Economic Commentary

January 15, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. For stock market participants, weak economic data has often been taken as a positive, since that implies more fiscal stimulus. However, investors have grown more concerned about possible stumbling blocks. Democratic majorities in the House and Senate are very narrow, some lawmakers are […]

January 8, 2021 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. Covid, covid, covid, politics, politics, politics. The new year has yet to show much of a break from 2020. The December Employment Report reflected an impact from the pandemic surge and further job losses in state and local government, but wasn’t bad otherwise. Democratic […]

January 8, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. Democrats won the two runoff elections in Georgia, gaining control of the Senate (Vice President-elect Harris will have the tie-breaking vote). There was an insurrection on Capitol Hill as lawmakers were in the process of ratifying the November election results. The stock market […]

December 29, 2020 Raymond James Chief Economist Dr. Scott Brown reflects on the trials and tribulations of 2020 and discusses his outlook for the new year. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on economic activity in 2020, and we should see a rebound from those effects in 2021. The major hit to the economy […]