[jlisenbe]

You have fans that you are not aware of.

[tomder55]

I don't have the skills to be a serious journalist ;and if I did I would be posting at other sites. It doesn't matter how many people here read my posts . To me the fun was in the conversation. That doesn't happen at this site anymore.

[jlisenbe]

Yeah. This site is in pretty sad shape relative to five or six years ago. Still, some people continue to read your comments, so that's something. The chance to have some influence for the good is valuable. I do have a lot of interest in the effects of Trump's tariffs, but with my wife's illness, I've been pretty distracted.

[tomder55]

Trump's tariffs Immediate impact slowed economic growth ;slashed job gains manufacturing is crashing. Lagging is the stats on the inflation . It won't be pretty .

Steel and Aluminum 50% ???? As if we have the capacity to immediately make up the difference . As you know this impacts almost all sectors of the economy . Today WSJ is calling for greater recycling efforts to offset this foolishness.

[jlisenbe]

And yet there is the problem of other countries (i.e. Canada and Japan) imposing tariffs on our potential exports to them. How should we handle that?

And then there is this. The GDP growth rate for the second quarter of 2025 is 3.0%, reflecting a significant recovery from a 0.5% decline in the previous quarter. Can Trump use that to justify his actions?

[tomder55]

GDP increase in consumer spending getting in on what they perceive as a chance to purchase before price increases They dipped into savings .AND a reduction in imports that will affect prices down the road.

Gross Domestic Product, 2nd Quarter 2025 (Advance Estimate) | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

Rebound in US economic growth in second quarter masks underlying slowing trend | Reuters

[jlisenbe]

If correct, then the 3rd quarter report should reflect that. Perhaps that will be the case, but some predictions are encouraging such as, "The GDPNow model estimate for real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the third quarter of 2025 is 2.5 percent on August 7, unchanged from August 5 after rounding."

GDPNow - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

[tomder55]

Almost a 1% increase in the consumer price index last month. Trump wants a Fed Rate Cut but if inflation is on the rise it is doubtful that will happen .


PPI inflation report July 2025:

[jlisenbe]

Even ABC had to admit that the rise was less than expected. ""Consumer prices rose 2.7% in July compared to a year ago, clocking in lower than economists expected and holding steady from the previous month. The reading defied fears of further price increases as result of President Donald Trump's tariffs."


Prices climbed less than expected in July, despite Trump's tariffs - ABC News

The article went on to say, "The reading snaps two consecutive months of increased inflation. Price hikes stand below a 3% rate recorded in January, the month Trump took office. In recent months, tariffs modestly contributed to the uptick in overall inflation, analysts previously told ABC News."

You are assuming that the tariffs are responsible for all the inflation we are seeing. That would not be correct.