by Mark Chandik | Jun 22, 2026
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...
by Mark Chandik | Jun 16, 2026
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,...
by Mark Chandik | Jun 8, 2026
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...
by Mark Chandik | Jun 1, 2026
“AI Is Erasing Entry-Level Jobs—and the Training That Comes with Them,” according to a January story from Forbes. That, at least, is the conventional wisdom. But does the conventional wisdom collide with reality? There may be some good news brewing on the job front,...
by Mark Chandik | May 26, 2026
What’s driving bond yields higher? Since the recent low, the 10-year Treasury yield has climbed nearly three-quarters of a percentage point. The 10-year is a key benchmark because many borrowing rates, including mortgage rates, closely track its movements. We’ve also...
