A Muddy Jobs Report

A Muddy Jobs Report

The recent pickup in job growth is welcome news for job seekers. But June’s jobs report left more questions than answers. Here’s why. Nonfarm payrolls rose by a smaller-than-expected 57,000 in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In...
1776 to Today: Reflections on the Fourth of July

1776 to Today: Reflections on the Fourth of July

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding—a milestone known as the Semiquincentennial—the Declaration of Independence remains as important as ever. The treasured document declared the 13 colonies’ independence from Great Britain. It...
There’s a New Sheriff in Town

There’s a New Sheriff in Town

The Federal Reserve surprised no one by holding its key rate, the fed funds rate, at 3.50–3.75%. But given the Fed’s full-throated rhetorical assault on inflation under newly installed Kevin Warsh, who took the helm from Jay Powell after his term expired, a surprise...
There’s a New Sheriff in Town

The Latest on Inflation

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provided investors with a modest sense of relief when it was released last Wednesday. According to the BLS, headline CPI rose 0.5% in May and is up 4.2% compared to a year ago,...
Hiring Ramps Up

Hiring Ramps Up

Well, that was a pleasant surprise. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, more than double the 80,000 economists had expected, according to a Wall Street Journal survey. On top of that, the most recent readings...