WSJ decries 'weirdest GDP report ever' as Trump's 'up-and-down' tariff policy takes hold

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

July 30, 2025 11:32PM ET


Wednesday's economic data was one of the most confusing releases in recent memory, according to the Wall Street Journal's editorial board.

"This may be the weirdest GDP report ever," the board wrote in an op-ed. "The top line growth number looks good, and the White House naturally touted it. This reverses the 0.5% decline in GDP in the first quarter, which was largely explained by a surge of imports as businesses tried to front-run the anticipated tariff barrage. Growth in the first half was a mediocre 1.2%."

"The crazy swing in imports shows how much Mr. Trump’s up-and-down trade policies have disrupted business decisions and left companies scrambling to adapt," the editorial continued.

President Donald Trump has consistently said his tariff policies would unleash an economic boom in America. However, many economists are skeptical of that outcome, and some have said the policy is likely to bring a recession.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-tariffs-2673792374/

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Link to WSJ OP Ed - https://www.wsj.com/opinion/gdp-report-economy-consumers-donald-trump-tariffs-d9879d98?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

[twodogsbarking]

1. Despite living in a fifteen second society some things don't take effect immediately. Just wait.

"The crazy swing in imports shows how much Mr. Trump’s up-and-down trade policies have disrupted business decisions and left companies scrambling to adapt."

[orangecrush]

2. No figures released from this administration

Can be believed.

It's going to get worse.

[unblock]

3. Haven't read the whole article, but it sounds like they're saying the economy is actually doing weird things,

I agree it's wise to be wary that Donnie's minions will cook the books at some point, but I'm seeing no evidence of this (yet). This report is consistent with the private data I have available at my job.

In a way, he's cooking the economy. Tariffs drive prices up, so consumption is going up in part because Donnie effectively slapped a tax on it. So gdp appears to go up to the extent of extra tariffs even though we're getting no real value out of it. I don't know if they subtract out tariffs collected from government expenditures to offset this.

I guess what they're saying is that gdp is up but in a way that doesn't sound good and healthy for long-term economic growth.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Reflex cynicism is going to get worse. BLS are professionals, and no reports of zealots being parachuted in.

Bessent, Lutnick, Hasset and even tRump know that businesses depend on accurate figures.

Interpretation (framing, naming, vocabulary, memos to media stenographers), ... that's the regime's specialty (aside from cruelty). So of course Hassett goes out and praises 3% GDP as confirmation of tRump's wisdom and brilliance; barf inducing toadiness.

But the real story is that the average of the two quarters is 1.2 to 1.25%, which is tepid growth. Which is believable.

Excessive cynicism is not believable.

[rickford66]

5. "He" always questioned the Obama and Biden numbers.

What's the word I'm thinking of ? Oh ... projection. We may never know what's going on while "He" is in office.

[LudwigPastorius]

6. The national economy is like this washing machine.

...and Trump's tariffs are like that cinder block.