024. This is the second highest anticipated percentage increase among the provinces.

Last year, the province released Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy, in conjunction with the launch of the investSK.ca website. These initiatives are positioned to amplify growth in Saskatchewan, serving as pivotal instruments in driving further development.

For more information visit: InvestSK.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Annual Energy Outlook 2025
Source: US Energy Information Administration

Introduction

The Annual Energy Outlook 2025 (AEO2025) explores potential long-term energy trends in the United States. AEO2025 is published in accordance with Section 205c of the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-91), which requires the Administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to prepare an annual report that contains trends and projections of energy consumption and supply. These projections are used by federal, state, and local governments; industry; trade associations; and other planners and decisionmakers in the public and private sectors.

We prepared the AEO by using the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) to project a set of scenarios that, taken together, represent a range of outcomes for the U.S. energy system. AEO2025 represents the culmination of a year-long effort that enabled major upgrades to NEMS.

Our policy assumptions are central to understanding our AEO2025 projections. In most of the cases we model, we only consider laws and regulations implemented as of December 2024. As is the case every time we prepare an AEO, a cutoff date is necessary to enable us to conclude our modeling and integrate the final results for publication. Therefore, legislation, regulations, executive actions, and court rulings after that date are not included. We are releasing the model results without a lengthy market analysis this year.

The U.S. energy system underwent major changes in the first quarter of the 21st century as oil and natural gas production surged, renewables were deployed more widely, and energy consumption patterns changed. AEO2025 can help stakeholders examine the ways in which the system could further change through 2050.

Energy markets are complex. Energy models are simplified representations of energy production and consumption, laws and regulations, and producer and consumer behavior. Projections are highly dependent on the data, methodologies, model structures, and assumptions used in their development. These results are not predictions of what will happen. Instead, AEO2025 results represent modeled projections of what could happen given certain assumptions and methodologies.

Consistent with our historical practices and statutory mission, we do not independently propose or advocate future legislative and regulatory changes, although at times we do analyze scenarios based on existing policy proposals. Our assumptions documents provide additional details on the assumptions we included in AEO2025, and an overview of the laws and regulations included in AEO2025 is available on the AEO website.

AEO2025’s projections reflect business-as-usual trends, given known technological and demographic trends and current laws and regulations, and so provides a policy-neutral Reference case and an accompanying set of core side cases that can be used to analyze policy initiatives. For some readers, this approach may be unsatisfying because policy rarely remains static for long periods. But the purpose of basing projections on laws and regulations as of December 2024 is to provide a comparison point for further analysis; without such a reference point, critical information about incremental changes to energy system outcomes based on new assumptions is lost.

Because policies can have meaningful impacts on the energy sector, we have also included two alternative policy cases this year to help stakeholders to examine the effects of regulations implemented since our last AEO. When compared with the Reference case, one case allows stakeholders to examine the effects of recent regulations on power plants and the other recent regulations targeting vehicle fuel economy and emissions.

Modeled Cases

Outcomes concerning future technology, demographics, and resources cannot be known with any degree of certainty. We address many key uncertainties in our projections through alternative cases. In AEO2025, we ran 11 cases to model a range of assumptions. In addition to the two alternative policy cases we examined this year, we also include eight core side cases, which we have presented in prior releases of the AEO. A detailed explanation of each case is available on the website, and a brief description is in the following sections.

AEO2025 Reference case

Our Reference case assesses how the U.S. energy markets could operate under laws and regulations current as of December 2024 and under historically observed technological growth assumptions.

Alternative Electricity case

Our Alternative Electricity case assumes the Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 111 rule implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April 2024 to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from new gas-fired combustion turbines and existing coal, oil, and gas-fired steam generating units is not in place, and the affected generators are able to operate under rules existing prior to April 2024. In this case, existing coal-fired plants continue operating without requiring modifications to reduce emissions, and generation from new natural gas-fired combined cycle units isn’t constrained based on whether the plant has installed carbon capture equipment.

Alternative Transportation case

Our Alternative Transportation case assumes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards and EPA’s vehicle tailpipe emission standards for model years 2027–2032 are not in place. The case also assumes the California Air Resources Board’s zero-emission vehicle sale mandates for trucks issued since our last published AEO are not in place. Rules affecting fuel economy and tailpipe emissions that were issued for model years 2026 and earlier remain in place. In this case, introduction of new electric vehicle (EV) models and building of EV charging infrastructure are based on growth in EV sales and registrations rather than on announced public and private sector plans. In addition, manufacturer reshoring of EV and battery supply chains, including growth in eligibility for credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, is slower than in the Reference case.

High and Low Oil Price cases

In the High Oil Price case, the price of Brent crude oil increases to $155 per barrel (b) in 2050, compared with $91/b in the Reference case and $47/b in the Low Oil Price case.

High and Low Oil and Gas Supply cases

The High Oil and Gas Supply case assumes ultimate recovery for new tight oil, tight gas, or shale gas wells are 50% higher than in the Reference case. The case also assumes 50% higher undiscovered resources in Alaska and offshore fields. Technological improvement is assumed to be 50% faster. The Low Oil and Gas Supply case assumes the converse.

