Fed rate hikes: Cause for pause?
Fed watchers see potential for a pause in rate increases, but recent reports show the economy still runs hot.
Markets and Economy
Nationwide’s Chief of Investment Research and the Nationwide Economics team offer daily and weekly commentary and analysis of the equity and bond markets, including an overview of economic data being released, global market news, commodities and market performance by index returns. These timely insights can help you navigate markets and understand emerging trends.
Podcast: How busy will the travel season be?
Consumers are spending broadly on services this year - which is good news for the travel industry. Nationwide’s Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Senior Economist Ben Ayers provide their outlook on consumer spending, especially in terms of travel and services. • What is the overall state of the consumer? • What's the outlook on summer travel? • How could a busy travel season delay the start of a potential recession?
Spending still too hot and debt-limit negotiations continue: Weekly Economic Review & Outlook
April personal consumption expenditure data showed that inflation picked up as spending activity was very strong — both counter to the Fed’s goal of slower demand and price increases.
Elevated inflation, bank failures in tug-of-war over Fed policy
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 253,000 in April, while the unemployment rate matched a 70-year low of 3.4 percent. The CPI rose 0.4 percent in April as gas prices popped and higher used car prices drove an upward reversal in core goods prices. Real GDP expanded at a meager 1.1 percent annualized pace in the first quarter, as a plunge in business inventories weakened growth.
Risks lurk under stocks’ calm performance
Returns for tech stocks have raised market indexes, but something else is happening beneath the surface.
Consumer spending picked up in April: Weekly Economic Review & Outlook
Last week’s economic data showed a rebound in retail sales, suggesting that consumer activity remains strong amid solid job and wage gains. Also, housing market data, while weak in an absolute sense, has stabilized after last year’s sharp declines and ahead of what could be a bumpy second half of the year for the industry.
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