Economic Outlook - Consumer spending shows resilience, but hides significant disparities between income groups [2][3] - Real consumer spending is growing at approximately 2% [3] - Spending by the bottom 80% of the income distribution has barely kept pace with inflation since the pandemic [4] - All spending growth is concentrated in the top 20% of income earners [5] Affordability Crisis - An affordability crisis is driven by higher prices for essential goods and services [6] - Acceleration in inflation and weakening job market since the beginning of the year exacerbate the crisis [7] Policy Impact - Tariffs and immigration policies contribute to the current economic challenges [7] - Rolling back tariffs on everyday items is a potential policy response [8] - Without policy changes at the beginning of the year, inflation was projected to return to the Federal Reserve's target by year-end [10] Potential Solutions - Cutting back on tariffs and rethinking immigration policy are the quickest ways to restore affordability [11] - Addressing issues in housing, healthcare, education, childcare, and eldercare are important but take longer to implement [12]

RT Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph)🎧 LISTEN: Journalist and Bitcoin educator @natbrunell says the real fear isn’t BTC's price plunging, it’s the system we’re all stuck in.The latest Byte-Sized Insight episode breaks down inflation, scarcity, and why Bitcoin is still a human-rights technology with Cointelegraph US news reporter @VinceQuill. ...

Core Insights - President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new Federal Reserve Chair before Christmas, as Jerome Powell's term expires in May [1][6] - Trump aims to appoint a candidate who is willing to lower the federal funds rate, indicating a shift in monetary policy direction [2][3] Candidate Considerations - Five candidates are under consideration for the Fed Chair position: Fed Governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and BlackRock director Rick Rieder [2][6] - Trump's previous criticisms of Powell include accusations of maintaining excessively high interest rates, which he believes hinder economic growth [3][6] Economic Implications - The Federal Open Market Committee, which consists of 12 members, votes on interest rates, but the Chair plays a crucial role in setting the agenda and influencing monetary policy decisions [3] - The federal funds rate impacts borrowing costs across various loans, and the Fed's dual mandate focuses on maintaining low inflation and high employment [4]

The most obvious mutual mistake is denialism about inflation. And on his signature issue, immigration, Donald Trump is committing his own version of Joe Biden’s mistake: extremism https://t.co/LW4gGKbfFZ ...

As his party heads for the midterms, Donald Trump—a former developer terrified of inflation—should brace himself for a combustible new era of property politics https://t.co/oGSxo3qZts ...

When do we really see the engine of the economy start to take off. >> Well, some of it's already started, Sean, but some of it is going to take a long time because we inherited a disaster. We inherited the highest peacetime debt and deficits in the history of the United States of America.We inherited the worst inflation crisis in in in at least the last 40 years and I think probably longer. I know that there are a lot of people out there, Sean, who are saying things are expensive. And we have to remember th ...

Core Insights - Nike is perceived as a stable, long-term dividend compounder but this perception is increasingly misaligned with reality [1] - The company is no longer seen as a leader in athletic innovation, which is impacting its brand strength [1] Company Analysis - Nike's position in the global athletic culture is under scrutiny as it faces challenges in maintaining its innovation leadership [1] - The disconnect between market perception and actual performance may present investment risks [1]

Labor Market & Economic Concerns - The delayed September jobs report indicates a slowing labor market, disproportionately affecting Black women due to Trump administration policies [1] - Persistent inflation is impacting everyone, leading to concerns about "stagflation" characterized by rising prices, slowing growth, and sluggish hiring [1] Trade & Economic Policy - Trump's tariff regime is partially responsible for the increased cost of living, despite claims it would revive U S factory jobs [1] - There are questions regarding the desirability of a manufacturing renaissance, as factory workers view those jobs as a pathway to the middle class [1]

Group 1: Currency Production and Costs - The production cost of a penny in fiscal 2024 was 3.69 cents, leading to a loss of $85.3 million for the Mint [3] - The cost of making a nickel in fiscal 2024 was 13.78 cents, resulting in a loss of $17.7 million [2] - Ending the production of pennies is expected to save the Mint approximately $56 million annually [3] Group 2: Inflation and Purchasing Power - The dollar's purchasing power has significantly decreased, with $100 in 2025 equivalent to what $12.05 could buy in 1970 [5] - The aggressive money printing has led to a decline in the value of smaller denominations, with the penny and nickel being the first to go [2][3] Group 3: Gold as an Investment - Gold prices have surged by over 50% in the past year, making it a popular choice for preserving wealth during inflation [7] - Gold is viewed as a safe-haven asset, especially during economic or geopolitical uncertainty, as it cannot be printed like fiat money [7][8] - Ray Dalio emphasized the importance of including gold in investment portfolios, particularly during challenging economic times [9] Group 4: Real Estate as a Hedge - The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index increased by 47% over the past five years, indicating strong demand in the real estate market [12] - Real estate often provides a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation, making it a powerful hedge against rising costs [12] Group 5: Alternative Investment Opportunities - Platforms like Masterworks allow investors to buy shares in blue-chip artwork, making art investment more accessible [21] - Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived enable investments in rental properties with minimal capital, providing exposure to real estate without the responsibilities of being a landlord [14][15]

For more about what this could mean for the markets, for the potential decision, CNBC contributor Peter Bookbar joins us now. He is also the CIO at 1 point BFG Wealth Partners CIO. So Peter, we were talking a little bit about this with the Fed and how John Williams sort of opened up the door to like look, yeah, maybe maybe we're we're going to have another cut.We're not we don't have the door open. We don't have the door shut. What do you think about where the Fed is thinking and what data they're going to ...