High and Low Zero-Carbon Technology Cost cases

The Low Zero-Carbon Technology Cost case assumes faster cost declines for electricity-generating technologies that produce zero emissions as construction and manufacturing experience grows, resulting in 40% lower costs than in the Reference case in 2050. The High Zero-Carbon Technology Cost case, conversely, assumes no additional cost reductions from learning with additional deployment of these electricity generating technologies.

High and Low Economic Growth cases

The High Economic Growth case assumes the compound annual growth rate for U.S. GDP is 2.1% through 2050, and the Low Economic Growth case assumes a 1.2% rate. By contrast, the Reference case assumes the U.S. GDP annual growth rate is 1.8% over the projection period.

Major changes for AEO2025

In 2024 we made significant updates to NEMS, and an overview of the changes can be found in our assumptions documents and in the module-specific fact sheets. Briefly, the model that underpins our outlook now includes three new modules:
- The Hydrogen Market Module, which represents hydrogen production and pricing, including the impacts of policy, storage, and logistics
- The Carbon Capture, Allocation, Transportation, and Sequestration Module, which allocates projected supply of captured CO2 across the energy system either for enhanced oil recovery or storage
- The Hydrocarbon Supply Module, which improves the representation of upstream oil and natural gas resources, replacing the legacy NEMS Oil and Gas Supply Module
In addition to the new modules, we have extensively enhanced many existing modules to better reflect market dynamics and emerging technologies. We will provide additional details in the AEO2025 model documentation in the coming months.

We have rewritten and modernized significant portions of the NEMS code base. The source code associated with NEMS is now available via GitHub under an open-source license.

In addition to changes to NEMS, we also updated the way we calculate primary energy consumption of electricity generation from noncombustible renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal. We now calculate consumption of noncombustible renewable energy for electricity generation using the captured energy approach, which applies a constant conversion factor of 3,412 British thermal units per kilowatthour (Btu/kWh), using the heat content of electricity. This approach is a change from our previous methodology, called the fossil fuel equivalency approach, and is consistent with the methodology now used for all EIA products and reports.

The captured energy approach is more consistent with international energy statistics standards than the fossil fuel equivalency approach.

MIL OSI USA News –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM Chief Urges Greater Global Support to Haiti Amid Growing Crisis

Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Port-au-Prince, 15 April 2025 – Amid a worsening humanitarian emergency in Haiti, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope concluded a high-level visit this week urging the international community to step up and support for communities uprooted by violence and instability.

More than 1 million people are now displaced inside of Haiti – triple the number from just a year ago. Gang control over vast areas of Port-au-Prince has forced families to flee repeatedly, leaving them without access to shelter, water, or medical care. At the same time, nearly 200,000 Haitians were deported back from neighboring countries last year, adding pressure to already overwhelmed local systems.

“This is one of the most complex and urgent crises in the world, with implications for regional and global stability,” said DG Pope. “When we invest in humanitarian support, we don’t just save lives – we build resilience and safety to helps stabilize communities and reduce the conditions that cause forced migration.”

During her visit, DG Pope met with displaced families at a Port-au-Prince site, listening to their experiences and assessing their most pressing needs. “A mother told me she had fled her neighborhood three times in two months. She was living under a tarp with her children, with no idea where they could go next,” DG Pope said. “These are not just statistics—they are lives caught in crisis over and over.”

DG Pope also held discussions with Haitian Government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Religious Affairs, and Haitians Living Abroad, to identify concrete ways to reinforce migration governance, broaden access to legal documentation, and strengthen reintegration.

IOM is currently leading efforts across more than 50 displacement sites, including shelter, camp management, protection, and emergency water, sanitation and hygiene services – even in areas affected by violence. The organization is also working with communities to rehabilitate infrastructure and expand access to education and livelihoods.

Beyond immediate relief, IOM is also helping people reintegrate into communities, including through the rehabilitation of public infrastructure to expand access to essential services in areas that are hosting displaced people.

“The Haitian people are showing remarkable strength in the face of unthinkable hardship,” DG Pope said. “But relying on resilience alone is not a strategy. The Haitian people need support—and they need it now. The cost of inaction will not only be measured in lives lost, but also in broader instability that affects us all.”

IOM remains committed to working alongside the Haitian people and the Haitian Government to restore safety, dignity, and opportunities for people across the country.

For more information please contact:

In Haiti: Antoine Lemonnier, alemonnier@iom.int

In Panama: Jorge Gallo, jgallo@iom.int

In Geneva: Daniela Rovina, drovina@iom.int

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: State’s first Work Zone Speed Camera launches April 16 on I-5 near JBLM

Source: Washington State News 2

Cameras focus on safety by slowing speeders and protecting workers on Washington highways

OLYMPIA – Washington transportation leaders are taking a bold step to protect road construction workers and drivers as the first Work Zone Speed Camera begins enforcement Wednesday, April 16, near Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The trailer-mounted camera photographs vehicles speeding through active work zones. The Washington State Department of Transportation will rotate the camera between construction, maintenance and emergency projects where speeding is an issue. This safety tool aims to protect workers and the traveling public by encouraging drivers to follow work zone speed limits and reducing the number of speed-related crashes. The first site was selected because of ongoing safety concerns with people speeding through that Interstate 5 work zone.

Signs will notify drivers when the camera is at a job site and when possible, a radar feedback sign will accompany the camera to remind drivers to slow down. The program will expand with two more cameras this spring and three more by summer.

