Economics

Exclusive news, analysis and commentary on the US and global economy, central bank policy, interest rates, trade, and consumer sentiment.

Indicators

As Job Market Cools, Small Businesses Scramble for Employees

Photo by Tim Mossholder via Unsplash

As the country’s largest companies have begun slowing down hiring, small businesses are hanging up “Help Wanted” signs at a record pace.

2 min read
Inflation & Prices

Deflation Begins to Hit Durable Goods

Photo by Federal Reserve Board of Governors under Public Domain Mark 1.0

Slowing inflation usually means prices are rising, just not as fast as before. But now there is actual deflation.

2 min read
Real Estate

HOA Fees Are Adding to the Housing Affordability Problem

Photo by Dillon Kydd via Unsplash

Prospective homebuyers face limited supply, historically high mortgage rates, plus increasingly high homeowners association fees.

2 min read

Advisor Upside

Billionaires Inherit More Wealth Than They Make

(Photo by Quan Nguyen via Unsplash)

Newly minted billionaires got more of their money from inheritance than, well, making money, according to UBS.

1 min read
Power Corridor

Risk On…Despite Everything?

Interest rates and risk appetite to set the table for 2024…

2 min read
OP-ED | Power Corridor

U.S. Holiday Spending Smashes Records, But Cash Crunch Seen Ahead

Photo by Burst on Pexels

Signs are mounting that consumers are finally feeling the pinch.

1 min read
International Economics

UK Flushed with Immigrants, Labor Market Remains Tight and Unfilled

(Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)

The United Kingdom is putting back up the “Help Wanted” sign it tore down with Brexit as it looks to fill one million open jobs.

1 min read
Indicators

Healthcare Hiring Boom Buoys Job Market

(Photo credit: CDC/Unsplash)

A white-hot healthcare sector powered an much of the job growth in the past six months, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.

1 min read
Power Corridor

Why This Year’s Black Friday Matters

It’s official: 2023 has been the year of the American consumer. The propensity for Americans to spend as though they have bottomless bank accounts has…

4 min read
International Economics

Germany Freezes Public Spending After Court Ruling

(Photo by European Union 2023 EP under CC BY 4.0)

Berlin has imposed a freeze on virtually all new federal spending commitments for the rest of the year, or the next 40 days.

1 min read
Indicators

US Retail Sales Dip in October, But It Could’ve Been Worse

(Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels)

According to the US Commerce Department released Wednesday, retail sales dipped slightly month-over-month in October, falling just 0.1%.

2 min read
Economics

Small Businesses Stall Amid Higher-for-Longer Interest Rates

(Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash)

In a Goldman Sachs survey of more than 1,200 small businesses, 53% said they can’t afford to take out loans at their current rates.

1 min read
Inflation & Prices

Low-Wage Workers Are Losing Their Leverage

(Photo Credit: Dan Burton/Unsplash)

Thanks to high demand for low-paying jobs in recent years, workers had plenty of leverage for bigger salaries and better perks.

2 min read
International Economics

Japan’s Central Bank Has an Unusual Foe: Inflation

(Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash)

After decades of trying — and failing — to stoke inflation, Japan has finally been gifted steadily rising prices.

2 min read
Real Estate

Private Equity Giant Starts a Vacation-Rental Side Hustle

(Photo by Allison Huang on Unsplash)

TPG, a San Francisco-based investment firm, has begun purchasing single-family homes in Florida tourist destinations.

2 min read
Real Estate

Washington DC Sues Landlords, RealPage in Alleged Rent-Fixing Scheme

(Photo by Chuttersnap on Unsplash)

Washington, DC’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit against property management software maker RealPage, along with 14 commercial landlords.

2 min read
OP-ED | Power Corridor

A Bottomless Congressional Conflagration

Another month, another potential government shutdown. The U.S. House of Representatives did manage to briefly overcome its deep divisions long enough to…

3 min read
Power Corridor

Fed’s Tea Leaves Get Murkier

Photo by Federal Reserve Board of Governors under Public Domain Mark 1.0

The U.S. Federal Reserve is all but certain to hold interest rates steady Wednesday, but the economy is still scorching – beating expectations in…

2 min read
Economics

The Economy is Expected to Slow, Someday

(Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash)

The third quarter likely saw strong economic growth, which sounds like good news — unless you’re rooting for lower interest rates.

1 min read
OP-ED | Power Corridor

Once and For All, Is It Spending…Or Taxes?

America’s debt clock is ticking – the nation’s debt is at around $33.7 trillion and its deficit, in the latest fiscal year, has effectively…

4 min read