Regulators Cut Reserve Requirements, Unlocking $175 Billion for U.S. Banks
The Federal Reserve, FDIC and OCC voted on March 19 to overhaul reserve‑requirement rules for the nation’s largest banks, cutting capital buffers by up to 7.8%. The change releases roughly $175 billion of excess equity, paving the way for more aggressive lending and larger buyback programs.
Mortgage Applications Up YoY, Weekly Demand Drops
#Mortgage purchase application data remains positive year over year, but weekly demand declined last week. @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #realestate #economics #mortgagerstes #chartdaddy
War Dashes Spring Home Hopes For American Renters
The escalating war with Iran is hitting the U.S. rental market just as spring home‑buying optimism waned. Higher energy prices and supply‑chain disruptions are pushing landlords to raise rents, while prospective buyers face tighter credit and lingering mortgage‑rate uncertainty. The...
All Central Banks Share the Same Inflation Blunder
Powell's Inflation Excuse – It's All BS! Powell: "Inflation was global so you can't blame us." Me: That's BS. Every central bank made the same mistake – cutting rates, printing money, flooding economies. That doesn't excuse the Fed. It proves they ALL...
Easing Capital, Reviving Risk: The Quiet Return of Too Big to Fail
The U.S. regulator’s latest proposal to ease capital adequacy rules for the nation’s largest banks marks a reversal of post‑2008 reforms aimed at curbing systemic risk. Critics argue the move weakens loss‑absorbing buffers, reviving the “too‑big‑to‑fail” dynamic that forces taxpayers...
Gallup Survey Shows U.S. Worker Optimism Plummets to 28% Amid Hiring Slowdown
Gallup's latest quarterly survey reveals that just 28% of American workers think now is a good time to find a quality job, a 42‑point plunge from mid‑2022. The shift comes despite low unemployment, highlighting a growing disconnect between headline labor...
The Bright Spot in the Family Budget
Since 2017, most household expenses have surged—groceries up 32%, electricity 45%, car insurance nearly doubled—yet wireless services have become cheaper. The BLS wireless telephone services index fell 10.4% from 51.7 in Q1 2017 to 46.3 in Q3 2025, delivering faster data and...
WEEKLY WEBCAST: From Powell To Warsh
The webcast examines Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and his likely dovish stance under presidential pressure. It models three possible durations of the Iran conflict to gauge their impact on monetary policy under Warsh...
US February Import Price Index +1.3% vs +0.5% Expected
The U.S. import price index jumped 1.3% month‑over‑month in February, the strongest gain since March 2022, driven by a 3.8% rise in fuel imports and a 1.1% increase in non‑fuel goods. Capital goods such as computers and industrial machinery posted...
Education and Health Drive Over 100% Private‑Sector Job Growth
The education and health services sector has accounted for 109% of private-sector job creation since January 2025. via ADP
Recession Risks Rising, Says Economist Mark Zandi
“I’m concerned recession risks are uncomfortably high and on the rise,” said @Markzandi “Recession is a real threat here.” https://t.co/rhvcxMLgtd
Walmart Flags Shift to Higher‑income Shoppers as Low‑income Wallets Stay Squeezed
Walmart said its Q4 2026 earnings showed a surge in shoppers earning over $100,000 – now 17% of that group shop there, up from under 15% in 2021 – while households below $50,000 remain squeezed. The mix shift could reshape...
US Current Account Deficit Halves From Q1 to Q4 2025
Wild swings in the US quarterly current account deficit over the course of 2025 -- from close to 6 pp of GDP in q1 to well under 3% of GDP in q4 ... 1/ https://t.co/2EuT5nM3jZ
5-Year UST Auction Likely Tough After Poor 2-Year
UST 5y auction will be interesting after a nasty 2y yesterday. Some news cross-currents may have affected clean bidding for 2s which should be a factor for 5s today as well. Also more of a concession would be...
Morgan Stanley Warns Hawkish Fed Outlook Is Biggest Market Risk, Upending Rate‑cut Consensus
Morgan Stanley issued a stark research note warning that a hawkish Federal Reserve, rather than economic weakness, now poses the greatest risk to markets. The bank says investors are underestimating the Fed's inflation‑first stance after the March 18 FOMC held...
10-Year Yield Near Critical Triangle Breakout Threatening Markets
While the 10-year yield broke out of a short term range, the weekly chart below still shows bonds holding within a long triangle (in place since 2022). If it breaks, it will be a problem not only for bonds but...
