Trade

Booming AI Imports Depressing US GDP, Though Not Final Sales

Jul 7, 2026 4 min read paid

The Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model estimates Q2-2026 real GDP growth at just 1.4% (saar). That's because net exports (i.e., exports minus imports) dragged it down by 1.3 ppt. During the quarter, AI-related imports increased sharply, outpacing the large increase in US exports of crude oil and petroleum products. The picture is brighter below the headline number. Real final sales to private

Ed Yardeni
Elias Griepentrog

Stocks Greet Liberation Day With Bronx Cheers

Apr 2, 2025 3 min read

President Donald Trump and his guests at the Rose Garden today celebrated Liberation Day. Stock investors won't be celebrating tomorrow based on the plunge in futures prices tied to the DJIA, S&P 500, and the Nasdaq-100. The Stock Market Vigilantes are not happy. Trump announced that on April 5, his administration will impose a 10% tariff rate on all imports from all of America'

Ed Yardeni

ECONOMIC WEEK: January 20–24

Jan 20, 2025 3 min read

The week ahead will be light on economic indicators and heavy on executive orders (EOs). While the markets are closed on Monday for MLK Day, President Donald Trump will be inaugurated into office for his second term. Out of the gate, Trump 2.0 is likely to target tariff, immigration, regulatory, energy, and cultural issues with a deluge of EOs. Bitcoin might get a huge boost this week if Trump

Ed Yardeni

Stocks Still OK With Tariff Man

Nov 26, 2024 3 min read paid

Last night, President Trump posted on social media that he will slap a 25% tariff on all products coming from Mexico and Canada his first day in office. The tariff will remain in effect until fentanyl, other drugs, and illegal immigrants stop pouring over the northern and southern borders, he said. Similarly, Trump said China will face an additional 10% above any existing tariffs until it stems the flow of

Ed Yardeni

Panda In A China Shop

Jul 15, 2024 3 min read paid

China just loaned two young pandas to the San Diego Z00. In the past, such Panda Diplomacy suggested that relations between the US and China might be improving. It's hard to come to that conclusion currently since both US presidential candidates seem to agree that the US needs to slap more tariffs on Chinese goods. China remains very dependent on exports to boost its economy, especially since the

Ed Yardeni

China: Desperately Seeking a New Engine

Aug 16, 2023 2 min read paid

The Chinese are providing American consumers with cheaper goods. By doing so, the Chinese are increasing the purchasing power of American consumers, who are doing what they do best; they are shopping. It’s a gain for the US economy, which is getting better economic growth with lower inflation. It’s a loss for Chinese consumers, who are facing deflation and higher unemployment and dealing with the consequences of the

Ed Yardeni

China's Post-Lockdown Recovery Fizzles

Jun 24, 2023 1 min read paid

Since April, we have been observing that China’s economic recovery over the six months since the government lifted pandemic lockdown restrictions in early December has been surprisingly weak. The country’s total imports have been flat since late 2021 through May of this year (chart). The rallies in the price of copper and in the China MSCI stock price index late last year and early this year have fizzled

Ed Yardeni

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