Our Insights
Home Prices Decline as Rising Mortgage Rates Pressure Demand
The U.S. housing market is experiencing a significant slowdown after two years of rapid growth.
Putting Context Around Recent Stock Market Volatility
Stock market volatility is rising this year after a relatively calm 2021. Financial markets are experiencing bigger moves up and down as investors navigate a long list of events.
Wage Inflation Puts Additional Pressure on the Federal Reserve
Early inflation pressures were attributed to clogged supply chains and strong demand overwhelming limited supply, but a new source of inflation is gaining attention as supply chains normalize – wage inflation.
Consumers Turn to Credit Cards as Inflation Pressures Finances
After declining during the pandemic, data shows consumer credit usage is rising again and is now back above pre-pandemic levels.
Declining Labor Productivity and Rising Labor Costs
Why is productivity declining? One potential explanation is that pandemic-related themes, such as remote work and inflation, make measuring productivity more difficult and distort the data.
Housing Market Cools as Interest Rate Increases Impact Economy
The ongoing housing market slowdown indicates the Federal Reserve’s interest rate increases are already impacting the economy.
All Eyes Remain on the Fed and Inflation
The Fed is expected to keep raising interest rates at its meetings later this year, although the amount of interest rate increases remains an open question.
Continuing Inflation and What to Expect Moving Forward
In the near term, the outlook for the exact track the market will follow is uncertain because of all these factors that leave the market searching for direction.
Stocks and Bonds Both Decline More Than -10% During 2022
Why are stocks and bonds declining together? The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates and shrinking its balance sheet by selling bonds, which pressures both stock and bond valuations.
US Personal Savings Rate Drops
January 2022’s personal savings rate of 6.1% was the lowest since December 2013.
Expected Market Inflation and Consumer Sentiment
The Fed tightening up is not necessarily an indication that inflation will ease. While this is the idea behind their actions, historically, it is not always the result.
How the Federal Reserve Impacts Your Portfolio and Borrowing Costs
The Federal Reserve’s goal is to raise interest rates to ease inflation pressure, but it could have the added side effect of slower economic growth.
How Geopolitical Events Impact Your Portfolio
Geopolitical risk is rising as tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate in Eastern Europe. Financial markets are watching closely as the situation evolves.
Looking Ahead to 2022 ― Can the S&P 500’s Rally Continue?
2021 is quickly coming to an end, and investors are turning their attention toward 2022. Before the calendar turns, we want to take one last look at 2021.
Household Net Worth Soars During Pandemic
Household net worth soars during pandemic to $31 trillion from Q1 2020 through Q2 2021.