Yield Spike Near 4.5% Signals Market Trouble
Long yields broke out last week and finished the week at 4.39%. As I have written many times, nothing good happens above 4.5% when the risk-free rate is competitive with risky assets, as is now the case. https://t.co/mq0q2S2nBU
Inflation Remains Steady for Now
UK inflation held steady in February 2026, with the consumer price index unchanged at 3% and CPIH at 3.2%, while the retail price index slipped to 3.6%. The ongoing US‑Israeli war with Iran has sparked an energy crisis deemed worse...
Past Recession Fears Failed; Markets Still Rising
The last time there was notable chatter about America entering a recession...it didn't happen...markets kept its steady climb... Will it be the same this time around? Vote here & we'll go through the poll results at the top of today's show...
Factory Construction Falls 15% Despite Trump's $18T Promise
Factory construction was down 15% over the last year, even before adjusting for inflation https://t.co/YNFjjiLWfV Reality hasn't heard about Trump's $18 trillion in investment coming into the country. Trump always says, "no one has seen anything like it," which is...
Goldman Sachs Lifts US Recession Odds to 30% as Oil Shock Fuels Risk
Goldman Sachs raised its forecast for a U.S. recession in 2026 to a 30% probability, up from 25%, citing a confluence of geopolitical tension, higher oil prices and waning fiscal support. The revised outlook is prompting corporations to tighten budgets...
Fed Cuts Fail to Curb
the @federalreserve has cut interest rates six times since Sep '244 and U.S. 10-year yields $TNX have risen from 3.7% to 4.4% since that cutting program began... https://t.co/EQHFpoQsIC
US Import Prices Surge to Four‑Year High
"US Import Prices Jump by Most in Nearly Four Years Ahead of Iran War" "Excluding petroleum, import costs advanced 1.2%, the most since January 2022 and driven by higher prices for capital goods and consumer merchandise excluding automobiles." https://t.co/0glmjMPmLR
U.S. Treasury Two‑Year Note Auction Draws $69 Bn with Weak 2.44 Bid‑to‑Cover Ratio
The U.S. Treasury auctioned $69 bn of two‑year notes on March 24, posting a high yield of 3.936% and a bid‑to‑cover ratio of 2.44, well under the ten‑auction average of 2.62. The soft demand underscores growing investor caution amid rising yields...
Fed Already Equipped to Navigate Supply Shocks
The Fed Already Has What it Needs to Navigate Supply Shocks--my latest newsletter with cameo appearance by @amacker and awesome Don Kohn link from @darioperkins. https://t.co/ihDcQmi2WI https://t.co/jbXalR3zRA
2‑Year Treasury Yield Jumps To
The March 2026 US Treasury 2-year yield hit 3.93%, up sharply from 3.45% last month. This is the highest yield since May 2025. TRUMP’S TARIFF WAR AND WAR ON IRAN ARE RATTLING BOND MARKETS. https://t.co/TfJWZRALwu
U.S. Treasury Takes Control of Federal Student Loan Portfolio From Education Department
The U.S. Treasury Department has assumed responsibility for the federal student loan portfolio previously managed by the Education Department, signaling a sweeping policy change. The move, announced on March 24, 2026, could reshape financing for higher‑education and workforce‑training programs and...
US Q4 Productivity Slumps, AI Hype Stalls
This morning, the US BLS released nonfarm productivity data for Q4 2025. Q4 2025 growth was revised down to 1.8%, from 2.8%, and well below the 5.2% surge in Q3. FULL-YEAR PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH SLOWED TO 2.1% IN 2025, DOWN FROM 3.0% IN...
U.S. Pushes for Strategic Mineral Reserve Amid Geopolitical Tensions
U.S. policymakers are urging the creation of a strategic reserve for critical minerals used in weapons, electric vehicles and electronics, but details of the plan were not disclosed. The move comes as Middle‑East conflict spikes oil prices and fuels concerns...
Interview with Erika McEntarfer: Firings and Federal Statistics
Erika McEntarfer, former Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was abruptly dismissed by President Trump on August 1, 2025. She recounts a chaotic termination day and a prior encounter with the Department of Government Efficiency, which proposed replacing statisticians with...
Treasury Yields Return to Trump Era, Signaling Market Anxiety
10Y treasury back to where it was at Trumps inauguration. Its increased almost 0.5% since the Iran war started in a sign that the market worries do the long term effects of Trump’s chaotic presidency. That makes mortgages more expensive. 1Y...
America’s War, America’s Recession
The United States’ decision to go to war in Iran is poised to unleash a sharp energy and food‑price shock, compounding existing inflationary pressures. Disruptions to Middle‑East oil flows could lift gasoline and heating costs, while import‑tariff policies already stoke...
