Rising Gas Prices Hit Poorer Americans Hardest and Deepen the Wealth Divide
Rising gasoline prices are widening the economic gap between wealthy and lower-income Americans, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The study found that the latest gas price spike, driven by the conflict involving Iran and disruptions in global energy markets, is affecting households very differently depending on income. While wealthier […]
Trump Taps Minnesota Economist Christopher Phelan to Lead White House Economic Council
President Donald Trump has nominated University of Minnesota economist Christopher Phelan to serve as his chief economic adviser, filling a key White House vacancy at a moment when economic policy is under heavy political and financial scrutiny. Phelan would become the new head of the Council of Economic Advisers, or CEA, if confirmed by the […]
Fed Faces Growth-and-Inflation Squeeze, but Powell Signals No Rush to Move
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the U.S. central bank is in a position to wait and watch how the expanding Iran war affects inflation and the broader economy, signaling that policymakers do not yet see a need to change interest rates even as new risks emerge. Speaking at Harvard University on March 30, Powell […]
Gold Exports Record Drive Sharp Narrowing in U.S. Trade Deficit
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in January as exports surged to a record high and imports edged lower, a shift that—if sustained—could make trade a positive contributor to economic growth in the first quarter. The Commerce Department said the overall trade gap in goods and services fell 25.3% to $54.5 billion. Economists had expected […]
Fed Beige Book: Growth Holds Up But Shoppers Resist Price Increases
The Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book offered a cautiously positive read on the U.S. economy, describing modest growth, stable employment, and continued—but potentially easing—price pressures across much of the country. Based on surveys and interviews gathered through late February, economic activity “rose a bit” in recent weeks, with 7 of the Fed’s 12 districts expanding […]
Middle-Class Squeeze: Most Americans Say a New Car and a First Home Are Out of Reach
A new Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos survey finds that many Americans feel they can cover today’s basics but still can’t reach the milestones that define “getting ahead”—especially buying a home and purchasing a new car. The poll paints a picture of an economy where the stock market and consumer spending may look steady, yet households say […]
International Monetary Fund ( IMF) Warns U.S. Debt Path is a Rising Global Risk
The International Monetary Fund delivered a mixed but pointed message about the U.S. economy: the near-term growth outlook remains resilient, yet Washington’s fiscal deficits are large enough to threaten long-run stability and to worsen the country’s external imbalances. In its annual “Article IV” review, the IMF projected U.S. growth of 2.4% in 2026, broadly consistent […]
Trump’s First Year Back: Markets and Prices Up, Job Engine Slows
The Wall Street Journal’s year-one snapshot of President Trump’s second-term economy paints a picture of uneven performance: some headline indicators look stable or even strong, but several underlying pressures—especially jobs, housing, and trade—remain stubborn or have worsened. On the labor market, the biggest shift is slower job creation. The U.S. added 181,000 jobs in 2025, […]
White House Fires Back at NY Fed Research Arguing Americans Shoulder Most Tariff Costs
A political clash is brewing between the White House and central-bank researchers after Kevin Hassett publicly suggested punishment for the authors of a Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis that challenges the administration’s tariff narrative. In a February 18 interview with CNBC, Hassett said the research was “an embarrassment,” called it “the worst paper” […]
US Factory Output Jumps Most in 11 Months, Signaling a Tentative Manufacturing Rebound
