Insights | Blog
Largest Fed Rate Hike in 16 Years
Following a streak of 10 rate hikes, with the most recent quarter-point hike marking the largest in 16 years, the Fed has alluded to a pause in interest rates. Spencer Wineman explains how this signal from the Fed comes after… Continue Reading
Alarming Credit Card Data Threatens US Economy
Consumption spending accounts for about 70% of the U.S. economy. And while consumption spending is good for the economy, rising credit card debt balances are not. The average credit card debt carried by the U.S. consumer increased 13% over the… Continue Reading
Consumer Confidence is Misleading
The consumer confidence index is an index that measures the sentiments of U.S. consumers toward jobs and the economy. In September, this index rose, in part, from falling gas prices. The rise in the consumer confidence index suggests that consumers… Continue Reading
Forefront Friday – Don’t Skip The Intership
Hi, I’m Matt Gutowsky. I will be graduating ahead of my class this upcoming Fall from Michigan State University with a specialty in Finance and a minor in Insurance and Risk Management. Today was my final day serving as a… Continue Reading
Forefront Friday – Housing Market
The latest reports indicate that the U.S. housing market is starting to cool off as record prices and rising mortgage rates continue to deter what would be potential buyers. In June, the median sales price of an existing home climbed… Continue Reading
U.S. Inflation Continuing to Rise
U.S. inflation increased to 8.5% in March from its previous level over the past twelve months, which is the highest it has been in four decades. The rise in prices was primarily driven by increases in energy and food costs,… Continue Reading
Forefront Friday – Inflation and Interest Rates
Inflation rose to a 7.9% annual rate in February. It’s the highest it’s been in 40 years. Higher prices for energy, groceries and eating out at restaurants helped push up that inflationary reading. Economists also expect further price increases associated… Continue Reading
Forefront Friday – Cryptocurrency
Today’s forefront topic is on cryptocurrency and its growing acceptance in the market and more specifically, in investors’ portfolios. With rising inflation and a most recent high inflation percentage of 7.5 in January, Americans may be concerned and are seeing… Continue Reading