Wherever the effective tariff rate ends up, any reduction in margins because of the significant increase in trade taxes will result in reduced growth, higher inflation and rising unemployment. … READ MORE >
Economics
Rising continuing claims and falling profits signal labor market strain
Since April, the number of continuing claims has broken the 1.9 million threshold twice, including last week—a level higher than any seen in 2019, before the pandemic. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Why global bond yields are rising
Unfunded tax cuts, outlays on defense and infrastructure as well as rising inflation expectations are pushing global bond yields higher, which will put at risk private sector investment. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Estimating tariff revenues on EU exports to the U.S.
Using Penn-Wharton’s tariff simulator one can estimate the revenue generation linked to a large tariff on all imports to the U.S. from the EU. … READ MORE >
Equipment orders slide in April, showing impact of tariffs
Even with some recent easing in tensions, uncertainty surrounding trade policy remains high. Business spending is likely to remain largely frozen in the months ahead. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Rising duration premium points to heightened risk in long-dated debt
The 30-year swap is pointing toward greater risk in U.S. Treasury funding as trade and fiscal policies suggest higher inflation, rising interest rates and growing government deficits to fund a large tax cut. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Financial conditions a modest drag on growth
We expect the cost of credit for businesses to be pressured higher as the risk of a slowdown increases. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: A widening U.S. 30-year/10-year spread points to long-term change
Now, as populist economics takes hold and globalization fades, nowhere is the new regime better illustrated than in the U.S. 30-year less 10-year Treasury spread in the bond market. … READ MORE >
Inflation falls in Canada as end of consumer carbon tax offsets other increases
Canada’s consumer price index (CPI) fell to 1.7% in April thanks to the removal of the consumer carbon price and lower crude oil prices. For now, price increases associated with U.S. tariffs seem to have been kept at bay. The end of the consumer carbon tax should continue to apply … … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Something’s got to give in financial markets
Now, as the impact of tariffs begins to hit consumers, it would not be surprising if investors push yields higher and the dollar lower. … READ MORE >