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☆ Baltimore bridge collapse a 'national economic catastrophe,' says Maryland governor
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge lies on top of the container ship Dali in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 29, 2024. The collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday is likely to send shock waves across the U.S. economy, as a key shipping route for certain goods remains snarled for the foreseeable future, officials said Sunday. "This is not [just] a Baltimore catastrophe, not a Maryland catastrophe. This is a national economic catastrophe as well," Maryland Gov. The bridge collapsed Tuesday after a large cargo ship crashed into it, following a mayday call shortly before the collision.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Baltimore's Francis Scott Key, Wes Moore, Moore, Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, There's Organizations: Port, . Transportation, CBS, Federal, Eiffel Locations: Dali, Baltimore , Maryland, U.S, Baltimore, Maryland, Port of Baltimore, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee

☆ Cars, sugar and cruises: How the Port of Baltimore closure could hurt the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Mark Thompson | Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Port of Baltimore said in a post on X that vessel traffic was suspended until further notice, but trucks were still being processed at its terminals. It said it would discharge cargo destined for Baltimore in other ports nearby, but Maesrk warned customers that could mean delays. Closer to the Midwest than any other port on the East Coast, Baltimore is a major hub for vehicles, containers and commodities. Baltimore ranks first among US ports for autos and light trucks, handling a record 850,000 vehicles last year. While many of the 30,000 to 35,000 cars and trucks that used the Key Bridge daily can be rerouted through the two nearby tunnels, that will cause traffic delays.

Persons: Dali, Judah Levine, ” Maersk, “, VW, Oren Klachkin, Levine, Mark Zandi, ”, Zandi, Wes Moore, Joe Biden, Francis Scott Key, Tasos Katopodis, — Moore, Emily Stausbøll, Matt Lupoli, Hanna Ziady, Peter Valdes, Rob North, Sugam Pokharel Organizations: New York CNN, Baltimore, Atlantic, Nationwide Financial, US, Moody’s, Maryland Gov, Rebuilding, Francis Scott Key Bridge, Domino, Company, Royal Caribbean, Cruises, Cruise, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Locations: London, New York, Port, Baltimore, East Coast, Singapore, East Coast , Baltimore, Philadelphia, Norfolk, of New York, New Jersey, Asia, Africa, Suez, Maryland, Patapsco, Rebuilding Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, Tasos, “, Norway, Royal Caribbean

☆ Switzerland becomes first major economy to cut interest rates in surprise move
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Swiss national flag hangs from the Federal Palace, Switzerland's parliament building, in Bern, Switzerland, on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The Swiss National Bank cut its inflation forecast and showed no inclination of moving off its crisis-era settings, citing the francs strength and mounting global risks. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the Swiss central bank to hold rates at 1.75%. According to the new forecast, inflation is also likely to remain in this range over the next few years," the bank said. Swiss inflation continued to fall in February, hitting 1.2%.

Persons: Stefan Wermuth, Thomas Jordan, SNB Organizations: Swiss, Swiss National Bank, Bloomberg, Getty, Reuters, Capital Economics, Bank, Capital Locations: Switzerland's, Bern, Switzerland, Swiss

☆ In swing state Arizona, an $8.5 billion CHIPS grant spells ‘jobs’ more than geopolitics
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Christine Romans | Emily Pandise | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US President Joe Biden gives a speech at Intel Ocotillo Campus on March 20, 2024 in Chandler, Arizona. Biden announced $8.5 billion in federal funding from the CHIPS Act for Intel Corp. to manufacture semiconductors in Arizona. "The CHIPS and Science Act is a huge jobs creator," National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard told NBC News, adding that the impact would go beyond Intel's own workforce. "The CHIPS and Science Act is a huge jobs creator," National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard told NBC News, adding that the impact would go beyond Intel's own workforce. "That also leads to all kinds of nearby restaurants' having business, nearby service small businesses' starting up and hiring workers of their own."

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, CHANDLER, Ariz, Alfred Garza, Garza, It's, Chandler, Lael Brainard, Pat Gelsinger Organizations: Intel Ocotillo, Intel Corp, China, Intel, Chandler, Economic, NBC News Locations: Chandler , Arizona, Arizona, —, Phoenix, Washington, Chandler, Ohio, New Mexico, Oregon, America, Asia, U.S

In an AP-NORC poll conducted in February, 38% of U.S. adults approved of how Biden was handling his job. Black adults are more likely than white and Hispanic adults to approve of Biden, but that approval has dropped in the three years since Biden took office. This is stuff that requires work,” Quentin Fulks, principal deputy campaign manager for the Biden campaign, said in an interview. Still, the Biden campaign and the broader Democratic Party are confronting their own struggles, despite their cash and organizational advantages. And in Nevada, Biden will continue promoting a new housing proposal that would offer a mortgage relief credit for first-time homebuyers and a seller's tax credit to encourage homeowners to offload their starter homes.

