All articles tagged with #economic policy
President Trump sought to soothe investors amid the Iran crisis with public speeches and assurances, but markets remain volatile and little relief has materialized, underscoring skepticism that rhetoric alone can steady prices during heightened geopolitical risk.
The Treasury will allow the sale of about 140 million barrels of Iranian crude already loaded on vessels, a move the Biden administration says is meant to ease soaring oil prices—though critics warn the measure could boost Iran’s war effort against the U.S.
Rising oil prices tied to the Iran-related conflict send global markets lower after the G-7 declines tapping emergency oil stockpiles, with energy costs climbing and gas prices edging toward $4 a gallon.
The U.S. Senate is nearing passage of a White House-backed, bipartisan package to lower housing costs, featuring new grants and a ban on large institutional investors from buying hundreds of homes in an effort to boost affordability ahead of the midterm elections.
A federal judge found the IRS violated federal law roughly 42,695 times by sharing confidential taxpayer addresses with DHS immigration authorities in a data-sharing agreement last summer, highlighting privacy and legal concerns over IRS data handling.
In his State of the Union address, Trump floated a major new federal-style retirement benefit for roughly 54 million private-sector workers, but the White House lacks the legal authority to enact it and experts are skeptical about the proposed legislation.
The BEA reports that U.S. growth cooled at the end of 2025, with fourth-quarter GDP up at an annualized rate of 1.4%, leaving 2025’s total growth at 2.2%—down from 2.8% in 2024—largely due to tariffs and a weeks-long government shutdown that weighed on momentum.
The U.S. merchandise trade deficit hit a record $1.2 trillion in 2025 despite President Trump’s tariff policy, signaling that the tariffs did not close the gap and that trade patterns shifted away from China toward other Asian exporters as import demand remained strong.
Ministers are reportedly weighing delaying the plan to remove discretionary age bands and raise 18–20-year-olds’ minimum wage to match those over 21, despite Labour’s manifesto commitment. With youth unemployment around 16% and employers warning higher wages may deter hiring, ministers may slow the timetable, though a full reversal is unlikely.
President Trump’s shift away from U.S.-led globalization toward an America First approach is reshaping the global economy, with allies warning the move could raise economic risks as trade and investment links recalibrate in a less integrated, more unruly order.
President Trump escalates a coercive mix of regulatory threats, attacks on industries, and pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower rates, aiming to reduce prices but drawing warnings that the approach could destabilize markets and undermine central-bank independence even as inflation remains stubborn.
Senator Elizabeth Warren urged Democrats to abandon a centrist, billionaire-friendly approach and embrace a leftward, working-class–oriented economic agenda, arguing there can be no two-vision 'big tent' and warning against letting billionaire donors curb progressive aims. She highlighted donor influence, noted tensions around regulation and tech policy, and signaled she intends to shape 2026 messaging and policy direction.
President Trump has proposed a one-year cap of 10% on credit card interest rates, aiming to reduce consumer costs, but financial institutions criticize the move, arguing it could limit access to credit.
President Donald Trump has called for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%, citing consumer affordability concerns amid economic pressures, though details on implementation remain unclear. The proposal is part of his broader populist economic messaging, which has faced mixed public reception and political challenges, including previous efforts by the Biden administration to regulate credit card fees.
President Donald Trump inadvertently revealed some of Friday's jobs data early through a social media post, violating federal policy on statistical releases. The post indicated private sector job growth for 2025 and provided a preliminary look at December's employment figures, which slightly exceeded economist estimates and boosted market confidence. The White House acknowledged the accidental disclosure and is reviewing protocols, while emphasizing the positive economic impact of Trump's policies.