Global container booking volumes fell by 49% between the last week of March and the first week of April 2025, according to Freight Waves. Imports from China to the United States collapsed by 64%, with imports of apparel and textiles declining by a whopping 59% and 57%, respectively. The figures coming from shipping companies are worse than those seen during the Covid-19 crisis.

These alarming figures suggest that importers are unwilling to accept higher prices in the middle of a tariff war, that exporters cannot simply choose to move their products elsewhere easily, and that the excess capacity in many sectors is much larger than initially expected.

A correction in equity markets tends to generate an immediate negative reaction from citizens, citing political headlines about tariffs and trade as the reasons for equity volatility. However, if markets were scared about the US economy, German and Japanese sovereign bonds would not have declined. Furthermore, at the close of this article, 493 stocks in the S&P 500 are flat in the first quarter despite having reached all-time highs in 2024 and all the negative headlines of 2025.

The Bloomberg US Large Cap Index, excluding the magnificent seven, is flat year-to-date. It seems that we are living a normal correction after a massive bull run in the past five years, coming from expectations of persistent inflation and fewer rate cuts. That is why German and Japanese sovereign bonds, historically the beneficiaries in a risk-off scenario, are weak.

By Daniel Lacalle and Jaime Figueras

This week, financial markets have experienced unprecedented volatility.

Two key issues dominate the national conversation: first, the shifting economic landscape under President Trump’s leadership and second, the increasing financial burden faced by older Americans. While market uncertainty looms, President Trump’s policies are aimed at fostering long-term stability and growth, both domestically and globally.

At the same time, we urgently need to address the mounting credit card debt among older Americans who are facing financial difficulties as they near retirement.

These two issues, while seemingly unrelated, share a common theme: the need for strategic planning, responsible policies, multi-horizon solutions that alleviate the immediate economic burden for older Americans as well as long-term solutions that galvanize the US economy for younger individuals.