John Carney

From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Jackson to Calvin Coolidge, America’s greatest leaders backed tariffs.

Home builders remain solidly confident but express worries that prices of labor and materials could be pushing up their costs.

Data released Wednesday showed the American economy is gaining strength, American consumers remain confident, and American workers are becoming more productive.

Retail sales, industrial production, and fixed investment all came in lower than expected, while unemployment rose.

The Small Business Optimism Index marked its second highest level in the survey’s 45-year history at 107.9, just below the July 1983 record-high of 108.

Still tweeting about the idea of taking Tesla private.

A new study by economists for the New York Fed appears not to understand the basics of the Trump administration’s tariffs.

The U.S. economy is about 12 percent smaller than it would have been based on its pre-crisis trend.

Kevin Hassett raises the idea of throwing China out of the World Trade Organization.

Donald Trump has long said that it is easier to negotiate trade deals between two countries instead of multilateral deals. NAFTA negotiations seems to be proving him right.

Hint: If we were desperately short of workers, wages would be rising.

They said it couldn’t be done. They mocked Trump for even trying. Now economists agree that we’re in a 3 percent growth economy.

Charles Evans, a long-time dove opposed to interest rate hikes, now sees the Fed moving to restrict growth as tax cut stimulus pushes down unemployment and inflation rises.

China thought that its authoritarian government and command economy made it stronger than the politically divided, market economy of the U.S. Now it’s not so sure.

Jobless claims unexpectedly fell last week and price data suggests inflation is still muted.

Wall Street is skeptical about Musk’s claim that the financing to take Tesla private has already been secured. But Musk might be right.

“Mr. President now is the time to play tough on trade. Hold the line,” a group of CEOs reportedly told Donald Trump Tuesday night.

Elon Musk may be considering taking Tesla private for all the wrong reasons.

Still no signs that China will choose reform instead of retaliation in response to U.S. economic pressure.

The cuts in corporate taxes will likely drive so much investment back into the U.S. that other countries will find themselves will less to tax.

“China is by far the most important overseas market for the US-based Apple, leaving it exposed if Chinese people make it a target of anger and nationalist sentiment,” the state-owned newspaper says.

“If money leaves China, and the currency could be a leading indicator, they’re going to be in a heap of trouble,” Larry Kudlow said.

It was a very good month for jobs.

Seventy-one percent of business owners support additional tariffs on imports from China. Even tariffs on Canada win majority support.

“China is fully prepared and will have to retaliate to defend the nation’s dignity and the interests of the people,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 1,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 218,000. Economists had forecast 220,000.

Talks with China have stalled after retaliation. Maybe pushing the tariffs even higher will bring China back to the table.

All told, the Fed used the word “strong” or some version of it six times in the statement.

“Tariffs have yet to materially impact jobs,” the chief economist of Moody’s Analytics said.

Inflation is low. Jobs are plentiful. Savings are solid. Spending and incomes are rising. It’s a very good summer to be an American.

spending rose at a robust pace in June, indicating that consumers have the capacity to push the economy onward.

But with few signs of acceleration, there’s no need to fear inflation.

And tariffs will barely be felt by the American economy.

The scary price tag of $39 billion is not really so scary when put in context of the federal budget, the booming economy, and our history of bailouts.

Indexing capital gains for inflation would be a big break for business owners and homeowners.