Ben Casselman

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Ben Casselman |Colby Smith

Huge deficits are already making bond investors nervous. Economists warn that could make it harder to respond to future crises. There is a basic rule of thumb when it comes to the federal budget. The government should spend heavily during times of crisis - recessions, wars, pandemics - and then get its fiscal house in order when the crisis passes.

1 month ago | businessandamerica.com | Ben Casselman

The temporary reduction in tariffs that the United States and China announced in Geneva on Monday will lift, at least for now, the de facto trade embargo that had been in place between the two countries for the past month. It will reduce the chances that American shoppers will face empty shelves during the holiday season and perhaps limit the price increases they will have to endure. It sent stock prices soaring around the world.

1 month ago | pressdemocrat.com | Ben Casselman |Colby Smith

Americans are spending less at McDonald’s. Fewer container ships are expected at the Port of Los Angeles. Procter & Gamble is raising prices. Mattel is shifting production out of China. Evidence for the economic impact of President Donald Trump’s trade wars is everywhere — except, for the most part, in economic data itself. Consumer spending hasn’t fallen. Layoffs haven’t risen. Businesses haven’t stopped investing in equipment or buying supplies.

1 month ago | sanluisobispo.com | Ben Casselman |Colby Smith |NYT Business

Americans are spending less at McDonald’s. Fewer container ships are expected at the Port of Los Angeles. Procter & Gamble is raising prices. Mattel is shifting production out of China. Evidence for the economic impact of President Donald Trump’s trade wars is everywhere -- except, for the most part, in economic data itself. Consumer spending hasn’t fallen. Layoffs haven’t risen. Businesses haven’t stopped investing in equipment or buying supplies.

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Ben Casselman |Colby Smith

Mainstream measures have been slow to detect the impact of tariffs and uncertainty, leaving economists to scour earnings calls and private-sector data sources. Some economists argue that as tariffs push up prices, consumers will reduce their purchases, ultimately leading to layoffs and a recession. Credit... Graham Dickie/The New York Times Mainstream measures have been slow to detect the impact of tariffs and uncertainty, leaving economists to scour earnings calls and private-sector data sources.