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The MNI Chicago Business Barometer printed 62.7 in May 2026, its highest reading in four years and a 13.5-point surge from April’s 49.2, which had marked a return to contraction. The consensus forecast heading into the release was 50.3 to 50.6, making the miss one of the largest in recent
This market update highlights key developments across equities, fixed income, and the broader economic landscape as 2026 continues to unfold. EquitiesMarkets Reached Record Highs, Led by a Powerful Surge in Chip StocksMay was a strong month for stocks, with all three major U.S. indexes closing at record highs. The S&P
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge delivered an expectedly high reading last week. The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index advanced 3.8% in April on an annualized basis, reaching its highest level since August 2023. The causes are not mysterious. The outbreak of the Iran war in late February 2026 disrupted
The BEA released its second estimate of Q1 2026 GDP yesterday, and the headline number came in at 1.6% annualized growth, a downward revision from the 2.0% advance estimate published in April. While that is a meaningful rebound from the sluggish 0.5% pace recorded in Q4 2025, the revision lower
The Federal Reserve finds itself in a difficult policy environment. At its April 2026 meeting, the FOMC voted to hold the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, as policymakers grappled with persistent inflation and an unusually divided committee. The inflation problem has been significantly compounded
At different points in life, major financial events can create both opportunity and uncertainty. Guided by our purpose of helping make people’s lives better, we continue our Life Events series, focusing on an experience many individuals and families encounter at some point: receiving a financial windfall. A financial windfall can
What is happening? The Trump Accounts app goes live this week in the Apple and Google app stores. It was built by Bank of New York Mellon and Robinhood, and it is where families will manage these new investment accounts for their children. If you have already enrolled at TrumpAccounts.gov,
Please find the next blog in our monthly series that provides a snapshot of the markets and the state of the economy. Economic Overview Market Returns Asset Class Valuations – Rebalancing Rationale Key Risk Factors We Are Watching Disclaimers: The views expressed herein are those of Asset Consulting Group (ACG).
At different points in life, major transitions create changes that extend well beyond logistics. Guided by our purpose of helping make people’s lives better, we continue our Life Events series focusing on a transition many individuals and families experience: moving to a new state. A move to a new state
Building permits came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,442,000 in April 2026, rebounding 5.8 percent from a soft March reading of 1,363,000 but landing essentially flat on a year-over-year basis, just 0.2 percent below April 2025. Single-family authorizations declined 2.6 percent from March to 872,000, while multifamily
Artificial intelligence has quickly become part of everyday life. It recommends what we watch, helps draft emails, detects fraud, and increasingly influences financial decisions. As AI continues to evolve, many investors are beginning to ask an important question: can technology replace the role of a financial advisor? Technology is already
The latest data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York puts total U.S. household debt at $18.8 trillion as of Q1 2026, up just 0.1% from the prior quarter. Credit card balances declined by $25 billion to $1.25 trillion, a move consistent with the seasonal pullback that typically follows
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