In a continued downward trend, expenditures by foreign direct investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses decreased by $24.9 billion, or 14.2 percent. At $151.0 billion, they were below the annual average of $277.2 billion for 2014–2023. In a new release today by the U.S Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, expenditures by […]
Tag: Economy
Passing of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ – a dark day for America’s most vulnerable
With the final tie-breaking vote cast by Vice-President J.D. Vance, the House passed the Trump Administration’s Big Beautiful Bill today, sending it to Trump’s desk in time for an Independence Day signing ceremony. While the Right celebrates a victory, happy with the many carve-outs geared to line the pockets of the right-wing elite and advance […]
Trump touts ‘Hottest Country anywhere in the World’ as US personal income drops by the most significant amount since September 2021
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released more concerning data for US consumers. In what was the most significant drop in almost four years. Personal incomes decreased $109.6 billion (0.4 percent at a monthly rate) in May. Meaning US consumers had less access to income to purchase goods. With continued apprehension over softening job markets, […]
US Consumers – including Trump’s base – more pessimistic in June Consumer Confidence Index
The Conference Board released its Consumer Confidence Index yesterday, revealing a pessimistic outlook among American consumers. The index fell by 5.4 points to just 93.0, down from 98.4 in May. Interestingly, the Expectations Index, which is composed of consumers’ near-term outlook for income, labor market conditions, and business fell by another 4.6 points down to […]
U.S. trade policy chaos expected to spur Global economic slowdown
With the world’s largest economy sputtering amid ongoing chaotic tariff and trade policy, the World Bank released its twice-annual Global Economic Prospects report on June 10. The report slashed its annual U.S. growth rate from 2.3% – which it had predicted just six months ago, to just 1.4%. If the prediction is correct, it would […]
Q1 U.S. productivity drops, marking slowdown in growth
Yesterday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 1.5 percent in the first quarter of 2025. Interestingly, output decreased by 0.2 percent, and hours worked increased by 1.3 percent. In other words, everyday workers are putting in more hours for less productivity. This is the first decline in […]
Delusions of grandeur – Trump touts Golden Age, as April durable goods orders plunge
Yesterday, in what can only be described as a delusional post to Truth Social, Trump pumped his imaginary Golden Age of America with the following message: “Our Nation is staging one of the greatest and fastest comebacks in history. In just four short months, we are respected again, respected like never before, and just wait, […]
Trump’s policies cause key U.S. economic indicators to plunge in April
In what has marked the entirety of the second Trump Administration, the Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) plunged sharply again in April. The LEI for the US fell sharply by 1.0% in April 2025 to 99.4 (2016 = 100), following a 0.8% decline in March. The LEI is a predictive tool that anticipates—or “leads”—turning […]
Consumer sentiment continues to nosedive with Trump’s economic policies
In continued disdain for Trump’s economic policies and their subsequent upheaval, American consumers remain wary of what is to come. The median forecast for May consumer confidence was 53.5, representing a slight increase from the April 2025 sentiment number of 52.20. However, consumer confidence plunged to an almost record low of just 50.80 points in […]
Unproductive – U.S. sees first quarter productivity fall under Trump Administration
Yesterday brought more concerning news on the state of the American economy. Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2025, under the Trump Administration. The first time in three years that the US has seen a decline. Coming out of the pandemic, worker productivity and the steady increases that […]