News analysis

With eye on re-election, Trump's team talks up economic strength

President, officials reject recession fears as trade war bites, cite positive data even as economists expect otherwise

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One should not be afraid of being optimistic, US economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Fox News on Sunday, as he played down growing fears of a recession.

Amid concerns that an economic downturn could jeopardise President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election bid, Mr Kudlow also told NBC on its Meet the Press show he did not see a recession happening. "Consumers are working at higher wages," he said. "They are spending at a rapid pace."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 21, 2019, with the headline With eye on re-election, Trump's team talks up economic strength. Subscribe