Economy shows signs of wavering: Theme of the Week

Bloomberg Opinion Today

Friday's disappointing jobs report did nothing to comfort economy-watchers who have been worried that the U.S.'s long economic expansion will soon begin to slide into recession. The possibility that the Federal Reserve will cut rates in an effort to stave off a slowdown might have become more certain as wage growth cools and trade tensions continue to rise. President Donald Trump's proclamations that Americans are enjoying "the best economy in our history" landed on some skeptical ears as the costs of his tariff threats look to hit middle-earning households the most. Bloomberg Opinion writers examined how the trade wars are weighing on the economy, how the Fed will (or should) react to the May jobs numbers, and if we're worrying about all the right things.

Why Worry So Much About Recessions? – Narayana Kocherlakota

Ask Not What the Fed Will Do, But Whether It Will Work – Mohamed A. El-Erian

A Little Stimulus Wouldn't Hurt the Job Market – Mark Whitehouse

Jobs Day Bust Still Isn't Enough for Instant Fed Cut – Brian Chappatta

Industrial Pressure Points Pile Up in Trade War – Brooke Sutherland

The Fed Can't Help Housing or Autos at This Point – Danielle DiMartino Booth

The Fed May Have No Choice But to Bail Out Trump – Tim Duy

The Best Tools for Fighting Recession Run on Autopilot – Noah Smith

Americans May Be Strapped, But the Go-To Statistic Is False – Michael R. Strain

Jerome Powell Didn't Say 'Rate Cut,' and That Matters – Brian Chappatta

If U.S. Economy Hits Trouble, It Won't Be Like 2008 – Conor Sen

Arthur Laffer Deserves Some Kind of Award – Karl W. Smith