Planes & Pixels

Mar 28, 2025

Hard to believe this data could be accurate. Canada-US flight bookings for the upcoming summer have plummeted. Bookings are down over 70% in every month through September compared to last year, indicating travelers are likely delaying reservations due to ongoing trade dispute uncertainty. (OAG).

OpenAI's new image generation features sparked a viral trend this week, with users transforming everything into anime. One person even recreated a Lord of the Rings trailer for just $250, showcasing the technology's impressive capabilities (link to video).

The Mag 7 are on track for their worst quarter since 2022 (@chigrl).

Only about half of manufactured goods purchased by Americans are made in the US (The Daily Shot).

In 2024, Canada produced 1.6 million passenger vehicles, largely in Ontario, exporting 88% (1.4 million) to the United States. Next week, a 25% tariff will apply to roughly one-quarter of US vehicle sales (@dailychartbook).

US companies depend on global cooperation to maintain their disproportionately high share of global profits relative to the US economy. Eroding globalization threatens this profit share, especially as countries facing tariffs may retaliate against US multinationals operating within their borders (Bridgewater).

Bridgewater argues that US profit growth, partially driven by fiscal deficits, will decline if deficit reduction commitments from Bessent and Musk are honored, and if private sector borrowing fails to compensate for reduced government borrowing.

The US has a massive net negative international investment position, making it vulnerable to capital flight if countries sell off US assets (@dailychartbook).