USA Archives - Page 6 of 33

14Jun

By Mike TrudellNo Comments

USA

Consumers brace for potential tariff headwinds

The May 2025 Economics Insider explores possible effects of tariffs on consumers and their purchasing power this year Consumers have been at the forefront of the post-pandemic economic recovery seen in the United States: Since the second quarter of 2020, real consumer spending1 has grown by about 29%, thereby aiding wider economic growth of 23.5% over the same period.2 Yet, as 2025 rolls on, economic indicators suggest that many consumers appear anxious. A month ago in April, consumer sentiment, as measured by the University of Michigan, fell to its second-lowest level ever.3 Deloitte’s global survey of consumers also shows that spending intentions, especially for discretionary goods, have gone down in recent months.4 So, why has consumer sentiment gone down this...

<strong>Global Trade Shift: China Seeks Allies amid U.S. Tariffs</strong>

3Jun

By Brian ThompsonNo Comments

Asia, China, USA

Global Trade Shift: China Seeks Allies amid U.S. Tariffs

Chinese President Xi Jinping's diplomatic visit to Vietnam has drawn global attention, particularly in light of the 145% tariff imposed by the United States on Chinese exports. This move has intensified trade tensions between the two economic giants, prompting China to seek stronger alliances with Southeast Asian nations. During his visit, Xi urged Vietnam to stand against unilateral trade restrictions, emphasizing the need for stable global supply chains and economic cooperation. China has been actively working to expand its trade partnerships with countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, aiming to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs. However, despite these efforts, no single country can fully replace the trade volume China previously had with the U.S., which played a cruci...

How Healthy Is the US Economy? Here’s What the Top Economic Indicators Say

30May

By Michael SmithNo Comments

USA

How Healthy Is the US Economy? Here’s What the Top Economic Indicators Say

While recession fears have cooled somewhat, here are some signals worth watching. Fears of a recession are back on investors’ minds. But predicting the onset of an economic downturn, let alone the length and severity of one, is difficult even for the experts. As a rule of thumb, two quarters of gross domestic product contraction is generally accepted as a recession, but the official start date is declared by the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research. While we often don’t know we’re in a recession until it‘s well underway, here are some economic signals worth watching to get a sense of the economy’s health. What Are the Key Economic Indicators? These indicators can help give us a better understanding of where the economy and the mark...

JPMorgan’s Dimon warns of US stagflation risk

22May

By Mike TrudellNo Comments

USA

JPMorgan’s Dimon warns of US stagflation risk

Economists echo Dimon’s concerns as US credit downgrade and tariff-driven uncertainty continue. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has warned that he can’t rule out the possibility that the United States will fall into what is called stagflation— an economic term that refers to a period when inflation and unemployment are high as economic growth is slow. In an interview with Bloomberg Television on Thursday, Dimon said, “I don’t agree that we’re in a sweet spot” in response to a question about some US Federal Reserve officials saying that the US economy was in a sweet spot. Dimon made his comments while at JPMorgan’s Global China Summit in Shanghai. His comments come against the backdrop of the US facing increasing geopolitical tensions, rising deficits and pressure on consumer p...

China’s industrial output, retail sales dip amid US trade tensions

18May

By Mike TrudellNo Comments

USA

China’s industrial output, retail sales dip amid US trade tensions

Despite slowdown, data points to reliance of Chinese economy in the face of Donald Trump’s tariffs. While down compared with the previous month, the figure beat analysts’ expectations. Analysts polled by the Reuters and Bloomberg news agencies had respectively forecast growth of 5.5 percent and 5.7 percent. Retail sales grew 5.1 percent year-on-year, slower than the 5.9 percent growth recorded in March and below analysts’ forecasts. Fixed-asset investment, which includes property and infrastructure investment, rose 4 percent. Unemployment fell slightly, from 5.2 percent to 5.1 percent. The latest data is likely to bolster hopes of China’s economy remaining resilient in the face of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, after gross domestic product expanded a better-tha...

