RESEARCH & THOUGHT PIECES FROM OUR TEAM

 The Mississippi River is flowing at its lowest level in at least a decade, and until rain relieves a worsening drought in the region, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain water levels high enough to carry critical exports from the nation’s bread basket.

The Washington Post: "Mississipp...

After an unexpectedly hawkish Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points for the third consecutive time last week, all eyes were on markets and the economy. Few, however, paid attention to the effect persistent inflation and higher interest rates will have on Uncle Sam...

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The Inflation Monster Rears Its Ugly Head

Stubbornly high inflation has forced the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to become aggressive on the interest rate front, raising rates five times in 2022. These higher interest rates created a hostile environment for most asset classes. Stocks, bonds, most commo...

Watch a recording of our latest Webinar hosted by MAP’s President & Chief Investment Officer, Michael Dzialo and MAP's Senior Portfolio Manager, Karen Culver, where we share our thoughts and insights on the markets and the economy.

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 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic...

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 — deciding to...

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 their h...

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 significantly w...

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 wor...

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 severe...

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 Student ...

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 currently ...