Persons: Joe Biden, Harris, Biden, Donald Trump, They're, Trump, Jill Biden, ” Quentin Fulks, “, ”, Maria Cardona, White, Lael Brainard, Sen, Catherine Cortez Masto, —, ” Cortez Masto, Linley Sanders, biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Biden, Asian American, Bilingual, GOP, Republican National, Trump, RNC, Trump's, Democratic Party, AP VoteCast, ”, White, National Economic Council, Republican, Associated Press Locations: Nevada , Arizona, Texas, Reno , Nevada, Washoe County, Las Vegas, Phoenix, U.S, Arizona, Maryvale, Nevada and Arizona, Biden's State, Biden’s, Nevada , Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, In Arizona, Nevada, Dallas, Houston

☆ What a Trump 2.0 Economy Would Look Like
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Tim Smart | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +10 min

Overall, the Biden economic plan draws less than favorable reviews from voters. So, too, are promises of more tax cuts and a sharp curtailment of immigration. Trump was upset in 2019 that Powell was not doing enough to lower interest rates and stimulate the economy. The Trump tax cuts are set to expire in 2025, giving a second Trump administration the opportunity to fight that battle again. “A Trump 2.0 presidency would inherit very large fiscal deficits from the Biden Administration, rising interest expenses and an economy probably more prone to bouts of inflation,” the report said.

Persons: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, There’s, ” Trump, it’s, ”, Patrick Horan, “, Tony Soprano, Patrick Kilbane, ” Kilbane, “ Trump, ” George Calhoun, Calhoun, ” Matt Gertken, Alex Nowrasteh, ” Michael Clemens, Clemens, Jerome Powell, Powell, Xi Jinping, Maria Bartiromo, reappoint Powell, Steve Mnuchin, ” Maxime Darmet, Darmet, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: Manila ”, Trump, CNBC, Monday, White, George Mason University, Ullmann Wealth Partners, Republican Party, Senate, Affordable, Quantitative, Stevens Institute of Technology, TikTok, Democratic, BCA Research, Labor, CATO Institute, Peterson Institute for International, University of Colorado, Federal Reserve, Federal, Biden, Fox Business, Trump Cabinet, House, Allianz Research, Biden Administration, U.S, Allianz Trade, Congress, GOP Locations: Manila, COVID, China, U.S, America, France

☆ If the US bans TikTok, China will be getting a taste of its own medicine
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But American apps have long been barred in China. “The TikTok bill appears likely to become law and China’s displeasure seems ironic, if not hypocritical, given its stance toward American social apps,” said Brock Silvers, managing director at Kaiyuan Capital. The Chinese government has said it strongly opposes a forced sale of TikTok, and it has the legal ability to do so. A man walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, in Beijing. “While China has completely banned [these] American apps, TikTok enjoys all the benefits of America’s free and open legal and political systems,” he said.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — TikTok, ByteDance doesn’t, Wang Wenbin, ”, Brock Silvers, Wang, Joe Biden, TikTok, CNN Beijing’s, Trump, Greg Baker, “, Winston Ma, Silvers, Alex Capri, Craig Singleton, “ We’ve, ” Capri Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, Foreign Ministry, Google, Kaiyuan, Chinese Commerce Ministry, ByteDance, Trump, CNN, Commerce Ministry, Getty, New York University School of Law, Foundation, National University of Singapore Business School, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Weibo, Twitter, Facebook Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, TikTok, ByteDance, AFP, Washington, Washington , DC

☆ Biden says it’s ‘vital’ US Steel remain American owned and operated
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden on Thursday said he believes it’s “vital” that US Steel remain American owned and operated, dealing a blow to the iconic company’s planned sale to Japan’s Nippon Steel. “It is important that we maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers. I told our steel workers I have their backs, and I meant it,” Biden said in a statement. “US Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.”The Biden administration is concerned about some of Nippon’s assets in China, a person familiar with the administration’s thinking told CNN. After the Biden statement, the US Chamber of Commerce warned against politicizing the US Steel deal and said the transaction should proceed if the CFIUS review reveals no national security concerns.

