Economic Commentary

ECONOMY AND POLICY September 24, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. There were no major surprises from the Fed policy meeting. The Federal Open Market Committee signaled that tapering would likely be announced in November, while Chair Powell indicated that it would likely come to an end around the middle of […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY September 24, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. There were no major surprises from the Fed policy meeting. Bond yields moved higher, but the mood among stock market participants seemed to brighten relative to the previous week. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) left short-term interest rates […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY September 17, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. Following the strong performance in the first half of the year, economic growth was bound to moderate in the second half. Growth is still expected to be strong by historical standards. Yet, it may be disappointing for some investors. Team […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY September 17, 2021   In a win (but not a complete victory) for “team transitory,” the Consumer Price Index rose less than expected in August (+0.3%, up just 0.1% excluding food and energy). Areas that were running hot a few months ago (used cars, vehicle rentals, car insurance, airfares) retreated. The report […]