Bryan

Happy February! As we enter mid-winter, the U.S. economy is showing resilience even as it slows its pace of growth. In 2021, the U.S. GDP grew at a rate of 5.7 percent; in 2022, at a rate of 1.0 percent; and in 2023, we expect 0.7 percent. Given the U.S. population grows at roughly 1 […]

Since last October, the cost of a dozen eggs has nearly doubled to $2.94, a pound of coffee has shot up $1.50, chicken breasts cost an additional $1 per pound, and a ½ gallon of ice cream is up 75 cents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the inflation rate is 8.3

Happy Fall! It’s sometimes difficult to know who’s more happy about school resuming, parents or kids? With the Federal Reserve’s newfound determination to reduce inflation and the expectation of future inflation, it’s now hard to figure out who’s happy with higher interest rates, rising unemployment, and slower growth. And yet, that is precisely what we

Happy August! With the latest release of the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI), it appears we have reached a peak in inflation. The inflation index increased 8.5 percent in July, down from the 9.1 percent annualized increase in June. While this is far from the Federal Reserve’s target of 2 percent, it is in the

Happy July! The first six months of 2022 have proven eventful with the U.S. Federal Reserve beginning the end of low interest rates and quantitative easing (bond buying), the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, and inflation at levels last seen in 1979-80. This has caused significant volatility in the market, especially in the

Happy summer! June is upon us and many issues remain unresolved, including Federal Reserve tightening, inflation, and the war in Ukraine, but consumers remain resilient and the recent earnings season has come and gone with inconclusive evidence of an immediate downturn. Instead, unemployment remains low, balance sheets strong, and more evidence is needed to know

‘April Showers Bring May Flowers’ is a common phrase and may be appropriate to describe the spring of 2022. The world has shed many tears watching the Russian invasion of Ukraine and markets have certainly taken a swoon with higher inflation and slowing growth. And there is the risk the Federal Reserve could tip the

Happy spring! As winter ends, we have more than our fair share of worries from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inflation at home, and ongoing concerns about health, including COVID, delayed health care procedures, and mental health. But we also have the resiliency of the American spirit, both the ‘can do’ spirit and the ability to

March is upon us in a very different way this year with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Markets are already correcting for massive government spending, restrictions on U.S. energy supplies, and inflation of 7.5 percent. Ukrainian citizens are caught in the cross hairs as Europe sends defensive weapons to Ukraine to defend themselves from an