A look ahead: key trends for 2025 and reflections on 2024 Unsplash.com/Dylan Nolte For 2025, concerns persist over inflation, job losses driven by artificial intelligence, climate change, and increasing immigration. Yet, optimism is cautiously rising among global populations. According to a survey conducted across 33 countries, 71% of respondents believe the coming year will be better than the last — a modest 1-percentage-point increase compared to 2024’s outlook. Economic stability, societal anxieties, and advancements in technology remain central themes shaping the global perspective. The survey , which gathered responses from 23,721 adults between October 25 and November 8, highlights a subtle shift in sentiment. Despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and geopolitical conflicts, fewer people view 2024 as a particularly bad year. The proportion of those describing it as a bad year for their families dropped to 51% (down from 53% in 2023), while those saying the same about their countries declined to 65% (down from 70%). These figures suggest that while challenges remain, a gradual easing of negativity reflects resilience and a cautious hope for improvement. Economic and Societal Outlook for 2025 Concerns about inflation remain prominent, with 79% of respondents predicting that prices will rise faster than incomes in 2025, continuing a consistent trend since 2022. Tax increases are also widely anticipated (74%), reflecting persistent unease about financial pressures. However, expectations for rising interest rates have notably declined, suggesting a belief that central banks may finally ease monetary tightening policies. For Latinos in the U.S., the economic narrative resonates with broader concerns about rising costs and job security. While the fear of artificial intelligence displacing jobs persists (65%), a growing number recognize its potential to create opportunities (43%), signaling a nuanced perception of technological change. In Latin America, economic anxieties mirror global trends, with inflation and unemployment topping […]