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The new year always brings fresh optimism and questions about how to invest smarter. Markets are shifting, opportunities are emerging, and uncertainty continues to linger. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just getting started, 2026 is shaping up to be a year where balance could make a meaningful difference.

The U.S. housing market has long been a central pillar of the American economy, reflecting household wealth, credit conditions, and demographic trends. Systematic tracking of existing home sales began in the 1960s, when the National Association of Realtors (NAR) started compiling transaction data to better measure housing demand and market

The Producer Price Index (PPI) measures changes in prices received by domestic producers for their goods and services and serves as an important indicator of inflationary pressures in the economy. The U.S. began formally tracking producer prices in the late 19th century, but the modern PPI framework was developed and

Overview Global equity markets soared, led by stable economies, AI enthusiasm, and Fed rate cuts, but active management was challenged The continuation of the AI theme and decisions from Washington (Supreme Court tariff ruling, new Fed Chair) loom large over markets Elevated valuations are a market risk, but keeping focus

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).

The Consumer Price Index was created to measure how changes in prices affect the cost of living for the average American household. At its core, CPI tracks a broad basket of goods and services, from groceries and gasoline to housing, healthcare, and transportation. The goal has always been simple: provide

Worker productivity measures how efficiently labor is used in the economy and is most commonly defined as output per hour worked. In practical terms, it reflects how much value workers generate relative to the time they spend producing goods and services. Productivity growth plays a critical role in economic health

Most long-term investment mistakes are not caused by choosing the wrong investments. They stem from allowing expectations to drift after periods of unusually strong or unusually weak markets. When expectations change, behavior often follows, and behavior is what ultimately determines outcomes. After strong market years, it is easy to assume

The recent developments coming out of Venezuela raised questions about potential implications for the oil industry. While the event is politically meaningful, early market reactions suggest investors see limited near term economic and financial consequences for global markets. One reason is infrastructure. Despite holding some of the largest proven crude

Throughout 2025, Federal Reserve (Fed) policy evolved from a firmly restrictive stance toward a more balanced posture as inflation continued to moderate and growth remained resilient. Policymakers spent much of the year assessing whether disinflation was sufficiently durable to justify a gradual recalibration of rates without reigniting price pressures. Early

The latest U.S. jobs report provided additional insight into a labor market that is beginning to normalize after an extended period of strength. For investors and business leaders, the focus is less on any single data point and more on how broader trends are gradually taking shape across the economy.