Revving up tariffs again

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed 25% tariffs on imported automobiles, barreling forward with a whiplash economic strategy that has rattled markets and ignited a global trade war.

Trump detailed the tariffs, which will start at 2.5% and rise to 25% on all foreign cars and light trucks, in front of reporters in the Oval Office.

“This is the beginning of Liberation Day in America,” Trump said before signing an executive order directing the tariffs, which will go in effect April 2. “We’re going to charge countries for doing business in our country and taking jobs, taking our wealth, taking so much out of our country."

Shares of U.S. automakers, except Tesla, fell. Tesla is seen more insulated because it makes most of its cars in the U.S. though it uses imported parts.

If there's a home, buyers find a way

Rates for home loans ticked down fractionally, remaining stuck in a narrow range that isn’t helping – or hurting – the housing market.

In the week ending March 27, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.65%, Freddie Mac announced Thursday. That’s down from 6.67% last week, which was up from 6.65% the prior week.

Those figures don’t include fees or points, and rates in some parts of the country may be higher or lower than the national average.

Even as mortgage rates tread water, Americans are still trying to buy homes. In the most recent week, applications for mortgages to purchase a home, not refinance, were at the highest point in almost two months, according to the weekly tracker from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Will Social Security improve or destroy the program?

Achieving government efficiency’s been a mantra of President Donald Trump’s second term, but some people say the slashing of the Social Security Administration will have the opposite effect or worse.

See what people are saying.

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