Economic Commentary

ECONOMY AND POLICY October 08, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. Financial market participants were relieved as Washington lawmakers agreed to waive the debt ceiling until December. The September Employment Report was mixed. Nonfarm payrolls rose by a “disappointing” 194,000, but the delta variant was likely a restraint, the August […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY October 06, 2021   While unlikely to occur, a default on U.S. debt would have serious impacts for global financial markets. Learn more. Lawmakers in Washington set government spending and revenue plans, usually producing a shortfall that many of us know as the federal budget deficit. The debt ceiling limits the amount of borrowing […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY October 01, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. Equities oscillated on several factors, including worries about China and developments in Washington. Lawmakers reached an agreement to avoid a government shutdown for the time being, extending borrowing authority through December 3. There was no agreement on infrastructure spending […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY October 01, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. The monthly report on personal income and spending generally doesn’t get a lot of attention from financial market participants. The employment report, released weeks earlier, gives us a good idea of income. The retail sales report points the way on […]