Except that 100 is the benchmark. (>100) implies the majority of consumers are confident about spending in the future and (<100) implies a minority of consumers are confident about spending in the future. Please note that economists are divided as ...

US Consumer Confidence Partially Rebounds in May

Just for the removal of all doubt, what results do you think are the overall measures of success or failure and over what time frame? We can all then review this in due course.

Trump: I am recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025

Yes, fix an EEG to the Orange.

Trump: I am recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025

The problem is/was that any Ukrainian outlook is/was irrelevent in Putin's mind. He's hell-bent on his own narrative.

Russia's Lavrov: Work on memorandum leading to ceasefire in Ukraine is at advanced stage

Like you state, I DID use some intentionally generalised statements/expressions and I appreciate your piecemeal analysis of my commentary but the overall imagery remains. Have a good day.

Russia's Lavrov: Work on memorandum leading to ceasefire in Ukraine is at advanced stage

Well, if on one end of the scale, POTUS is just in love, admiration or respect of Putin or at the other, like Putin, totally ignorant or intentionally just wanting to write an alternative historical or factual timeline and base of the (UN) ...

Russia's Lavrov: Work on memorandum leading to ceasefire in Ukraine is at advanced stage

Ok, on the same page, then. It seems I keep misinterpreting your posts. Sorry.

Consumer price inflation, UK: April 2025

A good chart.

Consumer price inflation, UK: April 2025

There's no win/lose in tariffs. Everyone loses with tariffs when applied carte blanche. Some areas react quickly, some less so, some more than others. This datapoint has nothing to do with tariffs and everything to do with predictable UK-Specific ...

Consumer price inflation, UK: April 2025

Indeed. The Hygge and alcohol consumption rises.

US Inflation just hit a 4-year low. Don't expect price relief to last even as trade wars die...

You're repeating yourself extensively now, as if you're determined to convert someone. I'm not for converting but examination of the realities based on the fundaments. My evidence for the comment above is housed in your final parting: "It is ...

US Inflation just hit a 4-year low. Don't expect price relief to last even as trade wars die...

You are clearly widely-read and very knowledgeable; able to extract interesting facts from a wide variety of sources but you do have a tendency to extract extreme datapoints to use as examples to prove a point. This is not an argument but just a ...

US Inflation just hit a 4-year low. Don't expect price relief to last even as trade wars die...

Please be aware that I threw in the point about happiness as a stirrer, which seems to have provoked debate. Happiness is possible in a liberal society too. As stated elsewhere, my disposition is at Centre-Right. I was not advocating socialist ...

US Inflation just hit a 4-year low. Don't expect price relief to last even as trade wars die...

Yes, all good.

US Inflation just hit a 4-year low. Don't expect price relief to last even as trade wars die...

All good. I'm personally happy to read well-presented comments and you make some good points. Southern European Socialism's record is not as great as its Nordic cousin. My personal economic outlook is at the centre right so I wasn't advocating ...

US Inflation just hit a 4-year low. Don't expect price relief to last even as trade wars die...

That's quite a speech. It must have taken you quite some time to write it so your very last sentence made me laugh. Thank you for the interesting points you make but I'd like to make a few points myself. As a general rule over the years, yes, ...

US Inflation just hit a 4-year low. Don't expect price relief to last even as trade wars die...

Well, while I am not so sure, I'd rule out nothing. I don't think Trump feels behoven to anyone. He'll happily take anyone's money without recourse, e.g. see crypto or tickets to Mar-a-lago. The stratospheric rich that got mesmerised in the ...

Trump: Agreement doesn't cover tariffs on cars, steel, aluminum or pharmaceuticals

Yes, one of many. It's the reason that the "Bond Vigilantes" are a force to be reckoned with as a final arbiter on future economic outlooks. When US Bond rates started climbing, Trump blinked and announced the 90 day "pause" on tariffs application.

Trump: Agreement doesn't cover tariffs on cars, steel, aluminum or pharmaceuticals

Ok, all good. Yes, Trump and his team start with any issue being someone else's problem, rather than resolving their own house issues.

Trump: EU is nastier than China

Yes, AW, I accept that you'd requoted a Europe AI-generated fact but opened the point with finger-pointing the EU.

Trump: EU is nastier than China