Economic Commentary

ECONOMY AND POLICY July 09, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. Next week, inflation returns as a hot topic for investors. The CPI may continue to reflect reopening pressures, but watch the index for used cars (which rose 18.1 in April and May and may partly reverse in June). The […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY July 02, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 850,000 in the initial estimate for June, well above the median forecast of economists (+700,000), but boosted by a seasonal quirk in education (which added 268,000). The unemployment rate ticked up unexpectedly (to 5.9%), but that’s […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY July 02, 2021   Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. The June Employment Report was mixed but strong. Nonfarm payrolls were reported to have risen by 850,000 (vs. a median forecast of 700,000). However, part of that increase was due to a quirk in education. Less hiring during the […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY July 01, 2021   Raymond James Chief Economist Scott Brown breaks down the three functions of money and discusses how currencies have transformed over time. To read the full article, see the Investment Strategy Quarterly publication linked below. Money is the lifeblood of the economy, a key factor in the historical development […]