SLD
Contributor
Well, let's see how stupid I am by this point next year. Hey, at least I'm sticking my neck out with predictions!
My predictions for the year:
My predictions for the year:
- Tariffs increase prices rather quickly but don’t necessarily cause massive inflation. However, general inflation remains “sticky,” staying above 2% after the initial shock of the tariffs.
- Oil Prices will rise to $85/barrel or more. Trump will claim he lowered them. Trump supporters will believe him.
- Trump will compel Ukraine to effectively surrender, and Ukraine will say no. Trump will cut off aid to Ukraine, but they will fight on. While Putin makes advances he will still not conquer Ukraine this year.
- Trump and Musk will propose cuts to SS and Medicare. They will try to gut the federal government but Congress won’t really go along – but might when it comes to Medicaid and some other programs. As a result of government cuts the economy flounders – although doesn’t collapse. No real growth basically.
- Deportations of immigrants will increase but not sufficient enough to make a dent in the economy. Trump will make a big deal about these increases saying he saved the US from invasion.
- The stock markets will go effectively nowhere. No serious drops and no serious rises. Up and down around 42K for the DJIA.
- 2026 may be the year of reckoning. At that point, China may threaten Taiwan with invasion more seriously and cause markets to tumble. The war in Ukraine will grind on and on and on with Russia continuing to make advances but not enough to break Ukraine’s will to fight on. Oil will rise to well over $100/barrel. Inflation, even stagflation, will break the US economy and the Democrats will sweep the midterms. Trump will try to stop them legally from seizing control of Congress but the Courts won’t allow it and he will try to rally his troops violently again, but will be met with equally violent resistance in DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. With the US distracted, China invades Taiwan but finds it extremely costly and has trouble making landfall. World economy goes into a tailspin as a result.