A gradual devaluation or decline in overall asset prices is known as deflation, which leads to lower prices on most goods and services. This eventually creates an unfavorable environment for companies to raise prices and maintain already elevated profit margins. …
Bank Deposits Heading Downwards – Banking Sector Overview
Consumers have been slowly depositing less money into their bank accounts over the past three years. As the pandemic shuttered restaurants and retail stores in 2020, bank deposits increased as consumers spent less and instead saved their cash. Generous government …
Social Security Benefits Going Up 3.2% in 2024 – Retirement Planning
Social Security recipients are due to receive an increase of 3.2% in 2024, the same as last year’s increase. For many recipients, the increase in payments will go towards higher living expenses as well as increased Medicare premiums. The increase …
Breaking Down Trash – Environmental Facts
As an abundance of trash is generated every day, more of an effort is being made to collect and recycle as much trash as possible. Several nations worldwide have had growing success in collecting and recycling their trash over the …
Estate Tax Exemption On Track To Decrease In 2026 – Estate Planning
Estate tax exemptions began with the Revenue Act of 1916, which imposed a transfer of wealth tax on the estate of any deceased U.S. citizen valued above a certain amount at the time of death. In 1916, the exemption amount …
Baby Boomers Working Past Retirement – Demographics
This year the youngest baby boomers are now 59 and the oldest are 77, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As more baby boomers reach retirement, good health and financial obligations are driving more to work longer or find …
Consumers Are Saving Less
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, data has revealed that Americans are saving less than initially thought. From 2017 through 2022, American consumers were thought to have saved an average of 9.4% of their disposable income. However, revised data …
Macro Overview – October 2023
A federal government shutdown was averted on September 30th, when Congress voted to fund government operations until mid-November. Volatility in the financial markets increased during September, as uncertainty surrounding a resolution persisted. The possibility of a shutdown will evolve again …
Macro Overview – September 2023
Congress is spending the bulk of September deliberating over the Federal Budget for fiscal year 2024 as a looming deadline on September 30th approaches. Should an agreement not be reached, then a government shutdown could occur. The $6.9 trillion proposed …
New Mortgage Rules To Accommodate Lower Credit Scores
New mortgage rules are attempting to make homes more accessible to homebuyers with low credit scores by lowering the fees for low-credit buyers while, in some cases, raising the fees for high-credit buyers. This new fee restructuring revolves around what …
Pullback In August Affects Equity Indices
Domestic stocks experienced a retraction in August as future earnings came into focus along with lingering inflationary pressures on company expenses. The S&P 500 fell -1.6%, culminating in the second monthly decline so far in 2023. The Dow Jones Industrial …
How Deflation & Inflation Affect High Income & Low Income Earners
As inflation has taken center stage over the past year, consumers among all demographics have been affected in various ways. Consumers know inflation as the overall increase in the cost of goods and services, from shoes to gasoline. However, products …
Producer Prices Heading Lower, What It Means
The Producer Price Index (PPI) measures the selling prices domestic companies receive when purchasing everything from raw materials to products themselves. Similar to how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracks prices consumers pay for goods, the PPI tracks prices that …
Delinquency Rates On The Rise – Consumer Finance
A survey released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found that overall credit and lending activity is deteriorating nationwide. The survey encompasses loan activity among larger banks, regional banks, finance companies, and various lenders. The primary concern of this …
Macro Overview / September 2023
Congress is spending the bulk of September deliberating over the Federal Budget for fiscal year 2024 as a looming deadline on September 30th approaches. Should an agreement not be reached, then a government shutdown could occur. The $6.9 trillion proposed …
Housing Market Is Among The Least Affordable In U.S. History – Housing Market
Measured by the Housing Affordability Index, the affordability of homes has been steadily eroding since early 2021. Factors affecting affordability include home prices, mortgage rates, and household incomes. With historic inflation outpacing income growth, home buyers in the U.S. have …
Inflation In Europe Calms – International Economic Focus
Demand for products and services can vary from country to country as consumers have different choices on what they purchase. Supply constraints, transportation costs, and currency exchange rates can also affect prices among various countries and regions. The European Union …
Fixed Income Overview
Government and corporate bond yields saw a slight increase in July as the Fed raised short-term rates and increased government debt levels. Shorter-term bond yields remained higher than longer-term bond yields at the end of July, also known as an …
Equity Overview
U.S. equity markets advanced in July as positive earnings momentum and some optimistic economic news helped propel the market. The Dow Jones Industrial Index, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq all saw increases in July as well as posting positive …
Innovations Attempt to Renew Diminishing Global Water Supply
With the global population continuously rising, and water demand greatly outweighing supply, the global water supply has decreased dramatically. However, water treatment innovations may be a growing field that attempts to combat the world’s water crisis by making fresh water …