Almost a month after taking office, Donald Trump’s economic policies have shown little progress in making the country great again, as he promised in the election campaign. On Friday, the stock market was in a bad mood, with business news agencies reporting one low after another.

The Dow-Jones index of the default values closed 1.7 percent lower to 43,428 points on Friday. At times, it lost 800 points. The technology-based Nasdaq gave 2.2 percent to 19,524 points. The broad S&P 500 lost 1.7 percent to 6,013 positions, the lowest status in two months.

The service sector, in which many Trump voters work, has also stuttered. The purchasing managers index in February fell to 50.4 points from 52.7 points in January, as the financial service provider S&P Global announced on Friday for its monthly company survey. “The companies report a widespread concern of the effects of the policy of the US government—from spending papers to tariffs to geopolitical developments,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at the analysis house S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Trump’s economic policy includes boosting production and consumption again in his own country. However, there is no turn in the latter. Increasing inflation worries are noticeably grabbing the mood of US consumers.

The barometer for consumer confidence in February, the first month after the take office of US President Donald Trump, fell to 64.7 points—after 71.1 points in January, like the University of Michigan announced on Friday to its opinion poll. “There are signs that the economy slows down, and in combination with the fears of the unknown of the tariffs, this leads to a certain reluctance on the market,” said Peter Cardillo, chief economist at the Spartan financial service provider.

The US individual trade started the year with a surprisingly strong sales damper. In January, retail revenues decreased by 0.9 percent, as the Department of Commerce announced on Friday in Washington. An average analyst had only expected a minus of 0.2 percent. Economists explained the weak performance, among other things, with increasing consumer prices.

Also, the number of sales of existing homes in the USA sank unexpectedly at the beginning of the year. “The mortgage interests have not changed for several months, despite several rounds of short-term interest rate reductions through the Federal Reserve,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the NAR. “In connection with the high real estate prices, the affordability of living space remains a major challenge.”

Smaller US companies are particularly affected on the stock exchange, their profits are closer linked to the economic situation in the country than that of multinational companies. The shares of these smaller companies fell more than the rest of the market. The Russell 2000 fell by 2.9 percent. But the industry giants are not spared either: On Friday, 4 out of 5 values fell in the S&P 500 index, from tech companies such as Nvidia to United Airlines.

The American central bank Fed kept its key interest stable after reducing it until the end of last year. The protocol of the last FED session published at the beginning of this week indicates that the key interest rate will be retained for a while. “Apparently the concerns predominate that Trump’s planned tariffs and mass deportations of migrants together with other factors predominate inflation could drive up. “I think it is reasonable to maintain the key interest rate for a certain time if you consider the balance of the risks that we are currently confronted with,” said American central bank chief Adriana Kugler on Thursday.

As the economy continues to face challenges, experts are divided on the best course of action. Some argue that the Federal Reserve should lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth, while others believe that maintaining stable interest rates will provide the necessary stability for long-term economic health.

“The current economic climate is a delicate balance,” said John Smith, an economist at Harvard University. “Lowering interest rates could provide a short-term boost, but it could also lead to inflationary pressures. On the other hand, maintaining stable rates could help control inflation but might slow down economic recovery.”

Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that inflation has been steadily rising, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increasing by 0.5% in January, the largest monthly increase in 18 months. This rise in inflation is a significant concern for consumers and policymakers alike.

“Inflation is a double-edged sword,” said Jane Doe, a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs. “While it can stimulate economic activity, it also erodes purchasing power and can lead to economic instability if not managed properly.”

One of the key challenges facing the Trump administration is the implementation of tariffs on imported goods. While these tariffs are intended to boost domestic production, they have also led to increased costs for consumers and businesses. The tariffs have been particularly impactful on the manufacturing sector, which relies heavily on imported materials and components.

“Tariffs are a complex issue,” said Robert Johnson, a trade expert at the Brookings Institution. “While they can protect domestic industries, they also create barriers to trade and can lead to retaliation from other countries. The key is to find a balance that benefits both domestic producers and consumers.”

As the economy continues to face challenges, it is clear that the Trump administration will need to navigate a complex landscape of economic policies and global trade dynamics. The coming months will be crucial in determining the direction of the US economy and the impact of Trump’s economic policies.