FCC Blocks Imports of Foreign‑Made Consumer Routers, Shaking US Tech Supply Chain
The Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on importing foreign‑made consumer wireless routers, citing national‑security concerns. The move threatens to upend the U.S. consumer‑electronics supply chain, prompting industry alarm and debate over the agency’s authority.
War‑Driven Fed Outlook Ends Rate‑Cut Expectations
Despite investors’ previous hopes for rate cuts, Trump’s war has worsened the Fed outlook — with markets now not expecting further cuts this year (or next). My @morningjoe Chart
S&P Nears Selling Climax Amid Deep Valuation Drop
In the table below, we see that the drawdown in the S&P 500 has now reached 7.6%, with breadth reaching moderately oversold levels. That drawdown masks a far bigger decline in valuations, with the trailing P/E down 20%. The MSCI EAFE and...
February 2026 Erdmann Housing Tracker Update
Core CPI excluding shelter has hovered near a 2% annual rate for almost four years, while rent inflation is finally showing signs of moderation. The article argues that continued new home construction is essential to keep rent growth in check....
Low Unemployment, High Costs: Economy Feels Anything But Strong
They keep saying “low unemployment” and “inflation is under control” Meanwhile eggs are still $7, rent just jumped another $300, and my friends are getting ghosted on 200+ job apps. How is this a “strong economy” when my grocery bill feels like...
War Triggers Swing From Expected Cuts to Near‑zero Hikes
The day the war started (Feb 28), Fed fund futures were pricing in 2.5 rate Fed CUTS for 2026. Now they are pricing in 0.2 of a Fed rate HIKE for the rest of the year. https://t.co/kZikoSqzqz
Oil Prices Surge to $98 a Barrel as US Delays Iran Strikes, Stoking Inflation Fears
Benchmark Brent crude rose over 2% to $98.25 a barrel and WTI jumped 3.4% to $91.09 after President Donald Trump delayed planned strikes on Iran. The rally revives concerns that higher energy costs could lift U.S. inflation and pressure the...
Treasury Declares U.S. Insolvent; Media Turns Blind Eye
the writing has been on the wall... but still most will continue to scoff it off and kick the can down the road, as the politicians similarly do... The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it https://t.co/6xs6EPNFXr
Rising Diesel Prices Threaten New Inflationary Spiral
$5+ Diesel Could Unleash Inflationary Mindset the Fed Better Not “Look Through.” Inflation Was already Hot before Iran War. When this inflationary mindset takes off, inflation becomes like a runaway train https://t.co/51qim5kPk6 https://t.co/cBfjwNFSno
Redbook Sales Jump 6.7% YoY, Spending Remains Strong
Redbook retail sales ... no sign of consumer spending stress yet +6.7% YoY WE March 21 https://t.co/8GFoXUdydC
Entry-Level Legal Jobs Slightly Above Trend, Finance Below
So far, entry-level share of employment in legal, financial, & office admin occupations doesn't look functionally different from pre-2023 trends (the population is aging so important to benchmark). A bit above trend for legal, a bit below for finance, in...
US Money Supply Jumps 5%—Largest Rise Since 2022
The US Money Supply grew 5% over the last year, the biggest YoY increase since June 2022. After a brief hiatus, money printing is back. https://t.co/bnnPEsB9x6
Service Input Costs Hit May High; Manufacturers at Seven‑month Peak
"Input prices for services rose to the highest since May, while those for manufacturers jumped to a seven-month high." https://t.co/NMR6KvBOzE https://t.co/DhoJ1m76qO
2‑Year Treasury Auction Weakest Since May 2024
“Today’s 2 yr auction was terrible:” @pboockvar The bid-to-cover ratio was the weakest since May 2024 and dealers got stuck with the largest amount since October 2022. Traders are having a hard time pricing Fed policy as oil prices swing...
New Book Offers Fresh Insight on Inflation Expectations
Perfect timing for a new book on inflation expectations. https://t.co/CpPzlHzxxf by Olivier Coibion and Yuriy Gorodnichenko https://t.co/Cy5qOH9CED
Rising Gas Prices Hurt 55% of Americans, Undermining Trump
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 55% of Americans report that rising gas prices have negatively impacted their finances. AFFORDABILITY = TRUMP'S ACHILLES HEEL. https://t.co/kJMYHDcmB6
IWM Stress Test Shows Economy May Not Be Fine
Small caps aren’t ‘early cycle’. $IWM is a stress test. If it can’t lead, the economy isn’t as fine as the index level suggests. https://t.co/Cwur5o8DPZ
Supply Pressure Keeps Rates Elevated Amid Fed Pause
UST and IG supply will be an added headwind for rates this week. The whole curve is trading above the Fed's overnight target range as rate cuts go on pause for now and hedging for a near term rate increase...