RESEARCH & THOUGHT PIECES FROM OUR TEAM

Americans are set to fork out an extra $11,500 this year if they want to enjoy the same standard of living they maintained in 2020, according to new estimates from NerdWallet. The estimates, published in August, were based on inflation and annual spending data from the...

Background: The Great Resignation

Despite considerable progress in the standard of living for the average working American, labor challenges continue with millions of workers — harboring discontentment with stagnant wages and re-examining work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic...

As inflation remains at the highest level in more than 40 years, millions of Americans are facing financial hardship due to rising consumer prices. According to a survey conducted by Gallup in August, the majority of U.S. adults now say that price increases are causing financial hardship for...

After Thursday's close, FedEx (FDX) announced a sizeable earnings shortfall and withdrew its annual forecast. Its earnings per share for the quarter ending August 31 were $3.44, well below Wall Street consensus. The company's CEO said, "Global volumes declined as macroeconomic trends...

It has been around six months since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. During this time, the world has keenly witnessed seismic shifting trends across economic, geopolitical and cultural lines. But perhaps the most profound impact the conflict has had (and continues to have) on the...

America has been struggling through a crippling housing crisis for much of the last decade. Many may intuitively feel this, but the data is even starker than emotions suggest. Nearly half of all renters, amounting to 20 million households, are burdened by housing costs. 10 million renters are...

Since the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic through today, news about labor shortages and missing workers has dominated headlines. The question everyone still seems to be asking is: Why?

• Mining.com: "Tesla’s Battery Metals Bill Balloons To $100 billion"
• Of Dollars And Data: "Who Holds The...

Uncertainty surrounding the economy and current geopolitical conflicts coupled with a period of extreme partisanship in American politics has shaped the upcoming election into arguably the most important midterms in our nation’s history. Heading into these crucial elections, the Democrats...

Central bankers worry that the recent surge in inflation may represent not a temporary phenomenon but a transition to a new, lasting reality. To counter the impact of a decline in global commerce and persistent shortages of labor, commodities and energy, central bankers might lift interest rates...

Rochester, MI, August 19, 2022 -- Managed Asset Portfolios, LLC (MAP) greatly appreciates our clients who entrust their investments to us. Your online security and financial privacy are very important to us as well. You must be vigilant to safeguard your confidential personal and financial...

For decades, buying property was considered a safe investment in China. Now, instead of building a foundation of wealth for the country’s middle class, real estate has become a source of discontent and anger.

• The New York Times: "If The Job Market Is So Good, Why Is Gig Work Thriving?"
• ...

Recession is often defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction—declining real GDP. The nation’s GDP fell 1.6 percent on an annualized basis in first quarter 2022 and was followed by a 0.9 percent drop in the second quarter.

• Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas: "U.S. Likely...