Persons: Joe Biden, it’s, ” Biden, ”, Biden, Lael Brainard, Fumio, ” John Murphy, ” Michael Leiter, Skadden, Arps, ” Leiter, isn’t Organizations: CNN, US Steel, Japan’s Nippon Steel, Steel, Nippon, National Economic Council, Washington Post, Foreign Investment, Treasury, US Chamber of Commerce Locations: American, China, Pittsburgh, Washington, United States

☆ Explainer-How the West Might Use Russia's Frozen Reserves
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Here are some of the ideas that have been suggested:CONFISCATIONSome international policymakers and lawyers say the immobilised Russian reserves can simply be confiscated under a doctrine of international law known as "countermeasures". Some in the bloc are still wary, though, and the European Central Bank has warned that claiming the trapped Russian assets should only be done in tandem with G7 powers. The bondholders would not have a contractual claim on the Kremlin’s frozen reserves. Ukraine would have a plausible way to collect on any damages awarded up to the value of the reserves. If Moscow refused to pay the damages, the allies could then use Russia’s frozen assets to pay off the loan.

Persons: Marc Jones, Lee Buchheit, Daleep Singh, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Marc Jones LONDON, Emergency Economic, U.S, European Central Bank Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kuwait, United States, EU, Russian, Brussels, Belgium, U.S, Britain, China, Hong Kong, Dubai, Moscow

☆ Why are prices still so high? Corporate greed, some say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

While supply chain problems and high demand may have helped spur inflation early in the pandemic, Rosolino believes there’s another key reason why prices have soared and remained high: Corporate greed. It’s corporate greed.”Nick Rosolino feels businesses won't lower their prices as long as consumers keep spending. “Too many corporations raise prices to pad their profits, charging more and more for less and less,” Biden said. Companies are typically slower to reduce their prices when costs decline than they are to raise prices when their expenses jump. Corporate profits have contributed to inflation, though experts differ on the extent.

Persons: Nick Rosolino, Rosolino, there’s, ”, “ It’s, Nick Rosolino Reluctantly, Joe Biden, “, ” Biden, Cookie Monster, Lael Brainard, Goldman Sachs, Neil Bradley, Heather Vargas, ” Vargas, ” Heather Vargas, Heather Vargas Vargas, –, Kellogg, Gary Pilnick’s, Companies haven’t, Aaron Hackman, McKinley Conner, Aaron Hackman “, Hackman Organizations: CNN, America, White, Economic Council, Federal Reserve, Companies, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, US Chamber of Commerce, of Labor Statistics, “ Locations: Maine, New Gloucester , Maine, Portland, Heights , California, Fort Lauderdale , Florida

☆ Biden to launch joint FTC-DOJ task force to crack down on 'unfair and illegal pricing'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., July 13, 2023. Kevin Wurm | ReutersPresident Joe Biden on Tuesday will launch a new task force to take on "unfair and illegal" corporate pricing, which Biden sees as a major reason why consumers are not yet feeling the impact of cooling inflation rates and a strong economy. The task force will be jointly led by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, two agencies at the forefront of the Biden administration's aggressive regulatory agenda over the past three years. The announcements and the meeting are part of Biden's ongoing crusade against corporate pricing practices that he claims are unfair. Lael Brainard, vice chair of the US Federal Reserve, speaks during an interview in Washington, DC, on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022.

Persons: Lina Khan, Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden, Biden, Antitrust Jonathan Kanter, Khan, Kanter, Jonathan Kanter, Kevin Dietsch, Lael Brainard, inhalers, Brainard, Andrew Harrer Organizations: Federal Trade, Federal Trade Commission, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Department of Justice, Biden, Force, Antitrust, Justice Department, White, Competition Council, Economic, Consumer Financial, Agriculture Department, US Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Washington ,, Washington , DC, U.S

☆ Weighing down the taxpayer: Why weight loss drugs could cost taxpayers over $1 trillion per year
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWeighing down the taxpayer: Why weight loss drugs could cost taxpayers over $1 trillion per yearBrian Deese, MIT Innovation fellow and former Director of the National Economic Council under President Biden, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the weight loss drug market, the potential impact on taxpayers and the federal deficit, and more.

