is we did not get here overnight. Uh I have gained about 10 lbs since inauguration. I'm not going to cut off my arm to get back to my January 20th weight.But we don't have a chance of returning to a balanced budget if we don't return to preandemic levels of spending. And I've laid out a number of options. Leave social security, Medicare, and interest as they are as you spend.But all their outlays, actual outlays, increase them by population growth and inflation. we literally would have a baseline spending s ...

Inflation & Economic Policy - The administration believes its policies are driving down inflation by boosting the economy's supply side, enabling firms to produce more efficiently [1][2] - Concerns exist that companies may hesitate to pass on tariff-related costs due to fears of reduced consumer demand, potentially impacting economic growth and bottom lines [3] - The theory of tax incentives suggests the more inflexible party bears the tariff burden, with American consumers potentially changing consumption patterns [4][5] Trade & Tariffs - Firms can adjust supply chains, sourcing from countries with favorable trade deals, to avoid tariffs [6][7] - Tariffs aim to encourage countries to lower barriers to US products, creating more balanced trade and offering alternative markets [21] - Reciprocal tariffs remain a negotiating tool, potentially implemented if trade negotiations don't progress [19][22] - The president intends to use tariffs to incentivize countries to advance negotiations and make concessions, fostering a fair trade environment [24] Fiscal Policy & Deficit - The administration asserts it takes the deficit seriously and has a plan to reduce it through tax relief, deregulation, energy abundance, and trade renegotiation, aiming for 3% GDP growth [12][13] - Increased GDP growth, tariff revenues, and supply-side expansion are expected to contribute to deficit reduction [13] - Incentives like full expensing of equipment, R&D, and new factories are designed to stimulate investment in America, expanding productive capacity and keeping inflation low [8][9][10] - The administration anticipates deficit reduction through better economic growth, tariff revenue, reduced interest expenses, and cuts to waste, fraud, and abuse [16] - The administration projects 3 to 4 percentage points of GDP worth of deficit reduction, not fully reflected in the CBO score [15]

Core Insights - Business owners exhibit a positive outlook for economic growth in the latter half of 2025, despite mixed feelings regarding the impact of tariffs on the economy [2][6] - The survey indicates that businesses are strategically responding to economic uncertainty by managing inventory carefully and delaying capital expenditures [3][4] Economic Sentiment - Over 60% of business owners believe the economy will grow in the next six months, yet over 55% express dissatisfaction with current tariff policies, viewing them as detrimental to the U.S. economy [6] - More than 70% of respondents are concerned about the impact of tariffs on their businesses, although the immediate effects have been minimal, with over 80% reporting "somewhat of an impact" or "none" [6] Tariff Impact and Business Strategies - A significant portion of business owners anticipates that tariffs will decrease their revenue, with over half believing tariffs will negatively affect their businesses [6] - Approximately 32.55% of businesses have adjusted their inventory levels in response to tariffs, while 31.69% are still evaluating their inventory strategies [6] - Just under 30% of businesses plan to halt hiring, while nearly 50% report no changes to their hiring plans [6] Capital Expenditures and Pricing Strategies - A slight majority (41.68%) of respondents plan to delay major capital expenditures due to economic uncertainty [6] - Over 37% of businesses expect to pass the cost of tariffs onto customers, while just under 30% anticipate absorbing these costs [6]

Core Viewpoint - Ameren Missouri has filed the Powering Missouri Growth Plan to meet the increasing energy demands of large businesses while ensuring fair rates for all customers [1][2]. Group 1: Goals of the Plan - The plan aims to attract new jobs and investments, support current customers' expansion, and enhance the community's appeal for business [2]. - It includes consumer protection measures in line with Missouri Senate Bill 4, which will take effect on August 28 [2]. Group 2: Economic Impact - If approved, the plan will ensure that new large customers contribute fairly to the costs of electric service while maintaining reasonable rates for existing customers [3]. - The initiative is expected to create significant job growth and stimulate millions in local investments [4][6]. Group 3: Energy Strategy - Ameren Missouri is revising its generation strategy to support an anticipated 2.0 gigawatts (GW) of new energy demand by 2032, focusing on a balanced mix of generation resources [5]. - The company emphasizes its commitment to providing reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy to attract new and expanding businesses [5]. Group 4: Company Overview - Ameren Missouri has over 100 years of experience in providing electric and gas services, serving approximately 1.3 million electric and 135,000 natural gas customers [6]. - The company operates in a service area covering about 60 counties and more than 500 communities, with some of the lowest electric rates in the nation [6].

Wall Street plunged on Thursday on the final trading day of the week, with focus on US-Japan tariff talks, while a slump in UnitedHealth’s shares following a forecast cut by the insurer weighed on the Dow.In morning trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 637 points, or 1.6%, to 39,032. The S&P 500 fell 0.1%, and the Nasdaq was down 0.5%. 3 The Dow tumbled more than 600 points, or 1.6% on Thursday. Getty ImagesAhead of the long weekend, all three major Wall Street indexes are on track for weekly lo ...

Core Viewpoint - The White House's protectionist policies, particularly tariffs, are expected to negatively impact the U.S. economy more than Europe in the short term, leading to slower growth and higher inflation [2][3][11]. Tariffs and Economic Impact - Tariffs are described as a tax on consumers, which will ultimately slow economic growth and increase inflation [2][11]. - The U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on all car imports effective from April 2, which has prompted retaliatory measures from the European Union [4]. European Economic Resilience - European banks are positioned to lend more and support the economy, with calls for more flexibility in EU regulations to enhance resilience against financial shocks [6]. - The European economy is viewed optimistically, with Germany's significant role in the eurozone expected to provide a boost despite vulnerabilities in the auto sector due to U.S. tariffs [10]. Monetary Policy Considerations - The European Central Bank is anticipated to cut interest rates by 25 basis points in its next meeting, with recent monetary policy becoming less restrictive [11]. - The uncertainty caused by tariffs complicates decision-making for the ECB, affecting the pace and direction of monetary policy adjustments [12][13].

Group 1: Federal Reserve Announcements - The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged for the second consecutive time, maintaining the Fed funds rates at 4.25-4.5% [1] - The Fed indicated two potential interest rate cuts for 2025 according to the "dot plot" [1][2] - Changes were made to inflation and growth projections, with inflation expected to rise to 2.8% in 2025, up from a previous forecast of 2.5% [6][8] Group 2: Market Reactions - Markets reacted positively to the Fed's announcements, with all three major indices closing in the green [3] - Rate-sensitive sectors, particularly Financial Services, performed well, with banks seeing notable increases in stock prices [3][4] Group 3: Banking Sector Implications - Banks are likely to face extended periods of elevated funding costs due to unchanged interest rates, impacting net interest incomes (NII) and net interest margins (NIM) [9] - Economic growth is projected to be subdued, with lending scenarios not expected to improve significantly in 2025 [10] - The operating environment for banks is challenging, with weak asset quality posing a major headwind [10][11]

Shares of the China-based technology conglomerate Alibaba Group (BABA 4.49%) were gaining ground on Monday after the Chinese government said yesterday that it would implement a plan to boost consumer spending in the country.A significant part of Alibaba's business is focused on e-commerce, so the Chinese government's move could help boost the company's growth. Investors were optimistic about the opportunity and pushed Alibaba's stock up 4.8% as of 11:56 a.m. ET today A new plan for economic growthChina's go ...