“Too many workers have been injured or killed, and statistics show drivers are not slowing down,” said Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith. “This provides another tool to help ensure workers – and everyone on the roadway – comes home safe at the end of the day.”

Program and enforcement details

The cameras will only record infractions when workers are present on a job site. Work can take place day or night, so drivers should assume there are workers in all work zones, particularly if they are in the area where they see a sign notifying them about a camera ahead.

After the camera detects a speeding vehicle, information will be forwarded to the Washington State Patrol. The photos do not include images of drivers. Troopers will determine if a violation was committed and, if so, issue an infraction. The vehicle’s registered owner will receive the infraction in the mail and can contest it, ask for a reduction or request a payment plan.

When someone receives a notice of infraction, they will be directed to the program’s website to acknowledge the incident. There is no fine for the first work zone speed camera infraction; the second and every infraction after that is $248. The vehicle’s registered owner must respond to the notice of infraction online or through the mail, even if it carries no financial penalty. The infractions are recorded as non-moving violations and do not affect driving records or insurance. Unpaid fines will be added to vehicle registration renewals.

The state Office of Administrative Hearings will oversee appeals for infractions. After people appeal, they can submit supporting evidence such as photographs or other documents for the judge to consider. Depending on the reason for the appeal, they will have either a brief adjudicative proceeding, which involves only documents, or a formal adjudicative hearing, where they can also provide testimony over the phone to a judge.

Legislative, agency and industry partnerships

The cameras result from partnerships and support by the state Legislature, several state agencies, law enforcement and union and industry groups. Legislation for the cameras took effect July 1, 2023, with an Amendment bill passed the following year.

The money received from fines will pay for the program’s costs and any extra money will support WSP DUI and safety programs. The program runs through 2030 unless extended by the Legislature.

Proven safety tool

Through scanning light detection and ranging, called LiDAR, the camera detects vehicles traveling faster than the posted speed limit and takes images of the vehicle, its license plate and related information (e.g., speed limit, a vehicle’s recorded speed, location, date, time, etc.). Work zone speed camera vendor Elovate works with other states on similar programs, including Maryland and Indiana.

Since 2020, Washington has averaged 1,345 work zone crashes every year. Meredith said the goal of the safety program is to reduce speeding, not issue tickets.

“We would be ecstatic if these cameras never resulted in infractions,” she said, “because that would mean drivers instead changed their behavior.”

This program is separate from the recently launched Highway Speed Camera Program, which is currently underway on I-5 and I-90 in Skagit and Spokane counties.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Law Library Publishes New Report on Permitted Uses of Antimicrobials in Animal Agriculture

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Antimicrobials are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants. However, the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in people and animals, especially food-producing animals, may lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), meaning “the ability of bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi to resist these medicines.” In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) named AMR one of the top 10 threats to global health. Similarly, in 2022, the European Union’s (EU’s) Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), together with the EU member states, identified threats resulting from AMR as one of the top three serious cross-border health threats in the EU. Data from the WHO shows that AMR resulted in over 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur each year in the U.S., and that more than 35,000 people die as a result.

The Global Legal Research Directorate (GLRD) of the Law Library of Congress recently completed research on the permitted uses of antimicrobials in animal agriculture in selected jurisdictions, namely Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the EU, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and Russia. The report that resulted from this research focuses on whether antimicrobials are allowed as food and feed additives to promote growth and increase yield, or to prevent, control, or treat disease in animals. In addition, it provides information on whether the surveyed jurisdictions follow a “One Health Approach” concerning AMR. One Health recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the environment are closely linked and interdependent. Lastly, the report includes statistics on antimicrobial use (AMU), antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and AMR.

We invite you to review the information provided in our report here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China releases document to clarify statistical standards for five financial sectors

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

China releases document to clarify statistical standards for five financial sectors

BEIJING, April 15 — China issued a document to clarify the statistical standards for five financial sectors in its latest efforts to achieve full coverage of statistical data, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced on Tuesday.

The document, issued by the PBOC in collaboration with the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said that high-quality statistical data support is required for technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance.

The document focused on standardizing the statistical entities, scope, indicators, methodologies, identification criteria, data collection, sharing, publication, and division of responsibilities among the departments concerning these sectors.

Experts believe that establishing comprehensive and standardized statistics for these financial sectors will provide strong support for the precise implementation of various policy tools.

This year’s government work report notes that China will improve the standards and foundational institutions for technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance.

MIL OSI China News –

April 16, 2025

MIL-OSI: White River Bancshares Co. Reports Net Income of $2.63 million, or $1.07 Per Diluted Share, for the First Quarter of 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — White River Bancshares Company (OTCQX: WRIV), (the “Company”) the holding company for Signature Bank of Arkansas (the “Bank”), today reported net income increased to $2.63 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $509,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024. The Company reported net income of $1.83 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, for the prior quarter. All financial results are unaudited and all per share data has been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split effected September 4, 2024.

“Thanks to a solid start to the year, we produced the strongest first quarter earnings in our Bank’s history,” said Gary Head, Chairman and CEO. “Loan portfolio growth contributed to an increase in net interest income compared to the first quarter of 2024. This is exactly the kind of excitement I’ve been ‘banking on’ as we head into the second quarter and celebrate the Bank’s 20 year anniversary. I am confident in our team’s capability and enthusiasm to build upon this momentum for the rest of the year.”

