Economic Commentary

ECONOMY AND POLICY May 29, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. With state economies opening up, activity is expected to pick up the final two months of 2Q20. Real-time indicators show improvement. However, the figures for April are consistent with a sharp contraction in 2Q20, which won’t come close to being offset […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY May 29, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. The stock market rose in the first part of the week, boosted by optimism about the economy. Tensions with China, which the market ignored earlier in the week, appeared to matter more later on. Personal income rose a surprising 10.5% […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY May 22, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that all 50 states experienced a decrease in payrolls and an increase in unemployment in April. Following some weeks of varying degrees of mandated social distancing, all 50 states have now begun to open up […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY May 22, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. The stock market was choppy as investors bounced between hopes for a successful reopening of the economy and fears of a more prolonged slowdown. In his testimony to the Senate Banking Committee, Fed Chair Powell stuck to monetary policy (the […]