Education, Articles and Videos
Please choose any of the following articles below that interest you. Each article is listed under the month it was written. Articles written in prior months may still have educational interest.
Unemployment Ticks Up Ever So Slightly – Labor Market Overview
The Department of Labor tracks and compiles data on U.S. workers and employment trends. Identifying what portion of the working population is not employed is...
Consumers Still Spending Amid Inflation – Consumer Behavior
Consumer sentiment and spending have remained fairly consistent in recent months, as noted by the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE). Despite a dip in...
IRS Waives Penalties For Missed Inherited RMDs – Tax Planning
The IRS has recently extended relief for certain heirs regarding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from inherited IRAs. The penalties for missed RMDs from inherited IRAs...
Rates Hold Steady Yet Still Too High For Consumers – Fixed Income Update
Rates held steady in May as the Fed’s indecisiveness stirred confusion in the bond markets. The yield on the benchmark 10 year Treasury bond ended...
Fed’s Beige Book Report Sheds Light On Direction of Economy – Domestic Economy
The Beige Book is a report published by the Federal Reserve System that provides information about current economic conditions across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts...
Stocks Perform In May – Equity Overview
Stocks eluded an age old adage to “sell in May and go away”, as equity indices outperformed for the month. Domestic equities defied uncertainty created...
Delinquency Rates Increasing Among Consumer Loans – Consumer Debt
Consumer loan balances are increasing due to a combination of factors, including rising interest rates, inflation, and changes in consumer behavior. As the Federal Reserve...
Macro Economic Overview – June 2024
Mixed data sent equity and bond markets into uncertainty, as economic expansion appears to be cooling, yet inflation remains a burden for consumers nationwide. The...
Market Indexes/ June 2024
(all values as of 05.31.2024) Stock Indexes: Dow Jones 38,686 S&P 500 5,277 Nasdaq 16,735 Bond Sector Yields: 2 Yr Treasury 4.89% 10 Yr Treasury...
It’s The Wealth Effect That Keeps Everyone Spending – Consumer Economics
Even as inflation and higher rates have been an ongoing hinderance, consumers remain resilient and continue to spend. The reasoning behind the confidence and tenacity...