EconoFact

1 month ago | econofact.org | Michael Klein

· Fletcher School, Tufts University President Trump and members of his administration claim that international trade is rife with unfair dealing. As a sign of this unfairness they point to the fact that the U.S. buys more goods from many countries than these individual countries purchase from the United States, arguing that such bilateral trade deficits mean that the United States is being “ripped off”.

1 month ago | econofact.org | Jeremy Stein |Econo Fact |Binyamin Appelbaum |Scott Horsley |Greg Ip

United States Treasury bonds have long been viewed as a highly liquid investment with very little risk of default. They have served as a safe haven for investors and also provided a benchmark interest rate for mortgages, car loans, corporate debt, and other bonds. Typically, Treasury bond yields fall at times of financial stress as demand for Treasury securities rise. But this time is different. Bond prices have fallen and yields have risen in the wake of the policy volatility of the past month.

2 months ago | econofact.org | Mark Zandi

President Trump inherited an economy that was, at least in the aggregate, performing exceptionally well. Since taking office, however, the stock market has fallen, and there are heightened expectations of a slowdown due to the policies, and uncertainty from the shifts in policies, of the new Administration. Are these concerns well-founded? Or will tariffs, cuts to government jobs, and deregulation help usher in a stronger economy? Mark Zandi considers these issues on EconoFact Chats.

2 months ago | econofact.org | Kenneth N. Kuttner |Michael Klein |Melissa S. Kearney

· Williams College Few financial indicators are as closely watched as the interest rate on 10-year Treasury securities. So much so, in fact, that Treasury Secretary Bessent stated in a February 2025 interview that “The president wants lower rates. He and I are focused on the 10-year Treasury and what is the yield of that.” What is the 10-year Treasury yield? What role does it play in the economy? What determines it? And what (if anything) can the Treasury do to affect it?

2 months ago | econofact.org | Michael Klein |Felipe Goncalves |Elisa Jácome

· EconoFact and The Fletcher School, Tufts University The price of gold has jumped over 40 percent since the end of 2023, reaching $3,000 per ounce in mid-March 2025. This leap cannot be explained by a sudden increase in the demand for gold as jewelry or for its use in industrial production. Rather, it reflects the shifting demand for the yellow metal as a financial asset.