Economy

Trump promised a ‘golden age’ for the economy. Then he unveiled tariffs

President Trump promised a new "golden age" for the United States. But his first 100 days in office have left the economy looking tarnished.

More give Trump an F than any other grade for first 100 days, poll finds

Nearly half of Americans give President Trump a failing grade for his presidency so far, with near record low approval ratings at this point in the job, as he hits the milestone 100 days in office.

Trump is giving automakers a break on tariffs

The formal announcement is expected ahead of a Tuesday night rally in Michigan marking the president's 100 days in office. It's the latest shift in Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs.

Big brands are officially worried about American shoppers

Makers of our food and home essentials, including Pepsi and Procter & Gamble, are cutting their financial forecasts for the year and predicting lower sales or profits than before.

A small U.S. town grew a big company. Can it weather the tariff blizzard?

A rural Minnesota town is home to the biggest tech giant you've never heard of. Now it's riding out an unprecedented kind of storm.

Stocks gain on hopes Trump will ease tensions with the Fed — and China

The Dow Jones advanced after Trump said he wouldn't fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell and on hopes of easing tensions over tariffs with China.

Trade wars grew America’s auto industry. Historians warn today’s tariffs won’t

Past success bringing foreign car companies stateside means the U.S. has more to lose and less to gain in today’s trade wars.

The global economy will be hit hard by Trump’s tariffs, IMF warns

The International Monetary Fund slashed its growth forecasts for the global economy to 2.8% as President Trump's tariffs risk sparking a trade war.

Sell USA? Why Trump’s tariffs may be sparking a historic storm on Wall Street

When Trump announced sweeping tariffs this month, he called it "Liberation Day." But there are fears that it may well have been the day foreign investors started to lose faith in the United States.

How tariffs could impact the availability of baby products

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Steven Dunn founder and CEO of Munchkin a U.S.-based company selling lifestyle products for mothers, babies and children. Dunn has written an open letter to President Trump and Congress about how tariffs could harm his business and American families.

Trump calls for Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s ‘termination’ in blistering attack

President Trump lashed out at Powell for not acting sooner to lower interest rates. The president's own tariffs make that more difficult, by putting upward pressure on prices.

Tariffs make sour grapes for American winemakers

American winemakers tell us why tariffs hurt their industry.

Retail sales jump as people rush to buy cars ahead of tariffs

The key driver of the economy saw the biggest increase in over two years in March, as car buyers tried to get ahead of President Trump's tariffs on imported autos and auto parts.

Why is Alabama’s workforce participation rate so low? And what’s being done to improve it?

While Alabama boasts an unemployment rate that is among the lowest in the country, its workforce participation rate consistently lags the national average, meaning a large portion of Alabamians are neither employed nor actively seeking work. This has raised concerns both about barriers to employment for individuals and about the state’s economic future.

Hong Kong post office will stop shipping parcels to the U.S. over tariffs

Hong Kong is caught in the middle of the trade disputes between the U.S. and China despite being a free port. The former British colony has trade and customs policies different from mainland China's.

China put steep tariffs on U.S. exports. Farmers are worried

The first Trump administration spent $28 billion bailing out farmers during a trade war with China. The White House has said it's starting to look at how to help this time around.

Beijing slaps 125% tariffs on U.S. goods in latest U.S.-China trade escalation

China signals the latest tariff hike will be its last round of tit-for-tat measures, prompting sharp falls in European shares, as Asian stocks end the day mixed.

Why some are accusing Trump of manipulating stock markets

Senators Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego have asked for "an urgent inquiry" into whether President Trump or others engaged in insider trading on advanced knowledge of his tariff policy changes.

Trump administration changes course on in-person requirements for Social Security

After announcing social security recipients would be required to appear in-person at office locations, the Trump administration is now backtracking.

Inflation is cooling — but Trump’s tariffs could upend things

Consumer prices in March were up 2.4% from a year ago — a smaller annual increase than forecasters had expected. While President Trump has suspended many of his new tariffs, import taxes that remain could push prices higher in the months to come.

Where do tariffs stand? A look at what’s in place and what’s on pause

Trump announced a 90-day pause on most country-specific tariffs, but left other duties in place. Here's a look at where things stand and what could happen next.

U.S. stocks slide again as euphoria over Trump’s tariff pause starts to fade

U.S. stocks fell a day after posting spectacular gains over President Trump's decision to pause many of his tariffs. Now, some of that relief is starting to fade.

Trump’s tariffs have been a source of both hope and fear among Gulf South industries

As Wall Street swings wildly under the weight of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, reactions in the Gulf South are mixed.

U.S. stock markets bounce back after Trump tariffs shock — but nerves abound

After major slides in equity trading across the world, any slight uptick in stock prices will only repair part of the destruction of trillions of dollars in investor wealth over the past few days.

Tariffs are fueling fears of a recession. What does it take to actually declare one?

The Trump administration's tariffs are fueling concerns about a potential recession, with several major banks increasing their forecasts. What is recession and who declares one?

Are UAB officials mum about grant cuts because they fear a spiteful president?

Cuts to federal research grants could cost UAB $70 million a year, leading to layoffs and economic impacts beyond the campus. Some faculty and area leaders want UAB to be more vocal against the Trump administration cutbacks.

UAW President Shawn Fain explains why he supports Trump’s tariffs

Shawn Fein supports auto industry tariffs but calls broad tariffs "reckless."

Higher prices are likely for these 10 grocery items when tariffs hit

A trip to the grocery or liquor store is about to become even more expensive, economists say. From seafood to olive oil, these items will likely cost more under President Trump's tariffs.

Stocks sink in another brutal day, as Trump’s tariffs send global shockwaves

Investors, businesses and consumers all seem terrified of how President Trump's tariffs could upend the global economy.

The job market remains incredibly healthy — but the tariff storm could upend things

Employers added 228,000 jobs in March, showcasing a solid labor market. But uncertainty over tariffs and tepid consumer spending may weigh on job growth in the months to come.

How much will tariffs raise prices? Trump’s economists just revealed their answer

The administration revealed how they calculated the tariffs. Buried in that math is a straightforward answer to a question Trump has long refused to answer: How much will his tariffs raise prices?

Dow drops 1,500 points on trade war fears over new tariffs

President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imported goods, which were higher and broader than many expected. The new import taxes are expected to raise prices and slow growth in the U.S., while pushing many other countries into recession.