Has the $1.5 Trillion US Tax Cut Package Failed To Boost Business Spending So Far?

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tax cut package is apparently yet to produce a substantial boost in business spending, as suggested by a recent survey result.

According to the National Association of Business Economics' (NABE) quarterly business conditions poll published on Monday, 84% of respondents indicated that corporate tax cuts did not lead them to change plans. That percentage is even bigger compared to the 81% in the survey published in October.

The $1.5 trillion cut tax package – which included a reduction of corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% - is the largest U.S. tax code overhaul in more than three decades. It was expected to free up more cash for companies to increase employment and/or expand capital spending. But that may not have fully translated into reality as yet, according to the survey.

The survey's gauge of capital spending fell in January to its lowest level since July 2017. Projections on capital spending for the next three months also dropped.  There was a modest improvement in employment growth in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to the third quarter. The measure for projected employment over the next three months declined to 25 in January, from 29 in October.

However, looking at the goods producing sector in isolation, the tax cut did seem to have an impact. Half of the respondents from that sector reported increased investments at their companies, while  20% claimed to have reallocated investments and employment to the U.S. from abroad.