A tremendous surge of inflation has encompassed European countries as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Essential energy and food products that have for years been imported from Russia and Ukraine have elevated overall prices throughout Europe. Natural …
What is ESG – Socially Conscience Investing – Part 1 of a 3
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) have become focal points for companies, analysts, and investors. The evolution of ESG has created a growing awareness among the public about how companies formulate criteria for socially conscious decisions. For decades, analysts and financial …
Equity Indices Have a Rough First Half – Domestic Equity Overview
Equity indices have had an absolutely dreadful first half, their worst in decades. The S&P 500 Index had its worst first half in over five decades, the Dow Jones Index suffered its worst six months since 1962, and the Nasdaq …
What Falling Labor Productivity Means – Labor Market Overview
The most recent data released by the Labor Department revealed the largest quarterly drop in productivity since 1947, decreasing at an annualized rate of 7.5%. The drop in productivity was concurrent with the largest rise in labor costs since 1982. …
Inflation Can Be Different For Those Over 62 – Retirement Planning
Data compiled by the government via the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) maintains a separate tally of inflation for people over 62. The rarely heard index, known as the CPI-E, is a variation of the traditionally recognized CPI (Consumer Price …
Inflation Varies From Country To Country In Europe – European Inflation
A tremendous surge of inflation has encompassed European countries as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Essential energy and food products that have for years been imported from Russia and Ukraine have elevated overall prices throughout Europe. Natural …
Macro Economics Overview
Attention has shifted from inflation to recession as housing, wages, interest rates, commodities, and consumer expenditures have all receded from their highs, an indication to economists that an economic slowdown or recession may be evolving. Numerous countries worldwide are restricting …
Rates Held Steady In May – Fixed Income Review
Short-term and long-term Treasury bond yields fell moderately in late May, known as a shift down in the yield curve. Such a dynamic may be representative of interest rates beginning to level off after a rapid rise over the past …
Earnings Come Into Focus – Domestic Equity Update
The Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index, which includes every publicly traded U.S. company, has lost roughly $10 trillion in value since the beginning of the year, down from $53 trillion. Equities currently account for about 33% of household wealth. Some …
Global Commodity Prices May Be Signaling That Inflation Is Taming
As heightened commodity prices have stoked inflation over the past year, commodity prices worldwide are now starting to ease as demand for various commodities is alleviating. The Global Price Index of All Commodities tracks the price of widely traded commodities, …
Credit Usage Heading Higher – Consumer Credit
As pandemic assistance funds vanish, consumers are turning to savings and credit to pay for essentials. With many consumers having exhausted their cash reserves, credit becomes an option. Consumers have been tapping into savings accumulated from pandemic stimulus funds in …
What’s Risen The Most – Tracking Inflation
Energy and fuel were among the top contributors to inflation this past year, with used cars, electricity, and food all enhancing the tensions surrounding inflation. Transportation costs have become a growing contributor to inflation, as the vast majority of food, …
Gasoline Prices Expected To Head Higher This Summer
Various factors are contributing to sustained high gas prices, which are expected to add to price pressures heading into the summer months. Traditionally, gasoline prices move higher as vacation travelers hit the road during the summer months. Transportation companies, railroads, …
Growing Inventories Means Lower Prices & Discounts Could Be Coming
As the pandemic created supply constraints over the past two years, companies learned to stock up on materials and finished products in hopes of alleviating any future supply chain snags. Now that constraints have lessened and various supply chains have …
Macro Economic Overview – June 2022
There’s a growing consensus among various economists and market analysts that inflation could force consumers to cut back on spending to the extent that a recession materializes. Consumer expenditures have an enormous impact on economic activity, representing 70% of the …
Those 55 & Older Are Going Back To Work
Rising inflation along with no new pandemic relief funds are prompting many aged 55 and older to return to work. Labor Department data shows that the participation rate for those above 55 years old has been rising over the past …
Equities Struggle With Higher Costs – Global Equity Overview
Major equity indices ended the first four months of the year in negative territory. The S&P 500 Index fell 13.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 9.25%, and the Nasdaq was down over 21% for the first four months of …
Wage Increases Can’t Keep Up With Inflation
The most recent wage data released by the Labor Department showed a 5.7% increase in wages for the past year, yet still below the current inflation annualizing 7.5%. With inflation outpacing wage growth, workers and consumers alike are experiencing shrinking …
Disposable Income For Consumers Dropping
As Inflationary pressures tend to drive the price of essential goods higher and faster than non-essential goods, consumers are sometimes left with minimal funds to purchase what they desire. The rapidly rising costs of gasoline, natural gas, and groceries have …
Strengthening U.S. Dollar May Help Curtail Inflation
The U.S. dollar has risen over 7% since the beginning of the year driven by increasing interest rates and a flight to safety for international investors. A stronger dollar can also be a hindrance for certain U.S. companies that have …