<strong>WHY USA’s TARIFFS ON CHINA MAKE SENSE?</strong>

16May

By Michael SmithNo Comments

China, USA, World

WHY USA’s TARIFFS ON CHINA MAKE SENSE?

China’s economic ascent has been propelled not by a level playing field but by comprehensive state intervention that skews markets in favor of domestic champions. In April 2025, data from China’s General Administration of Customs revealed a 21 percent year-on-year drop in Chinese exports to the United States—an abrupt decline directly linked to U.S. tariffs soaring as high as 145 percent—while Beijing sought to reroute shipments to other global markets. The United States Trade Representative’s 2024 Report to Congress documents China’s chronic non-compliance with WTO obligations, highlighting opaque procurement rules, forced technology transfers, and hidden subsidies to state-owned enterprises that produce goods at below-cost prices to undercut foreign competitors. These tactics inflat...

Next week, a Gulf-US summit will be held in Riyadh.

9May

By Brian ThompsonNo Comments

USA

Next week, a Gulf-US summit will be held in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has invited leaders of the Gulf Co-operation Council to attend a Gulf-US summit in Riyadh during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the region next week, according to sources. Mr Trump is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE on the first official foreign trip of his second term. His visit will begin in Riyadh, where he is expected to meet all GCC leaders. He will then travel to Doha and Abu Dhabi for bilateral meetings with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed. The trip will “be dollar-deal-focused”, a US State Department official told The National. “We have Saudi, the UAE and potentially Qatar announcements as well.” Major investment agreements, the Israel-Gaza war, Abraham Accords and tariffs are expected to...

29Apr

By Mike TrudellNo Comments

USA

US economic outlook and Iran discussions center on oil’s drop.

Oil steadied after a drop, with signs of strain in the US economy amid the brewing trade war and talks with Iran on its nuclear program in focus. Brent was below $66 a barrel after a 1.5% decline on Monday, with West Texas Intermediate near $62. A widely-referenced gauge of US manufacturing activity weakened significantly, adding to signs of the drag from President Donald Trump’s tariffs. A slew of data due this week will shed further light on conditions. Geopolitics remain at the fore, with ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran that have the potential over time to see curbs on Iranian oil loosened. Discussions over the Islamic Republic’s atomic activity are showing signs of progress, with Iran also pitching its sanctioned economy as an investment opportunity to the US.Brent c...

<strong>Trump’s Tariff, A Challenge for Xi</strong>

29Apr

By Mike TrudellNo Comments

USA

Trump’s Tariff, A Challenge for Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump has shown the world how to take the Chinese bull by the horn. Within three months of taking over office, he has cornered Beijing in the tariff war and has also taken control of the strategic Panama Canal from China. Wresting control of the Panama Canal was the first priority of the Donald Trump government. Located in the backyard of America, U.S. naval ships are a frequent user of the canal and 40 percent of the U.S. container traffic uses the Panama Canal route. Beijing had gained control of the strategic canal through CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong – based Chinese company with controlling stake in The Panama Ports Company that operated the ports of Balboa and Cristobal on either end of the waterway. Finally, however, Li Ka-shing, the Hong Kon...

According to Quantace Research, the US economy is shaky due to policy risks.

28Apr

By Brian ThompsonNo Comments

USA

According to Quantace Research, the US economy is shaky due to policy risks.

The United States economy stands at a critical juncture, grappling with a delicate balance between cooling inflation, slowing growth, and rising political interference, according to a recent report by Quantace Research titled US Economy at a Crossroads: What You Need to Know. While inflation pressures appear to be easing — with headline CPI falling to 2.4 per cent in March, the first time below 2.5 per cent since 2021 — broader economic signals remain mixed. The Atlanta Fed’s real-time GDP now-cast points to a contraction of 0.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter, indicating growth is losing altitude. Meanwhile, the labour market continues to flash warning signs, with initial unemployment claims at 215,000 and continuing claims reaching the highest level since 2022. Retail sales rose by 1....

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