The trade and economy mega-thread (5 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

Is there a trade deal with China? Is it really a deal or just a pull-back to status quo ante? Is Trump advancing US interests in this well-executed trade battle plan or was this poorly conceived from the start . . . and harmful?

I think the jury's still out, but I haven't seen that the Chinese are offering much in compromise - and it's not even clear if there's going to be an agreement. But it's clear they are working on something and I'm sure Trump will sell it as the greatest trade deal ever. The proof will be in the details.

 

[LA 2 L.A.]

cant make this shirt up

To add to that, tariff driven inflation is just now getting started.

The tariff-driven inflation that economists feared begins to emerge

Inflation rose last month to its highest level since February as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs push up the cost of a range of goods, including furniture, clothing, and large appliances.

apnews.com

 

[efil4]

But seriously bruh, Trump is doing a great job - he already secured $16 trillion in investment.

By the end of summer, investment "secured" will exceed our GDP

watch.

Folks truly believe this. Pretty scary really.

and this is EXACTLY how he would value his properties when looking for loans.

Then reverse whenit came to be tax time.

 

[LA 2 L.A.]

My new favorite Trump trade talking point is the he "made deals" with all those countries he sent that ridiculous letter to - because "the letters are the deals". How TF did we get here??

Too many people voted for Trump.

 

[bird]

Too many people voted for Trump.

He is a lying sack o’schlitz, period. Not one word that falls from his face is true. Not even definite and indefinite articles.

 

[MT15]

Trump’s idiocy in 2 posts. An admirable distillation of the complete lunacy that is Trump.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Guess this can go here
================
The last remaining car selling for less than $20,000 in the U.S. is expected to disappear from dealers’ lots in the coming months.

The Mitsubishi Mirage — a five-seat hatchback sedan — sells for an average of $18,484. The model was discontinued in June, and inventory is rapidly dwindling, with less than 1,700 vehicles available across the U.S., according to Kelley Blue Book, a vehicle valuation and research company.

Now, the country’s last sub-$20,000 vehiclewill likely be gone by the end of the summer.

As of April, the average new car sold in the U.S. for $48,422, while the average used car sold for $25,373, according to vehicle research site Edmunds.

While car prices are negotiated between dealers and sellers, manufacturers give recommended prices, known as the “manufacturers’ suggested retail price,” or MSRP. The average MSRP in April was $50,408 for a new car, Edmunds reports.

The average new car owner pays $742 monthly at an interest rate of 6.35 percent, with a loan term of five-and-a-half years, consumer credit company Experian reports.

Car prices are expected to rise due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which tax imported cars and auto parts at 25 percent. While prices have remained in check since Trump issued his wide-reaching tariffs in April, experts say prices are expected to spike in the coming months, CNN reports.……..

Last remaining new car below $20,000 in U.S. to disappear by end of summer

The average new car price in the U.S. is more than $48,000

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he has finally found a way to achieve his goal of removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of mismanaging the U.S. central bank’s $2.5 billion renovation project.

The push comes after a monthslong campaign by Trump to try to rid himself of the politically independent central banker, who has resisted the Republican president’s calls to slash interest rates out of concerns about the administration’s tariffs sparking higher levels of inflation.

Trump indicated Tuesday that Powell’s handling of an extensive renovation project on two Fed buildings in Washington could be grounds to take the unprecedented and possibly legally dubious step of firing him. “I think it sort of is,” Trump said.

“When you spend $2.5 billion on, really, a renovation, I think it’s really disgraceful,” Trump said, adding that he never saw the Fed chair as someone who needed a “palace.”

The project has been underway for years, going back to Trump’s first term. But it only recently caught the White House’s attention.

Trump maintains Fed rate cuts would lower the costs of government borrowing, while Powell has warned a premature rate cut could worsen inflation and ultimately raise those borrowing costs…….

How Trump could use a building renovation to oust Fed Chair Powell

President Trump says he has finally found a way to achieve his goal of removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of mismanaging the U.S. central bank’s $2.5 billion renovation project.

apnews.com

 

[efil4]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he has finally found a way to achieve his goal of removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of mismanaging the U.S. central bank’s $2.5 billion renovation project.

The push comes after a monthslong campaign by Trump to try to rid himself of the politically independent central banker, who has resisted the Republican president’s calls to slash interest rates out of concerns about the administration’s tariffs sparking higher levels of inflation.

Trump indicated Tuesday that Powell’s handling of an extensive renovation project on two Fed buildings in Washington could be grounds to take the unprecedented and possibly legally dubious step of firing him. “I think it sort of is,” Trump said.

“When you spend $2.5 billion on, really, a renovation, I think it’s really disgraceful,” Trump said, adding that he never saw the Fed chair as someone who needed a “palace.”

The project has been underway for years, going back to Trump’s first term. But it only recently caught the White House’s attention.

Trump maintains Fed rate cuts would lower the costs of government borrowing, while Powell has warned a premature rate cut could worsen inflation and ultimately raise those borrowing costs…….

How Trump could use a building renovation to oust Fed Chair Powell

President Trump says he has finally found a way to achieve his goal of removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of mismanaging the U.S. central bank’s $2.5 billion renovation project.

apnews.com

 

[MT15]

I mean you gotta laugh. Trump of all people alleging someone else is wasting taxpayer money, my god. And then being surprised someone he appointed was appointed.

This is a level of impairment Biden never approached. He’s totally checked out.

 

[MT15]

 

[efil4]

smoke and mirrors.

He conning his base to think they are in place- they are not.

its why the market hasnt reacted to any of these "deals" and "threats" - nothing exists but rhetoric.

When Wall St drops, then you know its finalized.

 

[MT15]

This doesn’t sound like someone who knows what the hell is going on.

 

[efil4]

This doesn’t sound like someone who knows what the hell is going on.

He doesnt. Never did. This is all performative.

He isn't accomplishing anything other than chaos and uncertainty, something Trump revels in.

 

[Optimus Prime]

US corn growers warn Trump’s push for cane sugar in Coke will cost thousands of jobs

The Corn Refiners Association added the move would also lower farm income and boost imports of foreign sugar ‘all with no nutritional benefit’

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Maxp]

If Coca-Cola does change to cane sugar, most of it will need to come from Brazil and be subject to high tariffs. Those poor Midwest farmers, Trump sold them out again in the first year.

 

[LA 2 L.A.]

US corn growers warn Trump’s push for cane sugar in Coke will cost thousands of jobs

The Corn Refiners Association added the move would also lower farm income and boost imports of foreign sugar ‘all with no nutritional benefit’

www.independent.co.uk

The main reason that corn sweeteners are less expensive that sugar cane sugar, is because the government gives the corn sweetener industry a boat load of corporate welfare that it doesn't give the sugar cane industry.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Businesses are already passing tariff costs onto consumers, Federal Reserve finds

Prices are expected to rise even more by late summer, the Federal Reserve said

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

The cost of ground beef has hit a record high as Americans face ever-soaring grocery bills.

The dinner table staple jumped in price by around 12 percent from the previous year, shooting up from $5.47 in June 2024 to $6.12 in June 2025, according to federal government data released this month. The news is another blow for President Donald Trump’s promise to bring grocery prices down.

Shrinking herds, drought conditions and the rise of imported beef have all been blamed for the cost hike…….

Where’s the relief? Ground beef prices hit record-high of $6.12 per pound

President Trump has pledged to lower grocery prices, but beef

www.independent.co.uk