Real Time Economics

President Trump is imitating the Chinese Communist Party by extending political control ever deeper into the economy, Greg Ip writes on.wsj.com/4maryAH

News the jobs market was much weaker than previously thought upset President Trump. So he fired the head of the U.S. agency that collects the data. The economy hinges on what comes next. on.wsj.com/4ljIlju

Argentina’s experience with manipulation of economic data has reverberated in the U.S. since Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, accusing the agency of rigging jobs figures on.wsj.com/41B3JJT

Adriana Kugler hasn’t said why she is leaving her post as Federal Reserve governor. Her departure comes at a precarious time for the central bank. on.wsj.com/45PIZzJ

Dramatic downward revisions to recent job-growth figures underscore why the Federal Reserve should be cutting interest rates, Fed governor Michelle Bowman said on Saturday on.wsj.com/4mk2p6s

What began as an experiment during the pandemic to lure people back to small towns and cities in the American heartland is, about five years later, becoming a widespread strategy on.wsj.com/3J14Tbs

For decades, the U.S. and other rich countries have granted special trading privileges to many poor countries. That hasn’t been Donald Trump’s approach. on.wsj.com/40WRVBw

Beijing Struggles to Shake Off Deflationary Pressures Despite Policy Pivot on.wsj.com/4ot9AuB

President Trump’s team is reviewing new contenders to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, with a longtime economic consultant and a past Fed president added to the list on.wsj.com/3HsHIGp

Canada Jobless Rate Steadies in July Even as Employment Pulls Back on.wsj.com/4m6MYhV

‘Inflation’ Review: The Price of Cheap Money on.wsj.com/3J4LAxP

Week Ahead for FX, Bonds: U.S. Inflation, China Activity Data in Focus on.wsj.com/3HouWIU

Trump’s Fed nominee would add a voice inside the central bank that is explicitly critical of the conventional wisdom around how tariffs might affect inflation and economic growth on.wsj.com/4myRLZs

Irish Factory Output Slumped in June as Exports to U.S. Fell on.wsj.com/3JbXSo5

The BLS Isn’t Alone in Facing Data Challenges; U.K. Has Them Too on.wsj.com/4fBqC5R

German Exports to U.S. Fall for Third Straight Month on.wsj.com/3Hj9JQK

India’s Economy Faces Bumpy Road in Face of Steep Trump Tariff on.wsj.com/3Ha3NJP

China’s Exports Accelerated in July Ahead of Tariff Truce Deadline on.wsj.com/4m6ZZIw

USD/INR Could Stay Above Mid-87 Level Amid High Risk of Extra U.S. Tariff on.wsj.com/3UkQcCm

U.S. trading partners are lobbying the White House for exemptions to sweeping new tariffs on.wsj.com/4fpAb7T