The Fed May Give Trump His Rate Cut, but It Won’t Help

The Fed May Give Trump His Rate Cut, but It Won’t Help

by Patrick Watson Investors are in a buying mood despite many economic warning signs. Why? For some, it’s because they expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates and otherwise “stimulate” the economy. They believe (correctly) it would drive stock and real estate...
Freight Slowdown Is a Terrible Sign for the Economy

Freight Slowdown Is a Terrible Sign for the Economy

By Patrick Watson Just as an army moves on its stomach, an economy moves on ships, trucks, and planes. They carry the goods whose purchase adds up to growth. Nowadays many goods are digital, delivered electronically. But we still need lots of physical stuff which must...
This Trade War Will Start a Recession, or Worse…

This Trade War Will Start a Recession, or Worse…

By Patrick Watson The logic of Donald Trump’s multi-front trade war, if there is any, is increasingly obscure. The tangled mix of policies isn’t accomplishing its stated goals and seems unlikely to ever do so. Meanwhile, it hurts the Americans it should...