Day 16 cont

“One is left to wonder, why do parties of both major #political persuasions keep doing things which they know will put upward pressure on #house #prices, and thus exacerbate the #problem they say they are trying to solve?

It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that the reason is that they know there are only about 110,000 people who each year succeed in becoming first home buyers. And even if you assume that for every one who does, there are five or six who don’t, that’s still only 700,000 or so votes, tops, for policies that might restrain the rate of house price inflation or halt it altogether.

Politicians also know that at any point in time there are more than 11 million voters who own their own homes, and more than 2.25 million who own at least one investment property. The last thing those 11 million to 13 million voters want is anything that might restrain – let alone halt – the rate of property price #inflation.” — #SaulEslake

#AusPol / #OpEd / #housing / #Australia / #LNP / #Liberal / #Nationals / #Labor <https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/14/the-housing-policies-of-both-major-parties-are-bad-for-aspiring-home-buyers>

/2

A weaker #dollar will mean that things cost more in the US because more dollars are needed to buy things with the decrease in the dollar’s purchasing power— goes for imports (of course, compounded with the effects of #tariffs ) and also goods made in the #USA because of complicated supply chains for material to make the goods. Increases in capital expenditures and operating costs could also cause US service businesses to raise #prices for customers.

@georgetakei

Wait until the #OPEC throttels the Oil-Tap, to raise the #Prices.
Then your/our #Grin will #freeze in your/our #Face/s.

If other #carmakers make similar moves, the #economic impact could be severe, leading to higher #car #prices & widespread #layoffs. The #tariffs on #cars are among the first of several industry-specific levies that #Trump has in his sights & could offer early clues about how businesses will respond to his #trade policies, including whether they raise #prices or increase manufacturing in the US. Trump also wants to #tax the imports of #medicines & #ComputerChips.

The CGTN video displays images of car factories & humanoid robots dancing in burned-out streets.

"You taxed each truck, you taxed each tire. Midwest burnin' in your dumpster fire," the automated voice sings.

Economists say #consumers are likely to see higher #prices due to the #TradeWar & that the #US #economy could enter a #recession, while some US #trade partners are putting their own levies on American products - effects that #Trump has called a "disturbance". [he’s the disturbance]

Q & A:

#FederalReserve chair #JeromePowell was asked about recent #Trump comments on the #economy. He said he would not comment.

He also said:

#Unhappiness with economy seems rooted in #inflation persisting.

#Prices aren’t going down, people know they are paying more & are right not to be happy about it.

“#Tariffs are a terrible mistake,” Paul said ahead of the vote. “They don’t work. They will lead to higher #prices.” He added that he believed they were a #tax & “have historically been bad for our #economy.” Paul also argued that the #EmergencyPowers #Trump used to justify the tariffs was an inappropriate circumventing of powers granted to #Congress, not the president.

#Trump said #grocery & other #prices are starting to come down, & that his policies are bringing down #inflation. In fact, inflation has picked up in the first weeks of his term, & economists almost universally expect #tariffs to further drive up prices.