Persons: Brian Deese, Biden Organizations: MIT Innovation, National Economic Council

☆ Woman Could Have Prevented Great Recession; Ignored by Wall Street Men
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Josie Cox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

The story of Brooksley Born is not only the tale of a remarkable regulator whose Cassandra-like warnings — if heeded — could've prevented the great financial crisis from exploding into raging, ruinous enormity. Not long after she assumed chairmanship of the CFTC, Born started to feel a lingering unease with the rapidly expanding derivatives market. So to Rubin, Born was more of an inconvenience than anything, and she certainly wasn't in his club. Not long after, Treasury officials lobbied Congress to pass legislation preventing the CFTC from being able to regulate the OTC derivatives market. In the months and years that followed, it became increasingly hard to deny that the multi-trillion-dollar OTC derivatives market was the root cause of the great financial crisis.

Persons: Lehman Brothers, jolting, — could've, It's, Potter Stewart, Henry Edgerton, Porter, she'd, Bill Clinton, Clinton, Janet Reno, Brooksley, Michael Greenberger, Born, Gibson, weren't, Robert Rubin, Goldman Sachs, Rubin, Michael Hirsh, Alan Greenspan, Greenspan, Ayn Rand, Hirsh ., Hirsh, Greenspan didn't, braggadocian machismo, lauding Rubin, Lawrence Summers, Arthur Levitt, Josie Cox, Levitt, Summers, Jim Leach, Richard Lugar, —, Bethany McLean, Joe Nocera, Bob Rubin, Born's Cassandra, George W, Bush, Lauren Rivera, Christine Lagarde, Lehman, ABRAMS Organizations: Stanford University, Stanford Law School, Stanford, Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, Arnold, Futures Trading Commission, American, CFTC, Bankers Trust, Procter, Gamble, Sumitomo, Federal Reserve, Fed, Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Markets, Abrams, Term Capital Management, Enron, SEC, Born, Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, Financial, International Monetary Fund, Lehman Brothers, Reuters, Street, The Washington Post, Guardian, Abrams Press Locations: California, Vietnam, United States, Washington, America, ABRAMS , New York

☆ The American Dream is under siege
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Parents of young children are making difficult choices to afford child care — or they’re opting to evade it by dropping out of the workforce altogether. Even as the inflation rate has cooled across the US economy, child care remains a sore spot for many families. The weekly price of day care for a toddler surged 9% in 2023, according to Care.com, a marketplace for child care. Of course, Allison is hardly alone in feeling like the American Dream has been more difficult — and expensive — to attain than imagined. “The American dream is being taken away from the younger generation by the housing affordability challenges,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors.

Persons: Hana Husković, Price, Hana, Michelle, they'll, ” Hana, “, It’s, they’ll, ’ Allison Powell, Liam Kelly, ” Allison, Allison Powell, Corinne ., ”, Allison, I’ll, homebuyers, Lotfi Karoui, Goldman Sachs, Lawrence Yun, Yun, Priscilla Almodovar, Fannie Mae, ” Almodovar, that’s, Almodovar, they’d, Homebuilding, Mark Zandi, Biden, ” Lael Brainard, Brainard, ” Brainard, ‘, Rachael Gambino, Garrett Mazzeo, Rachael, Deborah Brunswick, John General, ” Rachael, won’t, they’ve, – Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wall, CNN, Federal, Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, Bloomberg, Getty, Rust Belt, National Association of Realtors, North, NAR, That’s, Baby Boomers, Homeowners, Federal Reserve, Moody’s Analytics, White, National Economic Council, American, Target, Starbucks, Facebook Locations: New York, United States, Atlanta, Peachtree Corners , Georgia, Decatur, Decatur , Georgia, Carolina, Yugoslavia, Italy, Mexico, Oakland , California, Livermore, San Francisco, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, Francisco, Miami, Honolulu, Rust, Des Moines , Iowa, Dayton , Ohio, Cleveland , Ohio, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Los Angeles , California, North America, America, States, Lansdale , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

☆ Russia's resilience to sanctions shows it is 'costly and unattainable' to isolate a large and globally integrated economy, economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"The primary lesson is that seeking complete isolation of a large, complex and globally-integrated economy is costly and unattainable," Elina Ribakova wrote in the Financial Times on Tuesday. Russia's economy has managed to keep humming because Russian President Vladimir Putin has been preparing for sanctions since 2014. Failures in Russia, lessons for the futureEven so, the West can glean valuable lessons from its experience sanctioning an economy as large as Russia, said Ribakova. Advertisement"In the case of China, the US would need to look for vulnerabilities while remaining realistic about the limitations of sanctions," wrote Ribakova in FT.She added there must be steeper penalties for those who evade sanctions. "The experience with Russia is an invaluable opportunity to sharpen sanctions as a foreign policy tool," she wrote Ribakova.

