Part 3/8:
When examining the GDP figures, it’s crucial to consider what lies beneath the surface. GDP can be affected by several factors — including consumer spending, government expenditure, and importantly, imports and exports. A surprising statistic reveals a significant 41% surge in imports during this period, which negatively impacted the GDP figure. This spike in imports can be attributed to several companies rushing to bring in their products before anticipated tariffs take effect. Consequently, this singular event has distorted the perception of the overall economic health.