Tariffs and Potential Inflation

[88man]

We buy energy every day. Since 2016 gasoline has increased 70% per gallon. Electricity KWH is up over 50% since 2018. Electricity was flat 2016-2018 and increased 25% 2021 thru 2022.
My personal energy spend is way greater than my chinese widget spend.

 

[hank4elk]

The so called stimulus checks paid for the expensive gas.
Very few things I get have been around what was a near normal price. Pre pandemic and dock problems.

Nothing has or will change. Expect to get screwed is the norm.

 

[338win]

Until I can head to the local Toyota dealer and buy a Hilux this is all just smoke.

Chicken tax and Western Europe tariffs are to blame

 

[jryoung]

Chicken tax and Western Europe tariffs are to blame

I'm aware

 

[noharleyyet]

Until I can head to the local Toyota dealer and buy a Hilux this is all just smoke.

*.50 cal turret mount not available in California

 

[Nick87]

*.50 cal turret mount not available in California

Only available on the Texas edition.

 

[Forkyfinder]

What did you spend your stimulus check on?

Don't remember. why do you ask?

 

[noharleyyet]

Where have all you guys been?

This right here...

 

[jryoung]

*.50 cal turret mount not available in California

6.5 manbun is all the rage anyway.

 

[SAJ-99]

Don't remember. why do you ask?

I just find it interesting how people separate their own choices and actions from the situation.

In 2020 the government made a choice - avoid a prolonged severe economic downturn with high unemployment by printing money and sending people and businesses checks. The people never had to suffer the unemployment because they had money and for other people their stock portfolios certainly didn't suffer. 4 1/2 years later these same people voted on inflation because they all had to suffer that pain. I wonder if that same choice would be made again given the political ramifications we have seen. Making people stay home where they can surf the internet and giving them free money while shutting down a large part of the global economy might not be the best idea. There was no model for that in 2020. Economic models usually suck because they assume people and businesses behave rationally and make rational economic choices. We don't.

 

[noharleyyet]

6.5 manbun is all the rage anyway.

View attachment 349635

Barista skinny cargo & cashmere choker muff wardrobe also optional...

 

[Forkyfinder]

I just find it interesting how people separate their own choices and actions from the situation.

In 2020 the government made a choice - avoid a prolonged severe economic downturn with high unemployment by printing money and sending people and businesses checks. The people never had to suffer the unemployment because they had money and for other people their stock portfolios certainly didn't suffer. 4 1/2 years later these same people voted on inflation because they all had to suffer that pain. I wonder if that same choice would be made again given the political ramifications we have seen. Making people stay home where they can surf the internet and giving them free money while shutting down a large part of the global economy might not be the best idea. There was no model for that in 2020. Economic models usually suck because they assume people and businesses behave rationally and make rational economic choices. We don't.

I thought it was all a bad idea then. To be honest. Easy to say/feel when you worked more hours through the covid pandemic and didnt lose wages.

 

[Sytes]

I just find it interesting how people separate their own choices and actions from the situation.

Same here, to a degree, though I would rephrase;
I find hypocrisy humorous with respect to tariffs.

 

[mtmiller]

The so called stimulus checks paid for the expensive gas.

First stimulus check was around April 11, 2020 - $1.98/gal

Second stimulus check was around December 20, 2020 - $2.28/gal.

 

[schmalts]

I just find it interesting how people separate their own choices and actions from the situation.

In 2020 the government made a choice - avoid a prolonged severe economic downturn with high unemployment by printing money and sending people and businesses checks. The people never had to suffer the unemployment because they had money and for other people their stock portfolios certainly didn't suffer. 4 1/2 years later these same people voted on inflation because they all had to suffer that pain. I wonder if that same choice would be made again given the political ramifications we have seen. Making people stay home where they can surf the internet and giving them free money while shutting down a large part of the global economy might not be the best idea. There was no model for that in 2020. Economic models usually suck because they assume people and businesses behave rationally and make rational economic choices. We don't.

Some of us were pissed those checks were sent out and knew it was far too much stimulus and would cause inflation. The last covid stimulus was completely not needed
March 2021: $1,400 per income tax filer, $1,400 per child (American Rescue Plan Act)
The 2 before that were too fat as well

 

[SAJ-99]

I thought it was all a bad idea then. To be honest. Easy to say/feel when you worked more hours through the covid pandemic and didnt lose wages.

Agree. It is interesting to wonder what would be done if it happened again. By every economic measure except one it was a resounding success. Prices paid by everyone jumped 25%. Honestly, I wonder if you had to put it to a vote what the result would be a) 10% of the working population spending 6-12 months looking for a job in a recession, but stable prices or b) quick economic rebound, a rocketing stock market and home prices, all time lows in unemployment, but 25% higher prices for the staples.

Agree, @schmalts. The last one was unneeded, but we can't separate out the impact of any of them to cumulative problem. Officials that make these decisions seem to think "It is going well so don't change anything" or "just a little more". I'm not sure what I would do in that position. I tend to think I would do the same thing.

I find hypocrisy humorous with respect to tariffs.

Hold that thought for a few months...

 

[Nick87]

First stimulus check was around April 11, 2020 - $1.98/gal

Second stimulus check was around December 20, 2020 - $2.28/gal.

Miss those gas prices.

 

[ismith]

What did you spend your stimulus check on?

Doesn’t matter, it’s been paid back and then some with inflation.

 

[jryoung]

It will be interesting to see what becomes of any discussions. China has de-leveraged their US dependency on US Ag exports since 2018. They've increased production and sought out different countries to import from.

Certainly a whole mess of complications here, but China isn't as exposed as they were 6 years ago in the Ag category.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-farm-exports-china-risk-trumps-tariff-threat-2024-11-07/

 

[noharleyyet]

It will be interesting to see what becomes of any discussions. China has de-leveraged their US dependency on US Ag exports since 2018. They've increased production and sought out different countries to import from.

Certainly a whole mess of complications here, but China isn't as exposed as they were 6 years ago in the Ag category.

View attachment 349665

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-farm-exports-china-risk-trumps-tariff-threat-2024-11-07/

Maybe banking on some cheap Ukraine grain from their business partner?