Confidence Evaporates But US Sales Managers Keep the Economy Moving


 
The US Sales Managers Survey results for March show some recovery from the previously unheard of large monthly swings in Business Confidence. The exuberance that followed the Trump election win has now all but disappeared from the Sales Managers responses, but it remains clear that the extraordinary see-sawing tariff policies of the incoming Republicans have dampened enthusiasm for the new Government.

However the basic strength of the American economy appears not to have been significantly weakened by the somewhat chaotic series of policy announcements made since the new Government took office, except for signs that job recruitment has slowed down, and prices are once again creeping upwards. The overall Sales Managers Index came in a comforting 2 index points above the 50 line separating growth from economic contraction.

Headline Sales Managers Index: USA
Diffusion Index: 50 = ‘no growth’
Confidence Evaporates But US Sales Managers Keep the Economy Moving


In summary, there seems little doubt that the continuous stream of edicts pouring out of the President's office on a daily basis are causing considerable uncertainty. The extreme buoyancy in business confidence over the immediate post election period appears to have all but evaporated. But the great growth machine of US business activity continues to move steadily forward. To date...

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