Global Markets & TPP

by Raymond J. Keating- In case you haven’t noticed, economic growth has continued to run at a below-average rate. Why? Mainly, the answer is trade – or, more specifically, increased governmental costs imposed and threatened on trade. The latest GDP report noted that real economic growth slowed dramatically in the second quarter – from 3.1 […]

SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan appeared on Cavuto’s Coast-to-Coast on September 20. The hour long panel featured FOX Business’ Connell McShane, Rosecliff Founder Mike Murphy, and Bankrate Senior Economic Analyst Mark Hamrick where they discussed the markets, the Fed cuts and where it all goes moving forward. Watch the clip here, or by […]

On August 29, SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan joined an hour-long panel on Cavuto’s Coast-to-Coast with Neil Cavuto. The panel turned to the issue of trade, where Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig discussed the growing frustration of farmers and the agriculture community with increases in tariffs and the trade war with China. Kerrigan […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The fact that economists overwhelmingly agree that free trade is an economic plus is not really news. It’s long been one of the very few issues upon which most economists agree. Indeed, you have to work pretty hard to find an economist who actually favors protectionism. Survey after survey makes clear […]

SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan joined an hour-long panel on Fox Business on Cavuto’s Coast-to-Coast (August 15)  to discuss leading issues of the day and their impact on the markets, the economy and business. July’s Retail Data and Where the Economy is Headed: July’s retail numbers were impressive, and the panel talked about […]

In an August 14 Washington Times Op-ed, SBE Council president and CEO Karen Kerrigan reviews the role that America’s small businesses play in trade, especially with China.  In addition, she highlights the effects of the trade war with China across industries, and how this is specifically hurting small businesses: “More than 75 percent of American […]

by Raymond J. Keating- In December 2018, President Donald Trump tweeted, “I am a Tariff Man.” In fact, Trump’s pro-tariff stance goes back to the 1980s. However, higher tariffs – like any other tax increases – are bad news for U.S. consumers, entrepreneurs, businesses and workers. Indeed, the anti-growth trade policies of the Trump administration […]

SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan joined Neil Cavuto on July 5 discuss the stellar Jobs Report (+224,000), the markets, and what the Federal Reserve does next on interest rates. Karen said a lot can happen on trade policy between now and July 31, which could impact the decision to cut rates and by […]

On July 2, SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan joined Yahoo! Finance to discuss US-China trade standoff and how it is impacting orders for Christmas wrapping paper, and small to mid-size businesses in general. Did you know approximately 70% of holiday gift wrapping paper comes from China? (Read the article about the interview’s content, […]

  by Raymond J. Keating- Policy matters. If it didn’t, why would anyone care what went on in Washington D.C.? Of course, we’d all be much better off if policy didn’t matter much, but given the size and scope of government, that’s not the case. One of the most glaring examples of how policy matters […]