For many years, the US dollar has been the backbone of the global financial system – playing a central role in international trade, investment, and stability. But by 2025, this picture began to change. The indicator measuring the strength of the dollar index against major world currencies fell by more than 8% and reached its lowest level in the last three years.
This is not a simple statistical fluctuation. It reflects profound changes in geopolitics, economic policy, and global confidence in the US economy. And these changes have now begun to affect everything from international trade to consumer prices, travel expenses, and investment decisions.
Why is the dollar depreciating?
This situation is caused not by one, but by several main factors:
Firstly, geopolitical instability and declining trust. New tariffs between the US and China, domestic political disputes, and rising government spending are negatively impacting investor confidence.
Secondly, high interest rates abroad. This makes foreign investments more attractive. When investors direct their money to Europe or Japan, the demand for the dollar decreases – and it depreciates.
And finally, the growing level of US debt is also causing concern. The more a country borrows, the more cautious international creditors become. Doubts about long-term stability often lead to a weakening of the dollar.
Global impact of a weak dollar
When the US dollar depreciates, it affects international trade, investment, and everyday life on a large scale – not only in the USA but throughout the world.
The most noticeable impact is on international trade. A weak dollar makes U.S. products cheaper for foreign buyers, which increases the competitiveness of agriculture, machinery, and manufacturing industries.
However, there’s another side to this: imported goods become more expensive. Many products sold in the US – phones, clothing, cars – are manufactured abroad and priced in foreign currencies. Therefore, when the dollar weakens, Americans pay more for the same products. This puts upward pressure on the prices of consumer electronics, vehicles, and food.
A weak dollar globally has a complex impact on emerging markets. Many developing countries borrow in US dollars. When the dollar falls, debt repayment becomes easier – this is a short-term benefit. However, these countries often rely on dollar-based trade. If their national currency becomes too strong against the dollar, their exports become more expensive, which creates imbalances in their economies.
Energy and commodity markets are also highly sensitive to dollar movements. Oil, gold, and other resources are typically priced in US dollars, so when the dollar weakens, the prices of these products increase. For example, at the beginning of 2025, Brent crude oil exceeded $90 per barrel – this was caused not only by the geopolitical situation but also by the weak dollar, as oil appeared cheaper to foreign buyers, leading to increased demand.
For investors and central banks, the depreciation of the dollar influences decisions on reserve maintenance and portfolio structure revision. If the dollar loses credibility, countries may begin diversifying away from US assets. Indeed, at the beginning of 2025, Japan and China – the largest foreign holders of U.S. debt – slightly reduced their holdings of government bonds, which was perceived as a sign of caution.
In conclusion, a weak dollar can benefit U.S. exporters and some developing countries, but this situation leads to rising global prices, instability in financial markets, and questions about confidence in U.S. economic leadership. Whether in New York or Nairobi – ordinary consumers feel these changes through rising prices, fluctuations in exchange rates, and uncertainty.
Impact on daily life
American consumers have started to directly feel the impact of the weak dollar.
Imported products’ prices are increasing. The reason is that retailers purchase these products in stronger foreign currencies, and this additional cost is ultimately passed on to the consumer.
Planning to travel abroad? Now your dollar doesn’t have the same strength as before. Currencies such as the euro, pound, and yen are stronger against the dollar, which means that everything from hotels to food has become more expensive for American tourists.
For large companies like Walmart, Apple, and Nike that rely on global supply chains, a weak dollar means higher costs, which leads to price increases or reduced profits.
Could it get even worse?
Experts are dismissing the possibility of a complete collapse of the dollar – it still remains the primary global currency used in nearly 90 percent of international trade. However, its devaluation signifies a decline in global confidence – if this situation is not addressed, it could worsen further.
Additionally, there is a risk of a “feedback loop”: if the dollar continues to weaken, inflation may intensify, interest rates may rise, economic growth may slow down, and the cost of servicing public debt may increase. All of these factors would lead to further depreciation of the dollar.
Prepared by Navruzakhon Burieva
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