U.S. Economy’s Second-Quarter Surge Masks Deeper Risks Amid Trade Turmoil

The recent Commerce Department report showing a robust 3.8% expansion of the U.S. economy in the second quarter offers a mixed picture—one that should prompt deeper scrutiny rather than complacency. While consumer spending bounced back impressively, driving much of this unexpected growth, underlying weaknesses stemming from erratic trade policies and faltering private investment raise pressing questions about the true health of America’s economic future. Is This Growth Sustainable—or an Illusion Fueled by Trade Confusion? The rebound from a modest contraction in the first quarter was aided largely by a dramatic decline in imports, which bolstered GDP figures by over five...