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The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 0.8 points in September to 97.9, one tenth of a point below the 52 year average of 98.0, according to the report released this morning. That modest decline carries symbolic weight, because it ends a summer run that saw the index jump to

Consumer prices rose 0.6% in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, following a 0.4% gain in August. On a year over year basis, headline CPI climbed to 3.7% from 3.4%. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3% for a second straight month and increased to 2.6%

The major U.S. stock indexes are near record territory, but the typical stock has been telling a less enthusiastic story. This gap between the headline index and the experience of most stocks is called market breadth, and it is one of the most important market signals for investors to understand

Third quarter earnings season is underway, and the setup is unusually strong. As of October 2, FactSet estimated that S&P 500 earnings would grow 29.5% from a year earlier, up from the 26.7% estimate on June 30. If that holds, it would mark the third straight quarter of growth above

The U.S. trade deficit ballooned to $77.6 billion in May, up 42 percent month over month from April’s $54.6 billion and marking the widest gap since March 2025. This is the highest monthly deficit in over a year, driven by a potent combination of surging imports and retreating exports. Imports

This market update highlights key developments across equities, fixed income, and the broader economic landscape. Equities – A Flat Headline with Wide Gaps Underneath The S&P 500 returned -0.35% in September. That small number hides a wide split. Technology was the only sector to gain, rising about 5% on continued

Concluding our Plan for Retirement series, we explain why the most valuable retirement plan is one that continues to evolve. Over the course of this series, we have explored the decisions that shape a confident retirement: defining what you want this next chapter to look like, building a cash flow

Four Federal Reserve officials spoke on Tuesday, and each was working from the same backdrop: the September hike that lifted the overnight target range by a quarter point to between 3.75% and 4%. Governor Michael Barr told the Detroit Economic Club that he does not yet see a clear trend

August’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, showed inflation running cooler than expected even as consumers kept spending. Headline PCE rose 3.4% from a year ago, and core PCE, which excludes food and energy, rose 3.0%. Both came in below forecasts, helped by the Bureau