Letter from America: why we should be worried

Letter from America: why we should be worried
Commentators say the most likely Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election will be Donald Trump. (Image: Getty)
Pattrick Smellie
A few miles south of the Poughkeepsie railway station, where I'm writing this column, is the presidential museum and library of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), the president who saved the United States from the Great Depression.At the core of that success, in essence, was his decision to print money to refloat an economy in freefall.With 25% of the working-age population unemployed by 1932 and more than 10,000 bank failures wiping out the life savings of millions, the US was coming apart at the seams under the conservative economic prescri...

More Economy

Consumer confidence back on the up – ANZ survey
Economy Free

Consumer confidence back on the up – ANZ survey

Consumer confidence rose five points to 98.3 in April, according to the latest ANZ-Roy Morgan survey, shoring up the upward trend that was starting to look wobbly.But inflation expectations also rose sharply – up 0.5 points to 4.7%, the highest reading since July 2023.“Household...

Staff reporters 24 Apr 2025
‘Uncertainty abounds’: Willis on trade war challenges
Economy

‘Uncertainty abounds’: Willis on trade war challenges

The impacts for NZ are twofold and will make its economic recovery harder, Willis says.

Rebecca Howard 23 Apr 2025
Rise in liquidations compounded by IRD crackdown
Economy

Rise in liquidations compounded by IRD crackdown

The IRD filed two-thirds of creditor applications in the March quarter.

Gregor Thompson 22 Apr 2025