“Expanding our deposit base to fund new loan growth remains our top priority, and also our biggest challenge as a community bank,” said Scott Sandlin, Chief Strategy Officer. “The Company has made deposit gathering the primary focus and our team has done an excellent job of expanding existing client relationships as well as attracting new customers to the Bank. As a result, total deposits increased 9.9% during the first quarter of 2025 and 18.9% year-over-year. At quarter end, demand and non-interest bearing accounts represented 19.3% of total deposits, and savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts represented 38.0% of total deposits. We will continue to look for additional opportunities for growing deposits in the year ahead to keep up with loan demand.”

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

Net income for the first quarter of 2025 increased to $2.63 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, compared to $509,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024.
Net interest income increased 32.0% to $10.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Net interest margin (“NIM”) increased 42 basis points to 3.39% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 2.97% in the first quarter of 2024.
The Company recorded a $670,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a $550,000 provision in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a $648,000 provision in the first quarter of 2024.
Net loans increased 16.3% to $1.128 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $969.7 million at March 31, 2024.
Nonperforming loans totaled $420,000, or 0.04% of total loans at March 31, 2025, compared to 0.18% a year ago.
Total deposits increased $190.7 million, or 18.9%, year-over-year, to $1.201 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.010 billion at March 31, 2024.
Core deposits (demand and non-interest-bearing, and savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts, and CDs under $250,000) represent 70.25% of total deposits at March 31, 2025.
Total risk-based capital ratio estimates of 12.30%, Tier 1 ratio of 11.05%, and Leverage ratio of 9.35% for the Bank at March 31, 2025.
Tangible book value per common share was $40.33 at March 31, 2025, compared to $39.05 a year ago.

Income Statement

In the first quarter of 2025, the Company generated a return on average assets of 0.79% and a return on average equity of 10.64%, compared to 0.58% and 7.34%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 0.18% and 2.52%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2024.

“Our strong loan growth and higher yields on interest earning assets contributed to the four basis point NIM expansion during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the prior quarter and the 42 basis point increase compared to the year ago quarter,” said Brant Ward, President. NIM was 3.39% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3.35% in the fourth quarter of 2024, and 2.97% in the first quarter of 2024.

Net interest income increased 32.0% to $10.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to year-over-year loan growth. Total interest income increased 23.6% to $19.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $16.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, primarily attributable to increased loans. Total interest expense increased to $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, from $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to an increase in deposit costs.

Noninterest income increased 22.7% to $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to a $172,000 increase in wealth management fee income, the largest component of noninterest income, and a $72,000 increase in secondary market fee income during the first quarter of 2025.

Noninterest expense was $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, as expenses have normalized following the investment in expanding the Company’s market presence over the past few years.

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased 17.2% to $1.379 billion at March 31, 2025, from $1.177 billion at March 31, 2024, and increased 7.0% compared to $1.290 billion at December 31, 2024. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $48.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $33.4 million a year ago. Investment securities totaled $135.0 million at March 31, 2025, an increase from $113.0 million at March 31, 2024.

Loans, net of allowance for credit losses, increased 16.3% to $1.128 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $969.7 million at March 31, 2024, and increased 6.0% compared to $1.064 billion at December 31, 2024.

Total deposits increased 18.9% to $1.201 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.010 billion at March 31, 2024, and increased 9.9% compared to $1.093 billion at December 31, 2024. Demand and non-interest-bearing deposits decreased less than 1% compared to March 31, 2024 while savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts increased 34.7% compared to March 31, 2024.

FHLB advances were $21.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $36.9 million at March 31, 2024, and $43.7 million at December 31, 2024. Total stockholders’ equity increased to $100.5 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $79.4 million at March 31, 2024, and $96.6 million at December 31, 2024. Tangible book value per common share was $40.33 at March 31, 2025, compared to $39.05 at March 31, 2024, and $38.74 at December 31, 2024.

Credit Quality

Due to strong quarterly loan growth, the Company recorded a $670,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2025. This is compared to a $550,000 provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a $648,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2024.

There were $420,000 in nonperforming loans at March 31, 2025. This compared to $55,000 in nonperforming loans at December 31, 2024, and $1.7 million in nonperforming loans at March 31, 2024. Nonperforming loans represented 0.04% of total loans on March 31, 2025, 0.01% of total loans on December 31, 2024, and 0.18% of total loans a year ago.

“We continue to take a prudent approach to building our allowance for credit losses by monitoring our portfolio mix and evaluating loan growth and local and national economic conditions to maintain what we believe to be an appropriate allowance,” said Jeff Maland, Chief Risk Officer. The allowance for credit losses was $13.3 million, or 1.17% of total loans, at March 31, 2025, compared to $12.8 million, or 1.19% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, and $12.1 million, or 1.23% of total loans, at March 31, 2024.

Net loan charge-offs were $137,000 in the first quarter of 2025. This compared to net loan recoveries of $106,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024, and net loan recoveries of $21,000 in the first quarter of 2024.

Capital

The Bank’s capital ratios continued to exceed regulatory “well-capitalized” requirements, with a Total risk-based capital ratio estimate of 12.30%, a Tier 1 ratio of 11.05%, and a Leverage ratio of 9.35% for the Bank at March 31, 2025.

