The former Premier is known for the pursuit of territorial expansions in Lyrica, Eura, and Keltia. During his time as Premier from 1690AN to 1693AN, he pursued aggressive development and expansionist policies at the hand of government economic planning and the harnessing of military and private sector interests in support of said policies. His governing philosophy is often called as "the New Alexandrian dirigisme". Of special note are his notorious political feuds, especially with Alejandro Campos and Gary Wilson-Clarke.
WARNING SIGNS OF RECESSION FLASHING AS RETAIL SALES BOOM
Key economic indicators warn of impending recession, note economic contractions, rising inflation, and supply chain issues
CÁRDENAS, FCD -- The dreaded "R" word is being mentioned more and more in financial circles as investors grapple with accelerating inflation, higher interest rates, declining stock prices, supply chain issues, and higher housing costs: recession.
Consumer sentiment, a reliable indicator as to where the economy is headed, has plunged to a fresh decade low. GDP growth over the past year slowed. A period of quantitative tightening by the Federal Bank of Nouvelle Alexandrie also does not bode well for the overall economy.
From buying groceries to filling up their gas tanks, New Alexandrians are starting to feel the pain of inflation nationwide. Housing, food, and consumer goods have all had dramatic increases in price over the past two years. Wages across the Federation have not been able to keep up, causing a debate over whether the country will see a recession.
“The difficulty of getting a soft landing where we both brought inflation down and we avoided recession was always very difficult. With high energy costs, it’s that much more difficult,” says Professor Albert Cohen, professor of economics at the University of Cárdenas. Cohen went on, and added that he sees "stagflation" — rampant inflation and weak economic growth — as a larger risk than a recession. "That's the bigger concern right now — that inflation starts to outweigh GDP," Cohen explained.
Commodities and gas haven’t been the only price jumps New Alexandrians have seen. Reports show that the average monthly rent in the country increased more than 15 percent year over year at the start of 1706AN, which is the biggest annual jump in the last ten years. Cities like Punta Santiago, Parap, Cárdenas and others have become unaffordable.
Even with GDP growth slowing down and other recession alert signs flashing, retail sales surged 3.8% from the previous year, 1705AN. National retail sales numbers posted the strongest reading in nearly two years that doubled consensus forecasts, even in the face of the fast inflation headwind. Factory output to start the year was also solid, rising 0.2%, while the broader reading of industrial production was up 1.4%.
VANIC WOMAN SELF-IMMOLATES IN HURMU IN FRONT OF THE PALACE OF THE ELENARAN
Growing political tensions between native Lyricans, settlers, and Vanic populations continue to mount
VESÜHA, HURMU -- A 31-year old Vanic woman, Lusinda Klappland, burned herself alive today at the steps of the Palace of Elenaran, the center of Hurmu's government.
Klappland, also known by her Vanic name of "Lúsinda Sigrdrífasdóttir", undressed herself at the steps of the Palace and poured gasoline all over herself while singing songs that were pro-Vanic and pro-Haraldian. Witnesses say she took care to dance provocatively and sexually before lighting herself on fire.
The event has touched off tensions between Vanic and non-Vanic populations around Lyrica. Most recently, hundreds of thousands of New Alexandrians marched on Lausanne, the former Storish capital, in support of Nouvelle Alexandrie and the King. The self-immolation is thought to be a reply from Vanic populations in Lyrica, according to intelligence analysts. "I think this could be the start of a new uprising across Lyrica, we need to be careful," explained Jean Michel Marcelino, an intelligence analyst for Lopez-Grady Analysts in Cardenas. "Tensions locally are at a high and both populations are suspicious of the other and armed to the teeth."
