Energy, metals and technology inputs are putting pressure on production costs, even as several finished consumer-goods categories show much milder price increases. The divergence matters for inflation, corporate margins, investment and household purchasing power. The official September picture: inflation pressure extends beyond fuel Import prices help answer two … [Read more...] about Import Prices: The Cost Squeeze Behind America’s Inflation and Growth Outlook
tariffs
U.S. Industrial Production: Tech Capacity Expands as Consumer Output Weakens
August 2026 industrial production reveals a sharp divide: consumer-facing output and automotive products are weak, while computer and electronic products continue to grow and the capacity to make them is expanding. That contrast matters beyond the next trading session. It points to where the U.S. industrial system is allocating productive resources, even as the wider economy … [Read more...] about U.S. Industrial Production: Tech Capacity Expands as Consumer Output Weakens
US Import Prices and Tariffs: Inflation, Capital Goods and Global Trade
Rising US import prices are putting pressure on business costs across global supply chains. August 2026 data draw attention to nonfuel imports, industrial materials and capital goods, while terms-of-trade comparisons reveal different patterns across Canada, the European Union, Germany, Japan, Latin America, Mexico and China. This analysis examines how supplier prices and … [Read more...] about US Import Prices and Tariffs: Inflation, Capital Goods and Global Trade
This Week’s Market Reckoning: Earnings, AI Spending and $100 Oil — Damp Squib or Lull Before the Storm?
Big Tech earnings collided with surging oil prices, rising Treasury yields and renewed geopolitical risk. The result was not a quiet midsummer earnings week, but an important test of what investors are still prepared to pay for growth. Market Summary: The Earnings Bar Has Moved Higher The week ending July 24, 2026 began with investors waiting for major technology earnings … [Read more...] about This Week’s Market Reckoning: Earnings, AI Spending and $100 Oil — Damp Squib or Lull Before the Storm?
30-Year Treasury Yield at 5.13%: 2007 Echoes, Fed Risk Imminent Crash or a New Economic Era?
Market analysis as of July 22, 2026 — 30-Year Treasury Yield at 5.13%: Does This Foretell an Imminent Crash Like 2008—or Signal a New Economic Era? The US 30-year Treasury yield has returned to approximately 5.13%, a level associated with the period immediately preceding the 2007–2008 financial crisis. At the same time, the 13-week Treasury bill yield is approximately 3.73%, … [Read more...] about 30-Year Treasury Yield at 5.13%: 2007 Echoes, Fed Risk Imminent Crash or a New Economic Era?
AI Earnings vs. Oil, Tariffs and the Fed: The Market Catalysts Traders Must Watch
Market outlook for July 21, 2026: The AI and semiconductor trade remains the principal force behind the Nasdaq and S&P 500, but Middle East energy risk, tariffs and rising bond yields are setting the limits. The next two weeks contain enough earnings, economic data and central-bank decisions to determine whether the recent chip sell-off becomes a broader correction, a … [Read more...] about AI Earnings vs. Oil, Tariffs and the Fed: The Market Catalysts Traders Must Watch
How Have Tariffs Worked So Far?
A year-to-date assessment — and why tariffs helped the Treasury but as yet not the system If you look at the year-to-date (YTD) data, the message is fairly clear: higher tariffs have not worked so far. However, the reason is not just the outcome, but the structure and timing of the data itself. … [Read more...] about How Have Tariffs Worked So Far?
CPI Expectations: No Influence on September 25bp Cut
The 25bp cut for September is already effective, and today's CPI data will not alter this decision. Markets are already anticipating an additional 25bp cut, with expectations extending beyond September. 1. Positive Aspects 1A. Shelter – Mortgage Rates Drop Mortgage rates fell sharply in August, easing financial conditions for households: … [Read more...] about CPI Expectations: No Influence on September 25bp Cut
Front-Loaded Imports Keep Near-Term Inflation in Check — Trade-Balance Deep-Dive (June 2025)
Front-Loaded Imports Keep Near-Term Inflation in Check — Trade-Balance Deep-Dive (June 2025) The latest U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report (June 2025) explains why producer prices are still tame, despite a fast-approaching tariff wall, and why the Federal Reserve remains in wait-and-see mode. 1 | Trade-Balance Snapshot … [Read more...] about Front-Loaded Imports Keep Near-Term Inflation in Check — Trade-Balance Deep-Dive (June 2025)
Tariff Tensions and Fiscal Uncertainty Cloud US-EU Relations and trade deal
Uncertainty Cloud US-EU Relations over trade deals As of July 29, 2025, monetary policy watchers and market participants face a hazy horizon. Tariff uncertainty, a fragile US-EU trade framework, and unresolved issues around taxation of big tech add to the noise ahead of the next Personal Income and Spending report. Upcoming Report: Personal Income and Spending The … [Read more...] about Tariff Tensions and Fiscal Uncertainty Cloud US-EU Relations and trade deal
fear and loathing in the us markets
Fear, Loathing, and Tariff Rodeos—How Institutional Investors Are Navigating 2025’s U.S. Market Cross-Currents “Buy the upside, rent the downside.” That mantra captures the uneasy mix of bullish positioning and tail-risk hedging that dominates today’s tape. 1 Where Today’s “Fear & Loathing” Shows Up 1.1 The Fear Tail-Risk Hedges Stay Busy. Index-put skew and … [Read more...] about fear and loathing in the us markets