About White River Bancshares Company

White River Bancshares Company is the single bank holding company for Signature Bank of Arkansas, headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Bank has locations in Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Rogers, Brinkley, Harrison and Jonesboro, Arkansas. Founded in 2005, Signature Bank of Arkansas provides a full line of financial services to small businesses, families and farms. White River Bancshares Company (OTCQX: WRIV), trades on the OTCQX^® Best Market.

White River Bancshares Company and Signature Bank of Arkansas will celebrate its 20-year anniversary in May 2025.

About the Region

White River Bancshares Company is headquartered in thriving Northwest Arkansas in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA. The region is home to the corporate headquarters for Walmart Stores Inc, Sam’s Club, Tyson Foods, Simmons Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport. Hundreds of other market-leading companies including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola and Rubbermaid maintain offices in the region in order to maintain their relationships with the locally based Fortune 500 companies. Northwest Arkansas is also home to the state’s flagship public educational institution, The University of Arkansas, and its Sam M. Walton College of Business. The region has seen significant growth in its medical and arts infrastructures with the continued expansion of Washington Regional Medical System, Northwest Medical System, Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Walton Arts Center have led the expansion of the arts. Northwest Arkansas has been repeatedly recognized in recent years as one of the best places to live in the country and remains one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. In May 2024, Walmart issued a relocation mandate requiring most of its remote employees, as well as most of its office workers in Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto to move to, in most cases, Bentonville by November 1, 2024. While the company did not disclose a number, Bloomberg reported that the number of Walmart employees who would be moving to Bentonville would be in the thousands. Walmart is making a major investment in its hometown facilities, building a new, 350-acre headquarters campus, including walking and biking trails, a hotel, fitness facilities and a large childcare center.

The Company has expanded eastward, with new markets in Jonesboro and Harrison. Jonesboro, located in Craighead County, is a city located on Crowley’s Ridge in the northeastern corner of Arkansas. It is the home of Arkansas State University and the cultural and economic center of Northeast Arkansas. Jonesboro also houses the region’s hospital network. U.S. Steel Corp. announced that it would locate a new $3 billion steel factory in Northeast Arkansas in Osceola, a move expected to create 900 jobs with an average pay over $100,000 annually, making it the largest capital investment project in Arkansas history. Harrison sits below Branson, Missouri, which is a family tourist destination and outdoor recreation, and is well known as an entertainment destination.

The Company currently operates out of ten locations; three in Washington County; three in Benton County; two in Monroe County; one in Boone County; and one in Craighead County.

The housing market in Washington and Benton counties remains robust. According to the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors, the average home in Washington County sold for $390,000 in February 2025, with an average of 103 days on the market. For Benton County, the average house sold for $446,000, with an average of 108 days on the market.

Source:
http://www.nwarealtors.org/market-statistics/

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements about future events. These forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions of management of the Company and the Bank and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms. Our ability to predict results of future events and the actual effect of future plans or strategies are inherently uncertain, and actual results may differ materially from those predicted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or that could affect the outcome of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates; the economic health of the local real estate market; general economic conditions; credit deterioration in our loan portfolio that would cause us to increase our allowance for loan losses; legislative or regulatory changes; technological developments; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; the quality or composition of our loan and securities portfolios; demand for loan products in our market areas; deposit flows and costs of capital; competition; retention and recruitment of qualified personnel; demand for financial services in our market areas; and changes in accounting principles, policies, and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Contact:		Scott Sandlin, Chief Strategy Officer
		479-684-3754

WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,		December 31,		March 31,
		2025		2024		2024

INTEREST INCOME
Loans, including fees		$	18,315,006	$	17,118,955	$	14,994,922
Investment securities			1,258,571		1,300,977		929,040
Federal funds sold and other			232,978		262,856		96,154
Total interest income			19,806,555		18,682,788		16,020,116

INTEREST EXPENSE
Deposits			8,312,455		7,963,925		6,984,793
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			393,057		300,137		520,319
Notes payable			475,425		396,899		398,017
Federal funds purchased and other			13,022		4,101		78,260
Total interest expense			9,193,959		8,665,062		7,981,389
NET INTEREST INCOME			10,612,596		10,017,726		8,038,727
Provision for credit losses			670,000		550,000		648,000
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES			9,942,596		9,467,726		7,390,727

NON-INTEREST INCOME
Service charges and fees on deposits			171,186		182,870		150,349
Wealth management fee income			1,017,829		1,035,160		845,506
Secondary market fee income			128,824		196,277		57,064
Bank owned-life insurance income			80,603		82,171		79,881
Gain on sales and write-downs of foreclosed assets			–		11,085		1,050
Other			544,141		535,284		449,255
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME			1,942,583		2,042,847		1,583,105

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and benefits			4,931,692		5,226,075		4,999,533
Occupancy and equipment			1,145,101		1,130,174		928,124
Data processing			858,115		806,411		790,569
Marketing and business development			397,137		518,628		463,697
Professional services			650,708		660,860		669,867
Amortization of other intangible assets			53,036		53,032		53,036
Other			393,498		445,998		403,836
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE			8,429,287		8,841,178		8,308,662

Income before income taxes			3,455,892		2,669,395		665,170
Income tax provision			826,085		834,444		155,942
NET INCOME		$	2,629,807	$	1,834,951	$	509,228

EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic (1)		$	1.07	$	0.75	$	0.26
Diluted (1)		$	1.07	$	0.75	$	0.26

	(1)	Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024.

WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

			March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024

ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents			$	48,360,156		$	22,149,012		$	33,147,221
Investment securities				134,968,153			133,228,210			113,033,028
Loans held for sale				874,009			1,117,750			696,271
Loans				1,141,369,199			1,076,674,377			981,829,042
Allowance for credit losses				(13,347,855	)		(12,814,824	)		(12,113,099	)
Net loans				1,128,021,344			1,063,859,553			969,715,943
Premises and equipment, net				35,647,835			36,335,828			29,442,303
Foreclosed assets held for sale				310,406			310,406			640,574
Accrued interest receivable				6,629,881			6,035,084			4,966,665
Bank owned life insurance				9,859,911			9,779,307			9,534,373
Deferred income taxes				4,220,559			4,390,227			4,888,369
Other investments				6,782,614			8,421,651			7,548,338
Intangible assets, net				1,750,204			1,803,240			1,962,350
Other assets				1,825,830			2,080,346			1,323,255
TOTAL ASSETS			$	1,379,250,902		$	1,289,510,614		$	1,176,898,690

LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits:
Demand and non-interest-bearing			$	231,331,391		$	214,838,920		$	233,082,292
Savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts				456,733,576			429,293,348			339,042,365
Time deposits				512,882,444			448,909,115			438,110,170
Total deposits				1,200,947,411			1,093,041,383			1,010,234,827
Federal Home Loan Bank advances				21,593,143			43,667,559			36,887,028
Notes payable				26,141,832			26,124,556			26,337,909
Operating lease liability				20,029,714			20,851,721			16,128,536
Reserve for losses on unfunded commitments				1,478,000			1,478,000			1,433,000
Accrued interest payable				2,731,699			2,838,298			2,635,771
Other liabilities				5,798,159			4,919,715			3,868,383
TOTAL LIABILITIES				1,278,719,958			1,192,921,232			1,097,525,454

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock (1)				24,882			24,854			20,162
Surplus (1)				102,784,831			102,679,096			90,538,459
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)				4,714,375			2,084,568			(3,115,687	)
Treasury stock, at cost				(1,265,731	)		(1,265,715	)		(1,119,100	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(5,727,413	)		(6,933,421	)		(6,950,598	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY				100,530,944			96,589,382			79,373,236

	TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		$	1,379,250,902		$	1,289,510,614		$	1,176,898,690

		(1)	Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024.

WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

		(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
		2025			2024			2024

FOR THE PERIOD
Net income		$	2,629,807		$	1,834,951		$	509,228
Net income before taxes			3,455,892			2,669,395			665,170
Dividends declared per share (1)			–			–			–


PERIOD END BALANCE
Total assets		$	1,379,250,902		$	1,289,510,614		$	1,176,898,690
Total investments			134,968,153			133,228,210			113,033,028
Total loans, net			1,128,021,344			1,063,859,553			969,715,943
Allowance for credit losses			(13,347,855	)		(12,814,824	)		(12,113,099	)
Total deposits			1,200,947,411			1,093,041,383			1,010,234,827
Stockholders’ equity			100,530,944			96,589,382			79,373,236


RATIO ANALYSIS
Return on average assets (annualized)			0.79	%		0.58	%		0.18	%
Return on average equity (annualized)			10.64	%		7.34	%		2.52	%
Net loans/Deposits			93.93	%		97.33	%		95.99	%
Total Stockholders’ Equity/Total assets			7.29	%		7.49	%		6.74	%
Net loan losses/Total loans			0.01	%		-0.01	%		-0.00	%
Uninsured & unpledged deposits			31.00	%		31.78	%		30.22	%


PER SHARE DATA
Shares oustanding (1)			2,449,317			2,446,563			1,982,630
Weighted average shares outstanding (1)			2,446,747			2,446,241			1,983,378
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (1)			2,451,161			2,446,471			1,983,378
Basic earnings (1)		$	1.07		$	0.75		$	0.26
Diluted earnings (1)			1.07			0.75			0.26
Book value (1)			41.04			39.48			40.03
Tangible book value (1)			40.33			38.74			39.05


ASSET QUALITY
Net (recoveries) charge-offs		$	136,970		$	(106,340	)	$	(21,195	)
Classified assets			853,745			494,828			2,657,273
Nonperforming loans			419,985			55,132			1,718,805
Nonperforming assets			730,391			365,538			2,359,378
Total nonperforming loans/Total loans			0.04	%		0.01	%		0.18	%
Total nonperforming loans/Total assets			0.03	%		0.00	%		0.15	%
Total nonperforming assets/Total assets			0.05	%		0.03	%		0.20	%
Allowance for credit losses/Total loans			1.17	%		1.19	%		1.23	%


	(1)	Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024.

WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
INTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE
(Unaudited)

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,						December 31,						March 31,
		2025						2024						2024
		Average				Average		Average				Average		Average				Average
		Balance		Interest		Yield/Rate		Balance		Interest		Yield/Rate		Balance		Interest		Yield/Rate

Interest-earning assets:
Federal funds sold and other		$	23,287,989	$	232,978	4.06	%	$	20,998,114	$	262,856	4.98	%	$	8,343,674	$	96,154	4.63	%
Investment securities available-for-sale (1)			133,405,472		1,208,821	3.67	%		132,386,055		1,150,282	3.46	%		114,440,538		900,886	3.17	%
Loans receivable			1,106,648,533		18,315,006	6.71	%		1,018,919,798		17,118,955	6.68	%		960,808,253		14,994,922	6.28	%
Total interest-earning assets			1,263,341,994	$	19,756,805	6.34	%		1,172,303,967	$	18,532,093	6.29	%		1,083,592,465	$	15,991,962	5.94	%
Noninterest-earning assets			81,821,189						81,203,717						70,720,928
Total assets		$	1,345,163,183					$	1,253,507,684					$	1,154,313,393
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing deposits		$	937,669,969	$	8,312,455	3.60	%	$	847,808,178	$	7,963,925	3.74	%	$	762,899,599	$	6,984,793	3.68	%
FHLB advances and federal funds purchased			36,654,930		406,079	4.49	%		28,097,088		304,238	4.31	%		50,749,219		598,579	4.74	%
Notes payable			26,131,761		475,425	7.38	%		26,118,547		396,899	6.05	%		25,489,325		398,017	6.28	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities			1,000,456,660	$	9,193,959	3.73	%		902,023,813	$	8,665,062	3.82	%		839,138,143	$	7,981,389	3.83	%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities			244,466,979						252,089,008						233,847,965
Total liabilities			1,244,923,639						1,154,112,821						1,072,986,108
Stockholders’ equity			100,239,544						99,394,863						81,327,285
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	1,345,163,183					$	1,253,507,684					$	1,154,313,393
Net interest-earning assets		$	262,885,334					$	270,280,154					$	244,454,322
Net interest spread				$	10,562,846	2.62	%			$	9,867,031	2.47	%			$	8,010,573	2.11	%
Net interest margin						3.39	%					3.35	%					2.97	%

	(1)	Excludes investments in bank stock (Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank, and First National Bankers Bankshares).

The MIL Network –

April 16, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: Preventive care may no longer be free in 2026 because of HIV stigma − unless the Trump administration successfully defends the ACA

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kristefer Stojanovski, Assistant Professor of Social, Behavioral and Population Sciences, Tulane University

Americans may lose free coverage for cancer and blood pressure screenings, HIV prevention medication and other essential services. Halfpoint Images/Moment via Getty Images

Many Americans were relieved when the Supreme Court left the Affordable Care Act in place following the law’s third major legal challenge in June 2021. This decision permitted widely supported policies to continue, such as ensuring health coverage regardless of preexisting conditions, allowing coverage for dependents up to age 26 on their parents’ plan, and removing annual and lifetime benefit limits.

But millions are still at risk of losing access to lifesaving medicine and preventive services, following the Supreme Court’s decision to hear another case – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. v. Braidwood – that has been working its way through lower courts for several years.

Interestingly, the Trump administration has chosen to build upon the same argument the Biden administration used to defend the law.

HIV stigma and preventive care

The case the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear in April 2025 was filed by Braidwood Management, a Christian for-profit corporation owned by Steven Hotze, a Texas physician and Republican activist who has previously filed multiple lawsuits against the Affordable Care Act.

Braidwood and its co-plaintiffs, a group of conservative Christian employers, objected to providing their 70 employees free access to preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a medicine that prevents HIV infection. Hotze claimed that PrEP “facilitates and encourages homosexual behavior, intravenous drug use and sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman,” without citing scientific evidence to support this. He and his plaintiffs argue that religious beliefs prevent them from providing PrEP under their insurance plans.

The AIDS epidemic has been claiming lives for decades.

Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the 1980s, the disease has been politicized and stigmatized. Because it had predominantly affected men who had sex with men, AIDS was initially called gay-related immune deficiency, making people reluctant to be associated with the disease. It was only after a teenage boy from Indiana named Ryan White contracted HIV from a blood transfusion to treat his hemophilia, along with public statements from high-profile celebrities such as Arthur Ashe and Magic Johnson about their HIV status, that social attitudes began to shift with more education about AIDS.

Yet, the same stigma is still at play in the Braidwood case and other recent policy decisions. In 2023, for example, Tennessee officials declined US$9 million in federal funding for HIV prevention. Those federal funds focused on groups most affected by HIV, including men who have sex with men, heterosexual Black women and people who inject drugs.

Tennessee has since transitioned to using state dollars for HIV prevention, with a focus on first responders, pregnant women and sex trafficking survivors, groups that aren’t major at-risk populations. Researchers have found that this pivot will be a less efficient use of funds, costing $1 million per life-year saved versus $68,600 when focusing on the most at-risk populations.

Preventive care and the Affordable Care Act

The ongoing stigma and politicization of HIV/AIDS may not only hamper the national goal of ending the HIV epidemic but also lead to less or no preventive care for many people.

Section 2713 of the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to offer full coverage of preventive services endorsed by one of three federal groups: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or the Health Resources and Services Administration. For example, the CARES Act, which allocated emergency funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, used this provision to ensure COVID-19 vaccines would be free for many Americans.

For a preventive service to be covered by this provision, it requires an A or B rating from the Preventive Services Task Force, an independent body of experts trained in research methods, statistics and medicine that evaluates the rigor and quality of available scientific evidence, with support from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Vaccinations require a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while women’s health services require approval from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

PrEP received an A rating in June 2019, given its near 100% effectiveness. This paved the way for it to be covered at no cost for millions of people.

