Recession Advice for Small Businesses Presented by Marc Aarons   I wanted to reach out today to see how you’re feeling, given the wave of news about a potential recession and its impact on small businesses like yours.  If you find yourself increasingly concerned, you’re not alone — 93% of small business owners are. The […]

Is the Fed Ready to Pause? Presented by Marc Aarons   Over the years, the Fed has followed a similar pattern with interest rates. It raises interest rates, then pauses, so it can see how the economy is adjusting to the higher rates. So, when will the Fed be ready to pause?  The Federal Open […]

Recession or Growth Scare? Your Guide Provided by Marc Aarons   I’m hearing a lot of mixed messages these days about the economy. Some headlines say we’re already in a recession; some say one is looming. Others hint that we’ll avoid a recession and have a soft landing. It makes you wonder who’s in charge […]

Will the GDP Report Suggest a Recession?   The advanced report on first-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was just released.   Perhaps no other economic report this year will be more scrutinized.   Those looking for economic clues that could signal a recession will undoubtedly dissect the GDP report like a CSI team in a lab. […]

These numbers don’t always represent the full picture. Provided by Marc Aarons  The holiday season is often a quiet, positive time for the financial markets. The phrase “Santa Claus Rally” was coined in the early 1970s to reflect the stock market’s upward bias during the November-January stretch.1 But this year, the markets might face some […]

In recent months, consumer confidence has been falling. Provided by Marc Aarons A confident consumer can be a powerful ally in an economy. But when the consumer starts to have questions, we can measure consumer confidence in everything from retail sales to home buying to the personal savings rate. In recent months, consumer confidence has […]

One lesser-known indicator is called the Baltic Dry Index.  Provided by Marc Aarons  You see it in prices at the grocery store and the gas station. You feel it in your monthly budget. So why don’t the financial markets seem too concerned about inflation? Remember, financial markets are considered “discounting mechanisms,” meaning they are looking […]

In this Q2 recap: U.S. economic growth strong as reopening widens. Europe’s recovery picks up steam; Stocks reach new record highs, face new interest rate and inflation landscape. A review of Q2 2021, Presented by Marc Aarons THE QUARTER IN BRIEF The second quarter began by building on the first-quarter’s gains, with stretches of sideways […]

As inflation climbs, the Fed reacts.  Provided by Marc Aarons  At its June meeting, the Federal Reserve confirmed what many of us have suspected for some time: prices are rising. In fact, prices are climbing faster than many expected. In response, the Fed raised its inflation expectation to 3.4%, up from its March projection of […]

In this Q1 recap: U.S. economic growth gains traction as vaccination rollout picks up speed; Stocks higher, but questions about where they go from here linger. A review of Q1 2021, Presented by Marc Aarons THE QUARTER IN BRIEF The first quarter started on a bumpy note as investors grappled with a slow national vaccination […]