according to Respondents to the CNBC Fed Survey foresee good times for the economy and the stock market, but they have put an asterisk next to those predictions because of growing concerns over a trade war and monetary policy. "Goldilocks is alive and well," wrote Marshall Acuff, managing director at Silvercrest Asset Management, in response to the survey. Almost two-thirds of the 42 respondents, including economists, money managers and strategists, see the recent economic strength as temporary. And 53 percent peg protectionist trade policies as the biggest threat to the economy. While 59 percent approve of President Donald Trump's handling of the economy, an equal percentage say his trade policies will reduce economic growth, and 54 percent say it will reduce employment.
![Second quarter's hot economic growth may have been helped by increased activity to get ahead of tariffs]()
![Oil falls as US inventories swell, economic growth slows]()
collected by :Donald Luther
Second quarter's hot economic growth may have been helped by increased activity to get ahead of tariffs
Economists say expectations for strong second-quarter growth may have gotten slightly higher due to exports and inventory building that appears to have been done ahead of the onset of trade tariffs. While economists agree pre-emptive activity around the tariffs may have been a factor, they do not agree how much it contributed to growth in the quarter. "Ironically in the second quarter, export growth appears to be a big positive for Q2 GDP," said Kevin Cummins, senior U.S. economist at NatWest. His forecast is for GDP growth of 4.8 percent. "Exports grew very rapidly in real terms in the second quarter and imports were roughly flat which is unusual.
Canada's oil industry led economic growth in May — but will it continue? - National
As it stated in As Canada's GDP grew in May, the oil sector led the way with a 2.5 per cent increase. But is this growth going to continue and has the oil industry gotten out of its rut? Looking at your longer term outlook in our equity analyst who cover the oil and gas sector are expecting Canadian oil production will continue to increase generally," Nye said. Still, Canada's oil and gas industry has been doing well over the past year. The energy sector employs 4.9 per cent of people — though most of the jobs are in construction, which is considered indirectly connected to the sector.Oil falls as US inventories swell, economic growth slows
Oil falls as US inventories swell, economic growth slowsOil prices fell on Wednesday after industry data showed U.S. stockpiles of crude unexpectedly rose, and as economic growth slowed, especially in Asia, amid the escalating trade dispute between the United States and China. Brent spot crude oil futures dropped 30 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $73.91 a barrel by 0435 GMT, adding to a 1.8 percent loss in the previous session. Weighing on prices was a report by the American Petroleum Institute (API) that showed domestic crude inventories rose by 5.6 million barrels last week. Saudi Arabia suspended oil shipments through the strait last week after the Houthis attacked two Saudi oil tankers. ECONOMIC SLOWDOWNMarkets are also being pulled lower by concerns over slowing economic growth because of the trade dispute that is still ramping up between the United States and China.US economists question sustainability of recent economic growth
US President Donald Trump is touting his economic numbers - a GDP growth rate of 4.1 percent this quarter - and is promising more to come, but economists are sceptical that such growth will continue. The United States economy is surging - having its strongest growth in four years and President Donald Trump predicts more to come. But economists question whether it is sustainable, suggesting a surge in buying before a looming trade war may have boosted the numbers for this quarter. Al Jazeera's John Hendren reports.collected by :Donald Luther