Macroeconomic Overview

Inflation became less of a concern in January as the most recent data revealed six consecutive months of falling prices. The most recent inflationary data, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), fell to 6.5% after reaching 9.1% in …

Job Openings Are Decreasing – Labor Market Update

With looming recessionary pressures throughout 2022, many corporations reversed their 2021 hiring frenzies. Instead, companies have been opting to slow down hiring, shutter positions, and implement layoffs. In fields such as technology, many companies have already admitted to over-hiring throughout …

Home Sales Fall Across the Nation – Housing Update

Following seven consecutive quarters of double-digit increases in the median sales price of American homes, pending home sales have reached an all-time low as fewer homeowners are looking to sell their homes. The reasoning behind most homeowners’ thinking is that, …

Shipping Costs Fall From Historic Highs – International Trade

In late 2021, post-pandemic shipping costs skyrocketed, forcing the prices of containers to become unaffordable for many businesses that rely on importing or exporting products. However, costs have since fallen dramatically and have recently reached pre-pandemic levels after 2.5 years …

Tax Changes For 2023 – Tax Planning

In 2022, inflation eclipsed 9% and reached 40-year highs as food and gasoline prices exhibited continuous spikes. Many consumers reported consistently feeling that their paychecks did not go as far as they used to, to which the Internal Revenue Service …

Highlights From The SECURE Act 2.0 – Retirement Planning

In response to an aging American population, a bipartisan retirement measure passing through Congress looks to assist Americans nearing retirement in the next decade. The measure, titled Secure Act 2.0, builds upon previous changes to retirement policies in 2019 and …

Macro Overview

Global equity and fixed-income markets navigated through a volatile environment as 2022 unfolded to be a challenging year. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, and a slowing economy all weighed on financial markets. The three major …

Macroeconomic Overview

Markets reacted to indications that the Fed might slow its pace of rate increases heading into the new year. Such a change in monetary policy would be positively received by financial markets with the anticipation of eventual lower rates. The …

High Mortgage Rates Scare Away Potential Homebuyers

Mortgage rates eclipsed 7% in late October 2022, their highest in over 20 years. This has discouraged countless potential buyers from purchasing a home and instead resorting to renting or staying where they currently live. Exorbitantly high rates are discouraging …

Elevated Food Inflation Continues

The most recent measure of food inflation is 8.2%, with 2022 inflation at the highest level since inflation in the 1980s, and the category seeing the harshest hikes appears to be food prices. Price jumps at grocery stores directly affect …