Featured Data Additions, February 4, 2026

EMERGECW → Russia → Financial → Deposits and Funds of Legal Entities and Individuals

Deposits and funds of legal entities and individuals statistics for Russia were added to EMERGECW. Both ruble- and foreign currency denominated deposits are available for organizations, legal entities, individuals and entrepreneurs. Monthly data are sourced from the Central Bank of Russia and start in January 2012.

Chart: Russians have amassed a record amount of bank deposits as they take advantage of historically high interest rates in the wartime economy. Upon the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, panicked depositors rushed to withdraw cash. The central bank moved quickly to hike its key interest rate to 20% in an emergency step to stem the outflow. Rates were hiked again starting in 2023 to curb accelerating inflation. The extended period of high interest rates has made ruble deposits one of the most profitable investments in the country and has led to a doubling of deposits since 2022.

GLSECTOR → Steel → The Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF)

Crude steel production statistics by country were added to the GLSECTOR database. These data reported in thousands of metric tons are available for 13 individual steel-producing countries, the EU, plus a global aggregate. The monthly table is sourced from The Japan Iron and Steel Federation and start in February 2019.

Chart: Although China still produces roughly half of the world’s steel, global steel production is currently defined by a structural shift away from Chinese dominance towards emerging economies - specifically India. While 2024 & 2025 data show a general contraction in overall global output (-2.06% YoY), significant regional variations persist, with high growth in India and other emerging economies like Iran and Vietnam and sharp declines in East Asia, which includes China, Japan and South Korea.

CMDTY → Spot Prices → Shanghai Metals Market Prices

Shanghai Metals Market prices were added to the CMDTY database. Eighteen different metal prices are available in this table which includes base metals, lithium-ion battery metals, rare earth metals, and minor metals. Most series are daily and start as early as December 2006.

Chart: Neodymium and praseodymium prices are experiencing a significant rapid upswing in early 2026, with current prices at levels not seen since early 2023. These metals are primarily used to manufacture permanent magnets essential for EV motors, wind turbines, and industrial automation. In January 2026, neodymium increased 12.3% MoM and 62% YoY to 820k CNY per MT. In the same month, praseodymium increased 10.0% MoM and 53% YoY to 853k CNY per MT. The surge is driven by increased rare earth concentrate transaction prices from major Chinese suppliers, reduced export availability, and heightened geopolitical volatility.

GLSECTOR → Artificial Intelligence Statistics → Private Investment in AI by Country

Private AI investment by country was added to the GLSECTOR database – 100 countries plus a world aggregate are available. The dataset only covers private-market investment, so it excludes significant investments from public companies, corporate R&D, government funding, and broader infrastructure capital expenditures, limiting this dataset’s coverage of AI investments. Annual data are sourced from Our World in Data and start in 2015.

Chart: Global private investment in AI is up 30% YoY in 2024 and up almost 600% since 2015. The US, China and the UK account for 77% of global spend, of which 68% is by the US totaling $148 billion in 2024, outspending China by a factor of ten. While the US focuses heavily on generative AI, large language models, and AI infrastructure – China focuses on AI patent production, smart manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, and AI computing startups. The UK concentrates on AI safety and public service & fintech integration.