economy-policy https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/ THE BUSINESS TIMES - Find latest business and financial news including analysis and opinion on top business stories, stock markets in Singapore, Asia-Pacific and global market news and more at The Business Times. en-US https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/favicon.ico economy-policy https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/ 32 32 Singapore retail sales rise by just 1.5% in July, under consensus forecast https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-retail-sales-rise-just-1-5-july-under-consensus-forecast Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapore-retail-sales-rise-just-1-5-july-under-consensus-forecast Sales grow in seven out of 14 categories on a yearly basis Manufacturing has thousands of jobs to fill. But can it shake its image problem? https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/manufacturing-has-thousands-jobs-fill-can-it-shake-its-image-problem Sun, 06 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Low Youjin Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/manufacturing-has-thousands-jobs-fill-can-it-shake-its-image-problem As Singapore doubles down on advanced manufacturing, companies want to show job seekers that factory jobs have changed DHL partners local life-sciences incubator to provide cold chain logistics for biotech startups https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/dhl-partners-local-life-sciences-incubator-provide-cold-chain-logistics-biotech-startups Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:40:36 +0000 Tessa Oh Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/dhl-partners-local-life-sciences-incubator-provide-cold-chain-logistics-biotech-startups The company will support the transportation of biological and healthcare shipments Is AI stealing your job? https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/ai-stealing-your-job Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Ranamita Chakraborty Opinion & Features Economy & Policy Singapore /opinion-features/ai-stealing-your-job White-collar workers risk displacement, but mass layoffs aren’t on the table Singapore’s nightlife is struggling. Industry chief Danny Loong wants to ‘bring back the energy’ https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/singapores-nightlife-struggling-industry-chief-danny-loong-wants-bring-back-energy Fri, 04 Sep 2026 03:59:15 +0000 Low Youjin Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/singapores-nightlife-struggling-industry-chief-danny-loong-wants-bring-back-energy A new white paper lays out proposals to build a broader after-dark economy that goes beyond bars and clubs Over half of employers plan hiring freeze, wage moderation despite better outlook: SNEF poll https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/over-half-employers-plan-hiring-freeze-wage-moderation-despite-better-outlook-snef-poll Thu, 03 Sep 2026 03:52:08 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/over-half-employers-plan-hiring-freeze-wage-moderation-despite-better-outlook-snef-poll However, more companies plan to increase their headcount in 2027, compared with last year’s survey Singapore factories keep humming on AI boom as PMI rises to 51.5 https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/singapore-factories-keep-humming-ai-boom-pmi-rises-51-5 Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000 Low Youjin Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/singapore-factories-keep-humming-ai-boom-pmi-rises-51-5 Strong artificial intelligence demand keeps electronics resilient, but manufacturing prospects remain uneven Economists raise Singapore 2026 growth forecast to 5%; more see AI bubble as a top risk https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economists-raise-singapore-2026-growth-forecast-5-more-see-ai-bubble-top-risk Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/economists-raise-singapore-2026-growth-forecast-5-more-see-ai-bubble-top-risk 45% of respondents in MAS’ latest poll see tightening of Singdollar policy band in October, up from 30% before For true AI transformation, go beyond deployment and using tools https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapores-ai-future/true-ai-transformation-go-beyond-deployment-and-using-tools Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapores-ai-future/true-ai-transformation-go-beyond-deployment-and-using-tools Roundtable participants say implementation must be done with job redesign, training and complementary skills Bringing tech and people together for Singapore’s AI future https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapores-ai-future/bringing-tech-and-people-together-singapores-ai-future Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapores-ai-future/bringing-tech-and-people-together-singapores-ai-future Businesses, workers and the government share the responsibility of ensuring that everyone benefits from AI