Decisions taken by the world's most powerful people can directly affect your personal finances, for good and bad. Here are 11 people, both locally and internationally, who could have an impact on the pound in our pockets.

The business tycoon will take the Oath of Office and be sworn in as America's 45th president on January 20. Given the US economy is in pretty good shape right now, exactly how a Trump presidency will impact the money in our wallets remains to be seen.

The Trump administration is promising a programme of tax cuts, deregulation and trillion-dollar public works spending that may boost the US economy. However analysts fear The Donald's protectionist stance may trigger a slump in global trade volumes, negatively impacting the world economy as a whole.

Governor Zhou Xiaochuan, who is responsible for monetary policy in China, will have to contend with a hostile US administration next year. Trump has blamed China for devaluing its currency to gain a trade advantage.

The recent interest rate hike in the US has negatively impacted the yuan, and Xiao will face increased pressure to further devalue the currency, which may put him at loggerheads with the Trump administration, ultimately harming the Chinese, US and world economies.

Up from a low of $30 (£24) in February 2016, the price of oil could hit $60 (£48) in early 2017 according to Goldman Sachs. The powerful oil cartel OPEC, headed by Mohammed Barkindo, is behind the rising price of crude.

Earlier this month, OPEC members agreed to cut oil production by almost 1.8 million barrels a day starting from January, which will reduce supply and increase the price of the commodity. This in turn will raise the cost of everything from food to petrol prices.

How Prime Minister Theresa May handles Brexit will have a direct effect on the finances of people in the UK and elsewhere, and not just in the long term. In October for instance, the pound slumped following May's announcement of her Brexit plan.

Whether the Supreme Court Brexit appeal rules in favor of the government or not – the verdict is due in January – the Prime Minister is expected to stick to her schedule and begin the negotiations for Britain to leave the EU in March. What it means for our money is as yet unknown.

Like Theresa May, the actions and words of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have a direct impact on the economy, and can affect the value of the pound and our spending power overseas.

In September, the pound dipped sharply when Johnson told Sky News he anticipated the triggering of Article 50 in the early part of 2017. The gaffe-prone Foreign Secretary, who is known for going off script, may have to watch his words to avoid similar knock-on effects next year.

The UK's chief negotiator David Davis is in charge of Britain leaving the EU. How well he performs in the role will have long-lasting financial repercussions for the UK population and the EU as a whole.

In November, Davis revealed the government may be willing to pay to access the single market and the pound surged in value. Exactly how hard or soft Davis plays it will impact British and EU citizens' personal finances in 2017 and beyond.

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, headed by Governor Mark Carney, will be watched carefully as the Brexit story plays out.

The Governor tends to adopt a dove-ish stance, something homeowners in the UK will be pleased to learn, renters and savers not so much. UK interest rates remain at their record low of 0.25% and are likely to stay stagnant in 2017, even if inflation rises.

Jean-Claude Juncker has a very busy year ahead, and not just because of Brexit.

Juncker also has a series of potentially game-changing votes to contend with. Amid a climate of anti-globalisation, the outcome of elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany may threaten the EU and adversely affect the Eurozone economies.

The European Commission has appointed former French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier as its chief Brexit negotiator. How he approaches the talks will have significant financial consequences for ordinary Brits.

The clues so far aren't looking very good for Britain. The Frenchman has suggested that negotiations should be carried out entirely in his native language and he has even cracked a few jokes at the UK's expense via his Twitter account.

Fabrizio Viola is the CEO of Italy's beleaguered Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank, the oldest surviving bank in the world and the country's most troubled financial institution. The ailing bank is poised for a bailout.

In the worst case scenario, an implosion could spread to other banks in Italy and elsewhere in the EU. If this comes to pass, the collapse of Monte dei Paschi would end up having a devastating impact on the personal finances of many Europeans.

Wholesale food prices are set to rise in the UK in 2017 – the Caterer reports that the food service industry, for instance, expects prices to rise by 3.4% next year. Whether shoppers are protected from these rises depends on people like Dave Lewis, the Chief Exec of Tesco, the UK's leading supermarket.

Lewis spoke publicly in November following Unilever's proposed Brexit-related price rises and assured his customers that they would be protected from “inflated prices” caused by fluctuations in the pound. If other supermarkets follow suit, we may be buffered somewhat from any food price hikes in 2017.