Jerome Powell's Stagflation Fears, Mark Cuban's Economic Queries, And Ray Dalio's Debt Warning: This Week In Economics

BY Benzinga | ECONOMIC | 03/23/25 06:02 AM EDT

The past week has been a rollercoaster ride for the financial world. From the Federal Reserve’s unchanged interest rates to Mark Cuban’s probing questions about the U.S. economic shift, the week was filled with significant events.

Let’s dive into the top stories that made headlines.

Fed’s Powell Revives ‘Transitory’ Inflation Talk 

The Federal Reserve, led by Chairman Jerome Powell, left interest rates unchanged at 4.25%-4.50% this week. Despite the Fed’s projection of two rate cuts in 2025, the latest dot plot reflects lower growth and higher inflation, sparking concerns about stagflation. Economists are questioning the Fed’s confidence in easing inflation, warning of potential policy missteps and rising recession risks.

Read the full article here.

Mark Cuban Questions Motives Behind Economic Shift

Amid the ongoing U.S. economic overhaul, billionaire Mark Cuban has raised questions about the interests of those in charge. He contrasted the difference between turning around a corporation and a country, calling the 330 million citizens the directors of the corporation. Cuban’s comments came in response to a post that praised the current economic churn and criticized DOGE for being too timid.

Read the full article here.

See Also: 80 Tesla Vehicles Damaged At Dealership In Hamilton: ?A Series Of Mischief,' Says Police

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: A ‘Deficit Hawk’

In a recent podcast episode, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed President Donald Trump’s economic plan and the importance of lowering debt and deficit. Despite identifying himself as a “deficit hawk,” Bessent admitted that he sometimes needs to coax Republicans not to cut spending “all at once.”

Read the full article here.

Ray Dalio Warns of Imminent Debt Crisis

Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio has raised concerns about the U.S.’s national debt, predicting an imminent crisis. Dalio pointed out a severe imbalance between supply and demand, noting that the debt-to-GDP ratio has reached 122%, surpassing the nation’s economic output. He warned that the U.S. might soon face difficulties selling its debt.

Read the full article here.

Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs Draw Criticism

In response to the Trump administration’s recent trade measures, Canada has introduced retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticized Canada’s “tone deaf” approach ahead of a meeting with Canadian officials.

Read the full article here.

Read Next:

  • ‘Perhaps Ray Dalio Has Different Data, But Grok Thinks?’?Elon Musk Publicly Corrects The Legendary Investor Over China

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Ananya Gairola

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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