by BEN SHIMKUS, US CONSUMER REPORTER, dailymail.co.uk

Huge unexpected US economic growth kills recession fears

t's been a rough year for the Benjamins, Hamiltons, Lincolns and Washingtons. 

Since January, the Dollar Index — which measures the strength of the US dollar against six major currencies, including the euro, yen, and pound — is down about 10 percent. 

That's the biggest tumble for the dollar since 2017. 

A weaker dollar may sound like bad news — and in many ways it is. But economists say the slide comes with clear winners and losers. 

Some everyday products are set to get more expensive. At the same time, the dollar’s slump could help American companies sell more abroad — and even support job growth. Below we cover them in full.

When the dollar weakens, it takes more cash to buy goods made overseas — and retailers usually pass those costs on to consumers.

That means imported products like iPhones, laptops, and TVs assembled abroad are more likely to see price hikes if the dollar's decline continues. 

Clothes, shoes, furniture, and even new cars and replacement auto parts can also become more expensive, particularly when they're sourced from Asia or Europe.

Foreign travel gets pricier too. 

A weaker dollar buys less overseas, making hotel stays, restaurant meals, and shopping abroad feel noticeably more expensive. 

Energy costs can also creep higher. Because oil is priced globally in dollars, producers often raise prices when the dollar falls to protect their earnings.   

That can push up gas prices, heating and electricity bills, and delivery costs — increases that eventually filter down into food prices.

Still, the weaker dollar isn't all bad news. In fact, it was part of the Trump administration's economic calculus.

(I EXPECT A 60% CUT IN REAL AFTER TAX WAGES WHEN THIS FINALLY ENDS. I POSTED EARLIER TODAY MY VIEW ON AN ALTERNATIVE FUTURE.)