Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   Goofy has a short memory Date:   8/4/2025 9:07:48 AM (updated 8/4/2025 10:37:36 AM)

Goofy, I have long understood what tariffs are which is why I have been skeptical of them here in this forum.  But Trump so far is winning the tariff wars.  Remember what his goal is....forcing other nations to lower their tariffs which lowers prices on American products.  That bolsters jobs and wages in the U.S. and it's working.

As for harming retail sales, that depends on whether there are no viable American-made products.  I would also remind you that retail sales survived Biden's massive inflation numbers and so far tariffs have not impacted inflation. 

EDIT:  On a related note you do understand that imports are subtracted from GDP, right?  So in Q1 imports spiked as companies tried to front load materials before tariffs took effect.  So that lowered GDP.  In Q2 imports naturally were much lower so GDP was higher.