Economy News
The Daily Signal reports on economy news with analysis and commentary on growth, recession risks, employment, and financial trends.
-
opinion
US and China Make Successful Start on New Trade Negotiations
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping made progress Saturday night toward resolving the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute. After more than a year of conflict and new taxes on billions of cross-border trade, the two presidents came to an agreement at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that could begin de-escalating U.S.-China trade… -
opinion
China’s ‘Economic’ Losses Aren’t Because of US Trade Success
China’s economic growth has been slowing down, but it was slowing down before President Donald Trump entered the White House, and it will continue to slow down, regardless of whether the U.S.-China trade dispute continues or not. Supporters of the administration’s trade policy often cite the decline in China’s largest stock market, the Shanghai Stock… -
news
Media Misses: How Leftists and Pundits Got It Wrong on the Economy
The media gets it wrong more times than not. But perhaps their biggest “miss” was predicting that the economy couldn’t grow under President Donald Trump. To get the latest in outrageous media bias, be sure to follow us on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and send us your Media Misses to [email protected]. -
opinion
Why Free Market Policies Are Key to Empowering Women
Most people agree that women deserve the chance to advance up the economic latter. The real question is, how can that be achieved? What many don’t realize is that women’s advancement doesn’t require gender quotas or affirmative action. What’s needed, above all, is free market policies that allow women to make their own choices. Ivanka… -
opinion
Congress Considers Voting Away Its Budget Obligations
Congress should be using the lame-duck session to do meaningful work. Unfortunately, it’s doing the opposite: seeking to cut its future workload while leaving long-term problems unresolved. On Wednesday, the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform unveiled draft legislation designed to change the way Congress exercises its constitutionally-granted power of the purse…. -
opinion
Xi’s Latest Promises of Economic Openness Ring Hollow
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at China’s first International Import Expo in Shanghai earlier this month, reiterating familiar promises that China will improve access to trade, facilitate investment, and protect intellectual property. He and President Donald Trump will meet to discuss outstanding trade issues at the G20 summit in Argentina later this month. The expo,… -
opinion
Tariff Exemptions Don’t Cut It. Just Shave Off Trade Barriers.
“Buy American” is a popular slogan with a lot of appeal for the American public. Its focus on U.S.-made goods seems to emphasize our country’s jobs and economic stability. But “Buy American” policies may not always make America’s economy great again, as they have the ability to thwart the dynamic gains from international trade—a key… -
news
‘Satisfactory Deal’ With China Could Lead to Lifting of Tariffs, Kudlow Says
President Donald Trump might remove tariffs placed on imported Chinese goods, the chairman of the president’s National Economic Council says. The announcement by economic adviser Larry Kudlow came ahead of the meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. “If… -
opinion
October Showed Huge Economic Gains. Here’s How Congress Can Keep It Going.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shattered expert predictions on Friday, reporting that the economy added 250,000 new jobs in the month of October. The labor force participation rate also climbed, unemployment stayed at a record low, and the number of employed Americans stands at a record high. The economy saw gains in crucial sectors like… -
opinion
Threats of More Tariffs on Chinese Imports Hang in Balance as G-20 Talks Loom
A recent report may shed some light on the next round of the U.S.-China trade war. According to Bloomberg, President Donald Trump will place new taxes on $257 billion of imports from China if he doesn’t walk away satisfied from his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of November. However, that contradicts… -
opinion
Treasury Can’t Go Wobbly When Sanctions Against Russians Are Starting to Hurt
Anybody in the inner circle of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin who might have cheered President Donald Trump’s victory in 2016 must now be sorely disappointed. When it comes to dealing with Russia, Trump has been the toughest president since Ronald Reagan. He has sent advanced weapons to the Ukrainians and Georgians, increased U.S. defense spending in… -
opinion
Apple Got Special Relief From Trump’s Tariffs. Not Every Business Is So Lucky.
One of the problems with tariffs—and there are many—is that well-connected firms regularly win concessions that give them special advantages over others. Apple, the tech giant, is a perfect example of that phenomenon. President Donald Trump made an 11th-hour decision to spare the Apple Watch, along with certain other “data-transmission devices,” from the list of… -
opinion
Higher Defense Spending Gives Us Better Diplomacy, Not Just a Better Military
[R]obust U.S. military power produces positive spillovers in other areas of statecraft. … Put simply, if the United States did not command such impressive military power, it would be far less effective in achieving its economic and diplomatic goals. With these words, in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on Sept. 26, Hal Brands… -
opinion
America Cannot Afford for Congress to Abandon the Budget Caps
When recently asked about the soaring national debt, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blamed entitlement spending and Congress’ lack of interest in taking up entitlement reform. He was right, of course. Entitlements are a major driver of our debt, which is projected to reach $1 trillion next year and skyrocket from there. But aside from… -
news
Trump’s Plan to Cut Budget by 5% Meets With Skepticism
With the federal budget deficit reaching $779 billion, President Donald Trump is asking Cabinet members to cut spending in their departments by 5 percent next fiscal year. Because such trimming is hardly slashing the total budget, however, some experts question whether that even will make a difference in fiscal 2020, which will begin Oct. 1,… -
opinion
Steel Tariffs Mean No Party for This Maker of Beer Kegs
Pennsylvania-based American Keg, the only U.S. company that makes beer kegs, has been sobered by the results of President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs on imported steel. CEO Paul Czachor, who came to Washington earlier this year to seek tariffs on Chinese keg makers, says on his company website that the steel on which his company… -
opinion
With Free Markets at Work in Mississippi, Magnolia State’s Economy Blooms
History is full of reasons to love free markets. They reward hard work and catalyze innovation, providing technology and comforts previously unimaginable to the ordinary person. A new report by Anthony Kim and one of us (Patrick Tyrrell) of The Heritage Foundation shows just how Mississippi workers benefit from increased economic freedom when trade barriers… -
opinion
This Book Will Bring Economics to Life for You
A widely anticipated textbook, “Universal Economics,” has just been published by Liberty Fund. Its authors are two noted UCLA economists, the late Armen A. Alchian and William R. Allen. Editor Jerry L. Jordan was their student and later became a member of President Ronald Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers, as well as the president and… -
opinion
Growing National Debt Threatens the Current Economic Boom
The federal government’s fiscal year 2018 is over. In some ways, it was a banner year: economic growth quickened, average paychecks fattened, and there were more jobs available than there were people looking for work. But there are clouds on the horizon. Washington’s soaring deficit and debt could wipe out the progress being made, hitting…