Monthly Market Update – June 2024
Inflation is finally easing Good news for consumers: the latest data showed inflation is finally easing, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showing a drop in prices for necessities and discretionary items(1). Headline CPI was unchanged in May, marking the tamest reading since mid-2022, while core CPI rose by 0.2%(1). Both measures signal a potential […]
Monthly Market Update – May 2024
Slowing economy and stubborn inflation As analysts assess the health of the economy, the latest jobs reports raise concerns about a potential slowdown. In April, nonfarm payrolls rose by the smallest amount in six months. The unexpected slowdown in job creation was underscored by a rise in the unemployment rate, which ticked up from 3.8% […]
Monthly Market Update – April 2024
Inflation continues The road to a normal inflationary environment looks longer than it did before. The March Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed that headline and core CPI both rose by 0.4% on a monthly basis, exceeding forecasts and marking the third month of 0.4% increase in core CPI(1). The increases in headline and core […]
Monthly Market Update – March 2024
Inflation & consumer spending In February, the US experienced a slight acceleration in inflation, with year-over-year prices growing by 3.2%, a bit more than expected, and marking a modest increase from January’s 3.1% rise(1). The acceleration in monthly prices was largely caused by rising gas and shelter costs, which together accounted for over 60% of […]
Monthly Market Update – February 2024
Labor market, CPI and the Feds The jobs market continues to show remarkable resilience. In January, there were 353,000 new jobs added, the largest increase in one year(1). Wages also grew by 0.6%, giving consumers a boost in their inflation-adjusted spending power. Treasury yields surged immediately following the strong job report, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s […]
Monthly Market Update – November 2023
Inflation slowing In October, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation was flat on a monthly basis, slowing considerably from the 0.4% increase in prices in September(1). The yearly increase of 3.2% was helped by falling gas prices, which fell 5%, though food prices continue to increase. If gas prices continue to fall, then November’s […]
Monthly Market Update – October 2023
Stocks, bonds and inflation September proved challenging for global stocks and bonds, marking the worst month for stocks in a year, with the S&P 500 down by 5%, and the weakest performance for bonds since February. This was spurred by news that the Federal Reserve plans to keep monetary conditions tight for an extended period(1). […]
Monthly Market Update – September 2023
Inflation: Surging energy and gas prices Despite recent optimism about declining inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded its largest monthly increase this year, up 0.6% in August(1). On an annual basis, prices rose 3.7%, compared to 3.2% in July(1). Core inflation, which excludes more volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.3% in August, marking […]
Monthly Market Update – August 2023
The economy, consumer spending and the Feds The economy remained strong in the second quarter, with growth accelerating and GDP rising at a 2.4% annualized rate compared to 2% in the first quarter(1). Consumers continue to propel the economy forward, with consumer spending growing at a 1.6% rate during the quarter (1) and headline retail sales […]
Monthly Market Update – July 2023
Technology Stocks Stocks surged in the first half of the year driven by mega cap technology, or technology-adjacent, stocks. These top stocks have been dubbed the “Magnificent 7” by the media and include Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Tesla. Together, those firms contributed nearly three-fourths of the S&P 500’s gains(1). While headlines are […]
