LOS ANGELES

AS PRESIDENT TRUMP takes a wrecking ball to the international trading order, an ominous sign has indicated that the American economy he says he is trying to save, might be in poorer shape than imagined.

The so-called Sugar Index has been a guide to economic health for over half a century. In essence it is the number of sugars people order with the coffees in the morning.

The higher the sugar count, the more difficult things economic are for them.

And a recent survey suggests the number of sugars ordered with coffees right across America has spiked significantly.

“It’s a crude measure, but it was there in the 70s and in 2008,” explained economist Milton Marx. “And now it’s back. I guess people who feel they are facing into bad news, just want an extra high. I don’t know what Mr Trump takes with his coffee, but it would be worth finding out.”