Post Reports

Is Trump leading us into a recession?

Mar 10, 2025

Abha Bhattarai, an economics correspondent for The Washington Post, dives into the financial landscape under Trump's presidency. She analyzes the impacts of tariffs and government policies on inflation and consumer behavior. The conversation touches on GDP as a crucial economic indicator and its fluctuations that signify broader uncertainties. Bhattarai discusses the troubling trends in job growth and the stagnant market, revealing how families are adapting to rising living costs and the emotional toll of economic strain.

20:23

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Abha Bhattarai

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Quick takeaways

Rising costs of essential goods are forcing families to adjust their lifestyles, indicating significant financial strain amid economic uncertainty.

Uncertainty from new government tariffs is causing consumers and businesses to hesitate in spending, potentially slowing down overall economic growth.

Deep dives

Economic Strain on Households

Families are experiencing significant financial strain due to rising food prices and escalating costs of living. For instance, essential items like eggs have seen price surges; a bulk purchase that used to cost $18 now costs $30. Individuals like Marcy Brown have made lifestyle adjustments, such as canceling streaming services, to cope with these financial pressures. The overall increase in grocery prices is leading families to explore less expensive alternatives, affecting their purchasing behaviors considerably.

Intro

2min

Economic Uncertainty Under Trump

8min

Understanding GDP and Economic Health

2min

Exploring GDP Calculations and Economic Implications

2min

Job Growth and Market Uncertainty

7min

In an interview broadcast on Sunday, President Donald Trump declined to rule out that Americans could see a recession this year as the economy stutters from his efforts to impose tariffs and cut down the size of the federal government.

He told Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo, “I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. That’s a big thing.”

Today on “Post Reports,” economics correspondent Abha Bhattarai joins host Colby Itkowitz to talk about the economic indicators informing the Trump administration, how businesses and consumers are handling inflation, and whether we’re headed toward a recession.

Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sam Bair.

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