Persons: —, Elina Ribakova, Vladimir Putin, Ribakova Organizations: Service, Financial Times, Business, Monetary Fund, Peterson Institute for International Economics, International Affairs Program, Kyiv School of Economics, Russia Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Beijing, China, Taiwan

☆ Only one developed country has a more expensive childcare system than the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The United States has one of the most expensive childcare systems in the world. The average childcare cost among all 30 countries was less than 15% of a couple's wages. The US spends roughly 0.4% of its GDP on early education and childcare, compared to 0.8% for the average OECD country. In addition to boosting the number of working women, reducing childcare costs could motivate some US couples to have children. A recent study from the Beijing-based Yuwa Population Research found that high childcare costs were among the main reasons for China's low birth rate.

Persons: —, Cindy Lehnhoff Organizations: Service, United, Bank of America, OECD, Business, of America, York Times, National Child Care Association, Research Locations: United States, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Iceland, Beijing

☆ Emergency medical bills worry Americans — and it could affect the presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementMost Americans worry they won't be able to pay expensive medical bills if they experience an emergency, and it's impacting their economic outlook. Voters also identified prescription drug prices, out-of-pocket medical costs, and The Affordable Care Act as priorities for how they will vote in the 2024 election. Over 70% of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents answered that general healthcare costs are their main financial stressor. AdvertisementTrump has been vocal about his plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act should he win reelection. Still, KFF found that seven in 10 Republican voters don't think Trump has an alternate affordable healthcare plan.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Donald Trump —, Biden, Trump, Roe, Wade, Barack Obama —, KFF, Nikki Haley, Haley Organizations: Service, KFF, Kaiser Family Foundation, Affordable, Republicans, Independents, Medicare, Services, Democratic, US Department of Health, Human Services, Trump, Republican, Biden

☆ How Russia has avoided bankrupting itself after 2 years of waging war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

1: By waging war outside its own bordersOne critical reason Russia's economy is still ticking is because of the location of the war. AdvertisementConsider the impact of the war on the economies of both Russia and Ukraine. In 2022, the first year of the war, Russia's economy contracted 1.2%, according to official statistics. Russia was facing a demographic crisis with a declining population and falling fertility rate even before its war with Ukraine. 4: By stimulating and steadying its economy with subsidies and policiesGovernment subsidies, spending, and policies are also propping up Russia's economy.

Persons: —, Hassan Malik, Loomis Sayles, it's, Malik, Vladimir Putin's, Sergei Guriev, Malik isn't, Alex Isakov, Putin, Alexandra Prokopenko Organizations: Service, Business, Reuters, US, Exchange, European Bank for Reconstruction, Bloomberg Economics, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies Locations: Russia, Moscow, Boston, Crimea, Ukraine, Russian, China, India, Austrian

☆ The Ukraine aid that House Republican leaders are blocking might actually be good for the US economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson is blocking a $95 billion emergency foreign aid bill, saying he's in "no rush" to take up the legislation the Senate overwhelmingly approved last week. While supporters of the legislation say it's needed urgently to help Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal also points out that the bill would benefit the US economy. Lael Brainard, the director of the White House National Economic Council, told the Journal in a recent interview that the impact on the US economy would be significant. AdvertisementIt remains unclear when or if the House will take up the Senate bill. Trump in recent weeks also helped tank a bipartisan bill that would have tightened the US asylum system, among other measures.

Persons: Mike Johnson, —, Russia's, Joe Biden's, Lael Brainard, Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: Business, Street, Pentagon, White, National Economic Council, The Locations: Mexico, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Taiwan

☆ If you are waiting to buy an affordable home when rates drop, you're out of luck
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewInterest rates could drop by summer, according to Federal Reserve forecasts, but buyers shouldn't expect homes to become more affordable. For prospective homebuyers, the cuts could be a path toward relief from skyrocketing mortgage rates. 30-year fixed mortgage rates are now sitting just above 6.6%, which translates to around $2,800 in average monthly payments nationwide. "Mortgage rates have come down a bit in anticipation of lower rates." Steep interest rates in recent years have made homeowners less likely to sell, contributing to a housing shortage in many cities.

