Boeing outsold European rival Airbus in commercial aircraft orders in 2025 for the first time in seven years, as the US administration promoted American manufacturing abroad. The company also recorded its highest annual aircraft delivery total since 2018, signaling a recovery after years of operational setbacks.

According to a Boeing press release, the company delivered 600 commercial jets last year, including 63 in December alone. Of these, 447 were 737 series planes, the backbone of single-aisle airline fleets, alongside deliveries of 767, 777, and 787 wide-body aircraft. Boeing also reported 1,173 net new orders for 2025, reflecting renewed confidence in its product lineup and production stability.

Boeing faced a challenging period over the past few years, including two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, and a January 2024 incident when a door plug blew out mid-flight. The Covid-19 pandemic further disrupted production, causing supply-chain bottlenecks and the loss of skilled workers. The 2025 figures indicate a significant rebound, highlighting progress in ramping up output and restoring airline trust.

Airbus, while still delivering more aircraft overall, faced its own production constraints. The European manufacturer handed over 793 jets to 91 airline customers in 2025 and recorded 1,000 gross orders, or 889 net orders after cancellations. Airbus noted that its backlog now exceeds 8,750 aircraft, with deliveries including smaller A220 jets and wide-body A330neo and A350 models. The company described 2025 as a year of steady progress despite “a continued complex and dynamic operating environment,” particularly for its popular A320 family.

Although Airbus still leads in total deliveries, Boeing’s strong order book may mark an inflection point for the US manufacturer, reflecting optimism after years of setbacks. Analysts point to both production improvements and high-profile deals as drivers of the rebound.

Boeing’s order momentum received a boost from the Trump administration’s promotion of US manufacturing abroad. In May 2025, a White House-backed deal with Qatar Airways was announced for up to 210 Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, valued at $96 billion (€82.35 billion). Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg publicly thanked President Trump for supporting the deal, emphasizing the company’s role as “one of America’s leading exporters.”

The White House framed the agreement as a jobs and exports win, highlighting the impact on American manufacturing. Qatar Airways described the deal as the largest wide-body and largest 787 order in the airline’s history, underscoring its significance for Boeing’s global operations.

The 2025 figures signal a rebound for Boeing, positioning the company to compete more aggressively with Airbus in the years ahead, as global airlines continue to expand their fleets amid post-pandemic recovery.

A new report from the UK’s Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that rising house prices have made parental property wealth a key determinant of opportunity for younger generations. The study finds that family wealth increasingly shapes where young adults live, the types of jobs they take, and their earnings potential.

While education and wages remain important, the report emphasizes that the ability of parents to support their children in accessing high-cost housing markets has become a major factor in life outcomes. Economists David Sturrock and Peter Levell, who co-authored the study, say Britain’s long-term house-price growth has strengthened the role of inherited wealth in shaping social mobility.

“Housing costs are a growing barrier to young people accessing high-productivity labour markets and an individual’s housing, location and career choices are increasingly determined by the amount of financial support they receive from family,” the report stated.

House prices have surged across the UK since the 1990s, particularly in London and the South East, while homeownership among young adults has fallen. Rising property values mean that children of wealthier parents can more easily afford deposits and move to high-cost areas, giving them access to better-paid jobs and professional networks.

The report highlights that living in London, Britain’s most expensive housing market, has become a privilege for those from wealthier families. For these young adults, moving to the capital can increase initial earnings by around 15%, rising to more than 50% over eight years, according to the study. By contrast, those from less wealthy backgrounds face barriers to entering the city and its high-earning labour market.

Parental wealth also shapes career choices. Young people from affluent families are more likely to work in creative fields such as media, arts, fashion, and design in London, while those from less privileged backgrounds more often pursue science, engineering, and health roles outside the capital. The effects are especially pronounced for men, who are more likely to move into top-earning occupations with parental support. For women, the impact is more varied, with parental wealth slightly increasing the probability of leaving paid work or making smaller shifts in earnings.

The report quantifies the effect of parental property wealth, finding that a £100,000 increase in parents’ housing wealth translates to around £15,000 more in housing wealth for adult children between the ages of 28 and 37.

Researchers warn that the housing boom has not only entrenched inequality but accelerated the transfer of advantage between generations, reinforcing wealth persistence in the UK. As housing costs continue to rise, young adults without substantial family support face growing barriers to accessing high-earning jobs and achieving financial stability.

The study underscores how Britain’s property market has become a key mechanism for passing opportunity from one generation to the next, with housing wealth shaping life chances long after education and wages are considered.bu

China’s trade surplus reached a record high of almost $1.2 trillion last year, government data showed Wednesday, as strong exports to global markets offset slowing sales to the United States.

According to customs authorities, China’s exports rose 5.5% in 2025 to $3.77 trillion, while imports remained largely flat at $2.58 trillion, producing a trade surplus of $992 billion. Exports surged in December, climbing 6.6% compared with the same month in 2024, exceeding economists’ forecasts and surpassing November’s 5.9% increase. Imports in December grew 5.7% year-on-year, up from 1.9% the previous month.

Economists say exports will remain a key driver of China’s economic growth this year despite trade frictions and geopolitical tensions. Jacqueline Rong, chief China economist at BNP Paribas, said, “We continue to expect exports to act as a big growth driver in 2026.”

Exports to the United States have fallen sharply since the start of former President Donald Trump’s trade policies, but China has made up the gap with strong sales to markets in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe. Analysts point to robust global demand for computer chips, electronic devices, and the materials used to produce them as major contributors to export growth.

China’s strong trade performance helped its economy grow at a rate close to its official 5% annual target. Policymakers have focused on stimulating domestic consumption and business spending, including programs that offer subsidies to replace older appliances and vehicles with newer, energy-efficient models. However, these measures have had limited impact compared with export-driven growth.

Despite last year’s positive results, Beijing faces a “severe and complex” external trade environment in 2026, according to Wang Jun, vice minister of China’s customs administration. He expressed confidence in the country’s trade outlook, saying China’s “foreign trade fundamentals remain solid.”

In international developments, Brussels published new guidelines allowing Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to submit minimum pricing offers, easing previously steep tariffs imposed in response to Beijing’s subsidy programs. The move could mark a significant step toward resolving the EU-China EV trade dispute. Under negotiations, Chinese producers have pledged to raise the prices of battery electric vehicles to create fairer competition with European manufacturers.

China remains the EU’s second-largest trading partner in goods after the United States. Analysts say continued demand for Chinese exports and potential progress in EU trade relations could support China’s trade and economic performance throughout 2026.

The record trade surplus underscores China’s resilience in global commerce, even as trade disputes and economic uncertainties pose ongoing challenges for policymakers.