Well, investors shifting their focus back on the Federal Reserve ahead of the central bank's policy meeting next week. President Trump once again calling for Fed Chair Pal to cut rates for more on the path ahead for the Fed and interest rates. Let's get now to Loretta Mester, University of Pennsylvania adjunct professor and former Cleveland Federal Reserve President.Uh Loretta, always good to see you. So, let's start Loretta with that inflation report we got today. PPI tame Loretta benign just like CPI yest ...

Employment Landscape - The non-farm payrolls report, while stronger than expected, indicates a slowing employment landscape [1] - Headline data decreased compared to the previous month, which was also revised downwards [1] - Employers may be reducing hiring due to tighter financial conditions, while incentivizing current employees with higher wages [1] Wage Growth & Labor Force - Strong wage growth coupled with a lower labor force participation rate was observed [1] Monetary Policy Implications - Continued wage pressures may keep inflation elevated, potentially delaying Federal Reserve rate cuts [2] - The low unemployment rate provides no immediate impetus for a rate cut [2]

Consumer Credit & Spending - Vantage Score data indicates consumers are shifting from cautious behavior to net borrowers, increasing credit consumption unexpectedly [2] - Consumer credit utilization is increasing, particularly in auto loans, driven by expectations of tariff-related price increases [2][4][7] - Overall, the consumer is resilient, with average credit balances remaining relatively stable and delinquencies moderate on a historical basis [3][4] - The percentage of super prime consumers (Vantage score 780 and above) increased in April, indicating high-quality credit [4] Auto Loans - Auto loan borrowing surged in April, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, with growth rates not seen since January 2020 [7][8] - Consumers are anticipating tariffs of 50-100% on cars, leading them to purchase vehicles before prices increase [7] Student Loans - The resumption of student loan payments initially caused the average Vantage score to drop by 1 percentage point in February [8] - Consumers reacted positively to the resumption of student loan reporting, making timely payments and improving their credit scores, bringing the average Vantage score back to 702 [9] Economic Outlook & Risks - A weakening employment picture combined with increased credit utilization would be a negative sign for the economy [6] - The Fed's decision to hold steady on interest rates means consumers will continue to face relatively elevated interest payments [10][11] - High interest rates may lead to fewer consumers taking out new mortgages or maxing out credit cards, resulting in lower credit utilization [11] - The Fed is concerned about the potential inflationary impact of increased pricing, partly related to tariffs, and is waiting to see the results before making any sudden movements [12]

[Music] Greetings everyone. It is uh in the know day as well employment Friday uh and uh we have a lot to discuss as usual we'll we'll go through fiscal policy monetary policy economic indicators market indicators and uh we'll talk a little bit about uh some real breakthroughs in terms of uh the market recognizing how much innovation is taking place. Um so uh starting w with fiscal policy and I'll I'll go through and and just uh make a few observations before we flip to charts.So um on fiscal policy, well t ...

Investment Rating - The report indicates a lowered forecast for nonfarm payroll growth to +110k, which is below the consensus of +126k, suggesting a cautious outlook for the employment sector [9]. Core Insights - Private sector employment increased by 37k in May, which was below expectations, and the previous month's employment was revised down to +60k from +62k [1][2]. - The ISM services index fell to 49.9 in May, indicating contraction, with significant declines in business activity and new orders, while the employment component showed a slight increase [3][7]. - The S&P Global US services PMI was revised up to 53.7, reflecting improvements in new business and employment components [7]. Summary by Sections Employment Data - The ADP report showed a 37k increase in private sector employment for May, with a notable rise in the services sector, particularly in leisure and hospitality (+38k) and financial services (+20k) [2][3]. - Employment in goods-producing industries saw a slight decline of 2k, despite a 6k increase in construction jobs [2]. ISM Services Index - The ISM services index decreased by 1.7 points to 49.9, falling short of consensus expectations, with declines in business activity (-3.7 points) and new orders (-5.9 points) [3][7]. - The employment component of the ISM services index increased by 1.7 points to 50.7, indicating a marginal improvement in employment conditions [3]. S&P Global Services PMI - The S&P Global US services PMI was revised up by 1.4 points to 53.7, with both new business and employment components showing positive revisions [7]. - The new business index increased by 0.9 points to 53.2, while the employment index rose by 2.4 points to 51.8, indicating a more favorable outlook for the services sector [7].