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Bryan Dale's avatar

Since Trump’s inauguration, US food inflation has run about 2.1%. As any economist can tell you, tariffs don’t cause inflation, but they can affect prices of individual products. That will give the appearance of some relief to counter the fakes news reporting about the cost of living. American wages are currently rising at over 4% per annum so affordability is improving.

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Don Hrehirchek's avatar

Which economists are You talking about here? The ones that believe that You spend Your way to prosperity, or the ones that follow the Austrian School of economics?

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Bryan Dale's avatar

Any economist who understands monetary theory.

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Don Hrehirchek's avatar

Not many in My mind! Plus Monterey policy is no longer theory , but fact. That is why I said Austrian school .

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Bryan Dale's avatar

So you agree tariffs can’t cause inflation. Not to mention a new study just confirmed they reduce inflation. The one I had in mind was Milton Friedman.

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Don Hrehirchek's avatar

Did Not say that tariffs can not cause inflation . You said it. If You add money or dollars to supply of money You add inflation. Because this money was not earned nor saved. . This is the understanding I get from reading about monetary works. But then I may not read the books You do !

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Bryan Dale's avatar

Tariffs don’t directly affect the money supply. By raising revenue and reducing the government deficit they can reduce inflation. The new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has just confirmed the counter-inflationary effect of tariffs.

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Anthony Tasker's avatar

I guess all we can do is hope for help from somewhere else ... we obviously can't look after ourselves

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