Throughout a bumpy, controversial presidency, Donald Trump has consistently celebrated one bit of good news, the numbers around the economy – a climbing stock market and a falling unemployment rate. Now, the president’s trade war, which went to another level Friday by targeting anew 1,000-plus Chinese products, threatens to eat […] Read more »
‘Not what we expected’: Trump’s tax bill is losing popularity
In a packed arena in Fargo, N.D., this week, President Trump’s most ardent supporters roared with approval when he talked about protecting the U.S. borders, beating the Democrats and “respect for our great, beautiful, wonderful American flag.” When Trump pivoted to the tax bill, his top legislative accomplishment, the crowd […] Read more »
Job, income gains offset rising inflation, interest rates
Consumer sentiment has been virtually unchanged for the past three months and has shown only small and insignificant variations during the past 18 months, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The persistent strength has been due to favorable assessments of jobs and incomes, said U-M economist Richard […] Read more »
What Do Americans Really Know About Trade?
President Donald Trump has made the issue of trade and tariffs a centerpiece of his recent policymaking — but it’s not necessarily one Americans know a lot about. This episode explores new data measuring Americans’ attitudes and beliefs about trade policy with Gallup Senior Scientist Justin Wolfers, professor of economics […] Read more »
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Decreased in June
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® decreased in June, following an increase in May. The Index now stands at 126.4 (1985=100), down from 128.8 in May. CONT. Conference Board Read more »
Feeling Good About the Economy? You’re Probably a Republican
Americans are feeling better about the economy. Or at least Republicans are. A combination of low unemployment, peppier economic growth and a record-setting stock market has pushed measures of consumer confidence to their highest levels since the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s. That optimism is spilling […] Read more »