News

U.S. business activity improved in March, though increasing concerns about import tariffs and government spending reductions continued to negatively impact sentiment and outlook for the remainder of the year. According to Monday's S&P Global survey, a measure of input prices paid by businesses reached its highest level in nearly two years this month, with increases across both manufacturing and services sectors. The data also indicated companies were hesitant to expand their workforce. The activity improvement likely won't ease concerns that the economy faces a period of sluggish growth combined with high inflation. Consumer sentiment has also weakened as households worry about future conditions. Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has implemented numerous tariffs on imported goods, with some duties postponed until next month. The administration has also launched an aggressive initiative to reduce government spending, terminating thousands of federal […]