PrEP is a key tool to helping the U.S. reach its goal of substantially reducing new HIV infections by 2030.
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Over 150 million Americans with private health insurance are able to benefit from free preventive care through the Affordable Care Act, with around 60% using at least one free preventive service each year.

The consequences of losing these benefits would likely be an increase in the number of people getting and dying from preventable diseases. Raising the cost barrier for PrEP, for example, would disproportionately harm younger patients, people of color and those with lower incomes. It will also increase the cost of HIV prevention.

As public health researchers who study sexual health and health insurance, we believe that prevention and health equity in the U.S. stand to take a big step backward, depending on the outcome of the Braidwood case.

Future of preventive care lies with Supreme Court

The most recent ruling in Braidwood – made by a lower court in 2023 – focuses on the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution, which specifies that certain governmental positions require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation, while other positions have a lower bar.

District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that because the Preventive Services Task Force is an independent volunteer panel and not made up of officers of the U.S. government, it does not have appropriate authority to make decisions about what preventive care should be free, unlike the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or Health Resources and Services Administration. O’Connor also ruled that being forced to cover PrEP violated the religious freedom of the plaintiffs.

O’Connor invalidated all of the task force’s recommendations since the Affordable Care Act was passed in March 2010, returning the power to insurers and employers to decide which, if any, preventive care would remain free to their patients. A few of the recommendations affected by his ruling besides PrEP include blood pressure, diabetes, lung and skin cancer screenings, along with medications to lower cholesterol and reduce breast cancer risk.

The Trump administration filed a brief continuing the argument from the Biden administration that because the Preventive Services Task Force is overseen by the secretary of Health and Human Services, there is appropriate oversight of the task force and its decision-making by a Senate-confirmed officer. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for April 21, 2025.

The Affordable Care Act has faced many legal challenges over the years.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Insurance contracts are typically defined by calendar year, so if the Supreme Court rules against the government, people would likely see changes starting in 2026. Importantly, these services will likely still need to be covered by health insurance plans as essential health benefits through a separate provision of the ACA − they just won’t be free anymore.

There were concerns that the Supreme Court could take the ruling even further, endangering the free coverage of contraception and other preventive care that wasn’t covered by the lower court ruling. The Trump administration’s support for the case may make this less likely by leaning into the authority of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary to support or override recommendations made by the Preventive Services Task Force and the other bodies.

However, this could also mean the secretary of HHS can more directly control the task force’s recommendations, potentially determining whether PrEP, contraception and other services are available at no cost to patients. Building more political authority into the process − as well as partisan differences in support for LGBTQ+ health − belies the original intent of having nonpartisan medical experts make decisions about preventive care coverage. Legal experts we have spoken to caution that this approach may be more about preserving powers for the executive branch rather than actually protecting preventive care.

All of this is happening in the context of massive layoffs at HHS. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which supports the Preventive Services Task Force, was not spared from the recent cuts. It is unclear how all of this will affect the task force’s ability to continue its work, separate from the outcome of Braidwood.

One way or another, the end to this yearslong case is nearing, with important implications for America’s ability to reach its goals in fighting cancer, diabetes and the HIV epidemic.

Portions of this article originally appeared in previous articles published on Sept. 7, 2021, Dec. 1, 2021, Sept. 13, 2022, and April 7, 2023.

Paul Shafer receives research funding from the National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Department of Veterans Affairs. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of these agencies or the United States government.

Kristefer Stojanovski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Preventive care may no longer be free in 2026 because of HIV stigma − unless the Trump administration successfully defends the ACA – https://theconversation.com/preventive-care-may-no-longer-be-free-in-2026-because-of-hiv-stigma-unless-the-trump-administration-successfully-defends-the-aca-250011

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 16, 2025

Category: Statistics

Labour shortages

Anti-immigration sentiment

UK House Price Index for February 2025

England

Price change by region for England

Repossession sales by volume for England

Average price by property type for England

Funding and buyer status for England

Building status for England

London

Average price by property type for London

Funding and buyer status for London

Building status for London

Wales

Average price by property type for Wales

Funding and buyer status for Wales

Building status for Wales

UK house prices

Background

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Chart 1

Table 1

Chart 2

Table 2

Chart 3

Table 3

The short-term owners

How this makes renting less secure

What motivates landlords?

Potential impact of policy changes

Why we need a secure rental market

Party standings and seats up for election

Left-wing parties likely to gain Senate seats

Candidate nominations down from 2022

Impossible dream

Strategic plan

Housing supply

More than houses

What do we value?

Priced out of care

Complex chronic conditions

Forgotten care

Inadequate hospital funding

No doctor in the house

Reform hard slog

Hunger in the breadbasket of the world

Food pantries struggle to keep up

Scaling back benefits in 2022

Hunger is up, SNAP enrollment is down

Introduction

Modeled Cases

AEO2025 Reference case

Alternative Electricity case

Alternative Transportation case

High and Low Oil Price cases

High and Low Oil and Gas Supply cases

High and Low Zero-Carbon Technology Cost cases

High and Low Economic Growth cases

Major changes for AEO2025

Cameras focus on safety by slowing speeders and protecting workers on Washington highways

Program and enforcement details

Legislative, agency and industry partnerships

Proven safety tool

HIV stigma and preventive care

Preventive care and the Affordable Care Act

Future of preventive care lies with Supreme Court