Part 9/11:
Looking ahead, a likely scenario is stagflation, a perilous combination of stagnant growth and rising inflation. With the economy slowing and prices climbing, consumers and businesses face squeezed margins and reduced purchasing power.
Furthermore, ongoing trade tensions—particularly U.S. tariffs on China—are disrupting supply chains. Since early April, cargo shipments from China have plummeted by up to 60%, and ocean carriers have canceled 25% of sailings. These disruptions are expected to cause supply shocks, delay imports, and dramatically inflate shipping costs.