Financial repression in all our futures? Faling real wages in the US help explain the Trump slump. A Burnham bounce?

This week, Chris and Jim unpack a volatile run of economic data and what it means for markets, growth and household finances.

US jobs and wages: A weaker-than-expected employment report shifts expectations for interest rates, while falling real wages raise questions about living standards.Growth, inflation and rates: Why resilient growth alongside renewed inflation is making the outlook harder for central banks to read.The bond-market story: Rising government borrowing costs, fiscal pressure and the unusual resilience of equity markets.Financial repression explained: How inflation and negative real interest rates can quietly reduce the burden of government debt.Europe’s fiscal fault lines: Why debt dynamics look different across the US, UK, France and the eurozone.A brighter UK outlook: Improved growth data, the role of AI investment and whether confidence could help sustain momentum.Ireland ahead of the budget: Labour-market signals, consumer spending, tax receipts and the changing car market.Electric vehicles and China: The rapid rise of EVs, used-car imports, Chinese manufacturing and the battery race.Wider political risks: Reflections on Northern Ireland, US political rhetoric and escalating threats around Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.