Persons: —, Jerome Powell, Gen Zers, Louis Fed Organizations: Service, Reserve, Business, Economics Locations: New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, San Jose, Boston

☆ Second Trump Presidency Would Axe Biden Climate Agenda, Gut Energy Regulators
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

Much of that work could go up in smoke if his likely rival Donald Trump beats him at the polls in November, according to Republican policy advisers. Reuters spoke with a dozen Republican policy consultants and former Trump administration officials who are helping lay the groundwork for a second Trump presidency to sketch out the administration's likely approach to energy and environmental issues. Trump formally withdrew the U.S. during his first term in office but Biden swiftly reversed the move in 2021. "A big lesson that everybody in the first Trump administration learned was that personnel is really important. The idea of taking a hatchet to the entire IRA could, however, give some oil industry officials and Republican politicians pause, a former Trump administration official said.

Persons: Valerie Volcovici, Gram Slattery WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Stephen Moore, Trump's, Larry Kudlow, David Bernhardt, Rick Perry, Kevin Hassett, Harold Hamm, Biden, George David Banks, Ivanka, Mike McKenna, Diana Furchtgott, Roth, Timothy Gardner, Richard Valdmanis, Deepa Babington Organizations: Republican, United Nations, Trump, Reuters, White, Heritage Foundation, Republicans, Economic, Energy, Biden, America, Policy Institute, Heritage Locations: United States, Paris, Biden's

☆ NEC Director Lael Brainard: Overall economic picture still looks good despite the hot CPI print
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNEC Director Lael Brainard: Overall economic picture still looks good despite the hot CPI printLael Brainard, National Economic Council Director and former Federal Reserve vice chair, joins 'Money Movers' to discuss the latest CPI data, what could be problematic for the economy, and getting through the 'last mile' of inflation.

Persons: Lael Brainard Organizations: NEC, National Economic, Federal Reserve

☆ Biden is calling out corporations because 'his administration is underwater with independents,' Andrew Yang says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Taylor Craig | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Biden was sitting beside common snacks like Oreos, Doritos and Goldfish during the 48-second clip, posted to X. Shrinkflation happens when consumer products get smaller in weight, size or quantity while their prices stay the same or even increase. "That's a message that the average consumer will nod their heads and say 'sure, I hate it when that happens,'" former presidential candidate Andrew Yang said. "They're gonna have to keep making this case around the country because the Biden administration is underwater with independents who are going to decide this November's election," Yang, now the co-chair of the Forward Party said. "They're going to be trying anything they can to say, at least, 'we're on your side.'"

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, I've, Andrew Yang, that's, Lael Brainard, Yang Organizations: Super, Sunday, National Economic, Forward Party

☆ Lael Brainard slams food companies for ‘shrinkflation' as White House attacks price gouging
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House January 11, 2024 in Washington, DC. National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard on Tuesday blamed higher consumer prices on "shrinkflation," doubling down on the latest battlefront of President Joe Biden's corporate pressure campaign. Shrinkflation, the practice of reducing product sizes while keeping prices the same, is Biden's latest line of attack against corporations, which he debuted on Super Bowl Sunday. Both the White House and Biden's 2024 reelection campaign have touted inflation recovery as a key accomplishment of his economic agenda, dubbed Bidenomics. "The president is going to continue emphasizing that input costs have come down, supply chains have healed," Brainard said.

Persons: Lael Brainard, Brainard, Joe, Biden Organizations: National Economic, Economic, Cola, PepsiCo, Procter, Gamble, Super, Sunday, White Locations: Washington , DC

And while the economy usually comes out on top as the issue for most voters, there are doubts over whether even a good economy is enough for Joe Biden to win a second term. Certainly, the improving economy – and most importantly an inflation rate that is trending back to the Federal Reserve’s desired 2% annual target – should be an asset for Biden. “Obviously perceptions of Biden and Trump are largely baked in and have been for a long time” says Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. “We’re playing at the margins at best.”For Democrats, running on a good economy will present its own challenges. The wing nuts have disproportionate power.”Ramamurti still believes that Biden should emphasize the economy, saying, “I’m of the view that good news is good news.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Jose Torres, ” Powell, “, Biden, Al Capone, Alejandro Mayorkas, Bharat Ramamurti, Trump, Lee Miringoff, David Walker, Walker, “ There’s, ” Ramamurti, Ramamurti, Gregory Daco, Pollsters, Mark Zandi Organizations: Federal, Biden, Fed, Interactive, Republicans, Democrats, CBS, Trump, GOP, Homeland, National Economic Council, Marist, ”, Marist Institute, Public, Biden Administration, Republican, Democratic Party, Democrat, Dow Jones, Moody's Locations: Pennsylvania

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