The Week in Numbers: the Fed goes big

STORY: From a big call at the Fed, to why Tupperware can’t contain its losses, this is the Week in Numbers.

::0.5%

Half a percentage point was the cut to U.S. interest rates this week, with the Federal Reserve also signalling that more such moves are on the way.

Investors were cheered by Chair Jerome Powell’s reassuring take on the economy:

“This decision reflects our growing confidence that, with an appropriate recalibration of our policy stance, strength in the labor market can be maintained in a context of moderate growth and inflation, moving sustainably down to 2%.”

::100%

100% is the ratio of UK government debt to economic output - for the first time in recent history.

With another large budget deficit last month, it all adds to the challenge for new finance minister Rachel Reeves as she prepares her first budget.

::$1.7 billion

$1.7 billion is how much Google won't be paying to the EU, after it won a court battle to throw out an antitrust penalty.

That may be scant consolation though, coming a week after it lost its final appeal against an even bigger European fine.

::11%

Almost 11% was the plunge in shares for FedEx, after it saw profits tumble.

The delivery giant says customers are growing cautious, opting for slow and cheap, instead of fast and expensive.

::$812 million

And $812 million was the debt pile at Tupperware, which filed for bankruptcy this week amid mounting losses.

The plastic pots company has struggled as its strategy of using independent sales reps and "Tupperware parties" failed to reach modern consumers.