woodguru

https://thehill.com/policy/finance/430013-us-retail-sales-suffer-steepest-drop-in-nine-years

These are the things that matter...
...retail sales
...housing prices and how quickly homes are selling
...the stock market stability
...deficit spending increasing

We are seeing the harbingers of tough times ahead, that has to do with consumer confidence and spending

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

Because of democrats taking the House and an antitrump Fed raising interest rates.

Common_Sense_Matters

Yes, it is all done to sabotage Trump, Interest rates don't normally fluctuate with the economic situation. Wow, the things Trump/Trump supporters will say, it amazes me, far too much paranoia.

When the economy is doing well, the interest rates rise, when it is doing poorly, it falls, that is the natural order of things and has NOTHING to do with Trump.

Next they will say this nasty weather we have been having this winter is due to nature being anti-Trump.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

I guess the economy sucked under Obama because the Fed kept the interest rate at zero, 0%, during his entire presidency. Lol!

What you say makes sense until one opens their eyes.

woodguru

Trump appointed His own head...the stock market was reacting to a slew of bad...horrible trade and tariff policies, along with tax cuts that made no sense and couldn't possibly help the market in the long term.

Common_Sense_Matters

They were kept at zero to stimulate the economy but they were raised twice under Obama, it dropped 3 times during 2007, dropped 7 times during 2008 to end at 0.25% (to combat the recession), on Dec. 16, 2009, it raised to 0.5% on Dec. 17, 2015, it was raised to 0.75% on Dec. 15, 2016. The rate was held low to stimulate the economy, now that the economy is considered to be strong, they are raising the interest rates to try to stave off inflation.

I find it odd that the interest rate would be dropped 10 times under Bush if the Fed is trying to favor the Democrats with these interest rate drops but to sabotage Trump with only 7 rate increases in Trumps first 2 years. Under Bush the interest dropped from 5.25% down to 0.25% in 2 years, the increases during Trump's first 2 years took the interest rates from 0.75 under Obama to merely 2.5% by end of 2018.

That doesn't sound like they are trying to sabotage Trump, sounds to me like they are trying to avoid triggering inflation.



Fed Chair Janet Yellen (February 2014 - February 2018) *appointed by Obama

2015: GDP = 2.9%, Unemployment = 6%, Inflation = 0.7%

2016: GDP = 1.6%, Unemployment = 4.6%, Inflation = 2.1%

2017: GDP = 2.2%, Unemployment = 4.1%, Inflation = 2.1%



Fed Chair Jerome Powell (February 2018 - February 2022) *appointed by Trump


Source: https://www.thebalance.com/fed-funds-rate-history-highs-lows-3306135


So... You still think it is a conspiracy? Note that there was no inflation listed for the period of 2009 - 2014 so no need to raise the interest rates.



Edit: Perhaps you should open your eyes, do some research, then if you think something smells funny, then cry foul.

Had you have done any research, you would have been better informed and, assuming capability for rational thought and not just basing your perception on alt right media, you might have seen the reality of things and not cried foul when there doesn't appear to be anything foul about the raises in interest rates.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

Observe the Obama years.
http://www.thebalance.com/fed-funds-rate-history-highs-lows-3306135

Common_Sense_Matters

I did, 2 raises. I also pointed out changes in inflation during the Obama AND Trump years, there was no rise in inflation until the very end of Obama's term hence the reason there was no rises in interest rates until the end.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

In Obama's first year, it dropped from 3.5% to .25, the lowest it can be, effectively zero.

Dec 2015 up to .5% and in his final month, up to .75%. That last rise was to Trump, not Obama. And during Trump's admin it has been steadily rising to it's present 2.5%.

So. for 3/4 of Obama's admin it was effectively zero and only up a quarter of a percent during his last year.

The rise during the Trump admin has slowed a growing economy and looks political to me. Appointed by Trump or not, there are many who are seemingly on the same side but continue to undermine his administration.

Your claim that I need to get educated is disingenuous at best.

Radiance3

=================
Mall shoppers have reduced because about 80% of shoppers bought on-line like Amazon and other on-line stores. They are cheaper, and excellent customer services.

The stock market rallied due to the results of market economy as of Dec.2018.

Dow rallies 1,000 points, logging its biggest single-day point gain ever
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/26/us-futures-following-christmas-eve-plunge.html
Dec 25, 2018 - Rallies in retail and energy shares led the gains, as Wall Street recovered ... 21 before Wednesday's sharp rebound. ... "With the end of the quarter, we could get a bounce in the next few days," said Peter Cardillo, chief market .

Common_Sense_Matters

Incorrect, that happened in Bush's last year. Especially when you take into consideration that the first 9 months of a new administration's term are credited to the previous administration, financially speaking, as the new administration is still running on the budget set by the previous administration. It gives the new administration some breathing space as they have time to look things over and assign a budget based on actual facts rather than speculations made while running a campaign to be elected. Would you want to be blamed for a budget your predecessor set?



Actually, the first 9 months of the new administration is credited toward the previous administration since it is still running under the budget set by the previous administration, again, do your research.



Do you know ANYTHING about the effects of economic factors/interest rates/inflation? Interest rates fluctuate (down) to stimulate a weak economy or (up) to stave off inflation if the economy is growing too fast, until you learn about such things, perhaps you should leave the decisions to the Fed.



Ah, so you prefer inflation then, not a widely shared opinion, except among Trumps supporters obviously.



Since you don't know what the purpose of adjusting the interest rate is nor at what point the cutoff is for when a new administration gets to set it's own budget, perhaps it isn't such a bad idea.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

You condescending attitude belies your excessive BS. Rationalize all you want, but Obama has essentially zero interest his entire term. Do you remember what they said inflation was from 1999 to 2010?

Look. Think. Research.

Is this thing on?

Common_Sense_Matters

Why don't you actually do some research, you might just learn something. What, those feeding you your conspiracy theories aren't providing you with sources? Perhaps you need to find new conspiracy theorists to mimic, maybe they will provide you with sources.

People like you that spout conspiracies, refuse to acknowledge facts or provide any themselves, they deserve any condescension they get, or should we just pretend you don't exist?

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

It's no conspiracy, I gave you the exact numbers and dates.

Answer the question. What was the alleged inflation from 1999 to 2010 when the price of all commodities rose by 300 to 400%? I'll tell you, it was claimed to be next to nothing. You think you are getting good info? You think there isn't a hidden agenda in "inflation" claims? You and everyone who can't see beyond what you've been told are being played. You're just regurgitating the lines you've been given.

There are a few economists who give objective facts. You're too busy denying things and "explaining" why what is, isn't what it seems.

Common_Sense_Matters

So, I can assume that you will provide facts showing the commodities prices during that period? I shall eagerly await your posting of those facts.

Edit, I do not recall you posting any numbers nor stating where you got them from.