The possibility of shifting manufacturing operations from Mexico is under consideration by Nissan in light of proposed U.S. tariffs on Mexican goods, which could have a significant impact on the automaker's operations Japanese automaker Nissan is currently evaluating the potential relocation of its production facilities in Mexico due to the looming threat of U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. If enacted, these tariffs would target Mexican imports, including automobiles, potentially adding a substantial cost burden to Nissan's operations. In 2024, the company exported approximately 320,000 vehicles from its Mexican factories to the U.S., a key market for the automaker. Nissan's CEO, Makoto Uchida, expressed concerns over the financial implications of these tariffs, noting that the company may be forced to relocate its manufacturing base if the tariffs are implemented. Uchida further stated that relocating production to a different country could become a necessit...

Seasonal fluctuations and extreme winter conditions contribute to unexpected drop in retail activity The U.S. retail sales for January have unexpectedly dropped by a significant margin, surpassing initial forecasts. The decline in consumer spending was primarily driven by seasonal factors and colder-than-usual weather conditions. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported on February 14th (local time) that consumer spending in January fell by 0.9% compared to the previous month, totaling $723.9 billion. This decline was steeper than the 0.2% decrease predicted by economists in a survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) . Although a decrease in retail sales was anticipated, the actual decline was larger than expected, largely due to a much stronger-than-anticipated shopping season in December of the previous year. The Commerce Department also revised the December retail sales growth rate upward, from 0.4% to 0.7%, reflecting the higher-than-normal consumer spending during the h...