U.S. dollar's strength is mostly bad news for countries and companies around the world

Sep 6, 2023
Central banks have a couple of tools they can use to push back, including interest rate hikes and selling U.S. dollars..
The U.S. dollar spent August surging against Asian currencies.
Behrouz Mehri/AFP via Getty Images

Despite rising interest rates, consumers increased their spending in July

Aug 31, 2023
But what they're spending their money on is shifting.
Despite climbing interest rates, consumers spent .9% more on goods in July than in June.
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Will we get less gloom and doom from Jay Powell at Jackson Hole?

Aug 17, 2023
In 2022, Powell warned of painful moves to get inflation under control.
At last year's 
Jackson Hole Symposium, Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of the pain that rising interest rates will cause.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. equity investors think stocks are too expensive, survey finds

Aug 16, 2023
S&P Global’s investment manager index survey says most sectors are losing favor with investors. What's going on?
Climbing interest rates are pushing investors away from stocks and into bonds, per Gary Schlossberg with the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.
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Why the Fed could eventually cut interest rates again

Aug 15, 2023
Goldman Sachs economists predict rate reductions next year based on declining inflation, which would make high rates unnecessary.
The Federal Reserve has been raising the federal funds rate to bring down inflation. If inflation declines further, high rates might be unnecessary.
Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images

High interest rates are risky business

Jul 26, 2023
Higher interest rates hit businesses in multiple ways. The longer rates remain elevated, the harder it gets.
Corporate borrowers' interest payments have jumped, says Nick Kraemer at S&P Global Ratings.
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Federal Reserve raises key rate for 11th time by a quarter-point, to highest level since 2001

Jul 26, 2023
The move lifted the Fed’s benchmark short-term rate from roughly 5.1% to 5.3% — its highest level in 22 years.
For the Federal Reserve, the drop in inflation from roughly 9% to 3% was the relatively easy part, some analysts say. Getting it down to the Fed’s 2% target will be harder and take longer.
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For public good, not for profit.

It's not just the Fed. Central banks around the world are meeting this week.

Jul 24, 2023
The European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and others will also weigh rate hikes. The world will be watching for hints of policy changes.
Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank.
Daniel Roland/AFP via Getty Images

Summer foot traffic has been “kinda funky" Michigan retailer says

Jul 19, 2023
Annie Lang Hartman, owner of stationery and gift store Wild Lettie, is hoping for a steadier flow of shoppers through the busy season.
Wild Lettie via Facebook

Homebuilders are feeling a bit more confident

Jul 18, 2023
Builders find there's high demand for new developments, but they're also finding it harder to convince banks to loan them money.
Despite increased confidence, homebuilders still face a number of challenges. One of those challenges is getting a loan.
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