News 12 followed up on the Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down most of President Trump’s tariffs and looked at the local impact. CRER director and chief economist Howard Wall said that It’s a it’s an odd mix of industries that like tariffs because some of them get protected, but most industries are harmed by…
2/20/26: Chattanooga Buyers Weigh Car Loans as New Vehicle Prices Near $49,000 and Rates Hit 9%
A story on NewsChannel 9 about the affordability of new cars featured CRER director and chief economist Howard Wall. “Most people buy a car they borrow, and interest rates are something like 9% on average, and that’s a lot higher than it was pre-pandemic.” “Don’t borrow too much, because interest rates are high. And then,…
2/20/26: Southern UAW Unit Ratifies Deal, Raising Questions about Future of Volkswagen Chattanooga
NewsChannel 9 had a story about the ratification of a new contract between Volkswagen and the UAW. CRER director and chief economist Howard Wall was asked about what it might mean for the future: “I think it turns out to be not as significant as it could have been in, certainly in a negative way,…