The biggest trade shake-up in 135 years is happening right now.<\/p>\n
April brought tariff levels that economists say haven\u2019t been seen since the 1890s, creating ripple effects throughout the economy.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re seeing a stark disconnect between official economic data and how people feel about their financial future.<\/p>\n
While the economy added 177,000 jobs in April \u2014 beating forecasts \u2014 consumer confidence has plummeted to alarming levels.<\/p>\n
Almost 70 percent of Americans now expect higher unemployment ahead, despite the strong job numbers.<\/p>\n
The tariffs have triggered some unexpected behaviors. Companies rushed to import goods before prices increased, which ironically pushed the trade deficit to record levels.<\/p>\n
Consumers went on buying sprees for cars, computers, and other expensive items, fearing they\u2019d soon cost much more.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, inflation expectations have surged to their highest levels in decades.<\/p>\n
What does this mean for investors? Bond markets reacted dramatically, with Treasury yields posting one of the sharpest spikes on record mid-April before settling back down.<\/p>\n
The dollar weakened significantly, and economists have raised recession probability to 45 percent \u2014 up from 30 percent just last month.<\/p>\n
Small businesses are feeling the uncertainty too.<\/p>\n
After initial optimism about potential tax cuts and deregulation, their expectations have soured amid concerns about how tariffs might hurt smaller firms disproportionately.<\/p>\n
Market volatility has hit retirement savers particularly hard. We take a call from a listener named Johanna who shared that she lost 30 percent of her portfolio due to recent tariff-related swings.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s wondering whether she\u2019s still \u201cCoast FIRE\u201d \u2014 even when market shocks alter her retirement math.<\/p>\n
Join us as we break down April\u2019s economic data, explain what\u2019s behind the market volatility, and discuss what these historic tariffs might mean for your money in the months ahead.<\/p>\n
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