NATIONAL ECONOMY Momentum entering 2025 was waylaid this spring when the Trump administration began imposing new import taxes on a broad swath of the nation's trading partners, as well as on specific materials and products. As the administration actively negotiates new trade conditions, the situation remains fluid and inconsistent. Financial markets and consumer confidence are...

NATIONAL ECONOMY The overall outlook in early 2024 is notably more positive in comparison to forecasts made entering last year, as economic indicators continually defied recessionary predictions, despite additional headwinds emerging. The Federal Reserve's goal of an economic soft landing appears achievable, with most economists anticipating a year of soft, but steady, growth. This cautious...