Weekly Webcasts

Does The Jobs Report Change Anything?

The Fed’s monetary policy mandate requires consideration of both inflation and labor market conditions. If the former compels a rate hike next month, would the latter stand in the way? That’s the question of the hour after last week’s jobs report, with a headline that telegraphed “weakness.” Elias and Ed argue that the headline numbers looked deceptively weak because of calendar effects and World Cup related distortions. Indeed, most industries posted job gains. In short, the labor market is well balanced. So, no, it shouldn’t stand in the way of the Fed’s tightening in September.

GDP Growth Is AI-Powered & G-Shaped (Not K-Shaped)

Looking solely at Q2’s GDP growth rate, one would think the economy is weakening. Not so, say Ed and Elias. In fact, demand of all types strengthened last quarter, buoyed by brisk consumer spending, thanks to the Baby Boomers, and brisk business investment, thanks to the AI boom. The lower GDP growth rate was a function of surging imports, which aren’t bad news. Imports often rise in response to a strong domestic economy. … Also: As the economic engine heated up last quarter, so did inflation. The same consumer spending and AI capex trends keeping the economy vibrant are also boosting inflation, along with higher energy prices. … And: Ed reviews “Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea” (+ + +).

Bond Vigilantes: Fed Needs To Get Ahead Of Inflation

Recent inflationary developments increase the chance that the FOMC will vote to raise the federal funds rate at this week’s meeting. Today, Ed and Elias examine the hawkish shift and explain why it suggests that a 25bps rate hike this week is more likely than not. … Also: The Fed underestimated the persistence of the 2021-22 inflation shock and won’t be inclined to do so again—lending a hawkish overlay to the Fed’s deliberations. … And: The bond market appears to think a July rate hike is warranted, flagging broader inflationary risks than those represented by energy prices alone.

Fed Rate Hike Still On The Table

Neither the Fed’s dual mandate nor its official 2% inflation target have changed. But from what Kevin Warsh has said since assuming the role of Fed chief in May, his priority appears to be the inflation side of the dual mandate and his target may be underlying inflation rather the PCED inflation rate. Today, Ed and Elias look at the ramifications of such a potential shift in the Fed’s focus and discuss the best measure of underlying inflation. They also assess the latest economic data and explain why they think a rate hike this year is still likely. … Also: Dr Ed reviews “I Swear” (+ +).

Warsh’s Tasks

The AI boom is fueling the Fed’s hawkishness, as Ed and Elias agree it should, since it’s also fueling inflation currently. Yet Fed Chair Warsh asserted at his confirmation hearing that AI is a disinflationary force. They agree with that as well: It is disinflationary over the long term, which is the crux of our Roaring 2020s economic thesis; but paradoxically, AI is escalating inflation now as rapid demand spurs rapid infrastructure buildout. Once AI adoption is widespread, however, the productivity growth it sparks will propagate disinflationary economic growth. … Also: A look at who will lead Warsh’s five new task forces. … And: Consumers continue to do what they do best.

Making Sense Of A Strange Jobs Report

The June jobs report was widely characterized as weak. Ed and Elias don’t see it that way. The disappointing headline gain reflected a misleading statistical distortion. June’s decline in Leisure & Hospitality was attributable to an early Memorial Day, which boosted May’s gain. With the support of multiple underlying strengths, the labor market remains resilient, as demand slightly exceeds supply. The Fed’s tightening bias—prioritizing its inflation mandate over its labor market one—therefore remains appropriate, with a July rate hike still possible.

Update On The ‘G-Shaped’ Versus ‘K-Shaped’ Economy Debate

Consumer spending has been remarkably resilient, growing for the past two years faster than consumers’ disposable incomes have and depressing their saving rate. Current trends point to a negative saving rate by 2030. But that’s nothing to worry about, explain Ed and Elias. What we have isn’t a “K-shaped” economy, with the affluent spending briskly and everyone else struggling to make ends meet, as many assume. It’s a “G-shaped” economy—generational factors explain the data anomaly. The massive ranks of retired Baby Boomers, with no paychecks anymore but plenty of assets and leisure time, are keeping spending aloft. … Also: Ed reviews “The Sheep Detectives” (+).

Will the Real Kevin Warsh Please Stand Up?

Kevin Warsh’s first press conference as Fed chair after last week’s FOMC meeting settled a question that the markets had been debating for a year: Which Warsh would show up? In the past, Ed and Elias explain, Warsh hawkishly prioritized fighting inflation, but he presented himself as a dove when auditioning for the Fed chairmanship. Would Chair Warsh be some new hybrid? The hawk won: The FOMC swung to a tightening bias as expected, and Warsh’s rhetoric was hawkish point for point. The bottom line: Investors would be well advised to position for a chair who will advocate for raising rates if the data demand it, not for lowering them just because the President demands it.

Hawks Versus Doves Debate At The Fed

This week’s FOMC meeting will be the first over which Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s dovish appointee, presides as Fed chair. Will he succeed in dissuading the hawkishly leaning committee from moving to a tightening bias? Today, Ed and Elias set out both the dovish and hawkish points that the committee no doubt will discuss in what’s bound to be a heated debate. … Also: Warsh steps into his new role planning to implement big changes at the Fed. Elias describes how Warsh views the Fed’s role, the reforms he has in store, and the potential ramifications for Wall Street.

On Consumer Strength & Bitcoin Weakness

Consumer spending has remained resilient in the face of higher gas prices and inflation generally, thanks much to a resilient job market. Jackie recaps recent employment data and discusses Q1 consumer behavior as described by the top brass of three retailers serving different customer niches. … In our Disruptive Technologies segment, a look at the sagging value of bitcoin and sagging investor confidence in Strategy, a small company that’s a play on the cryptocurrency. Investors were shaken by the company’s recent bitcoin asset sales and wonder about an encore.

Fed Turning Hawkish

Today, Dr Ed and Elias set out the case for the Fed to tighten sooner rather than later. Unlike the consensus, which doesn’t expect a rate hike until late this year at the earliest, we see the FOMC raising the federal funds rate in July, after pivoting to a tightening bias at its meeting this month. That would be appropriate given the resilient economy, stable labor market, and rising inflation. Indeed, recent statements by various Fed officials suggest that a hawkish recalibration is underway. … Also: A sanguine take on recent consumer debt and credit statistics. They’re not cause for alarm, initial appearances to the contrary. … And Dr Ed reviews “Pressure” (+ +).

FOMO vs FEMO (Fabulous Earnings Momentum)

Bond Vigilantes Welcome New Fed Chair Warsh With Loud Bronx Cheer

The financial markets expect interest rates to remain higher for longer, notwithstanding President Trump’s demands that Kevin Warsh, newly instated as Fed chief, get rates down. But the macroeconomic backdrop no longer supports an easing bias, let alone a rate cut. Paradoxically, Elias and Ed explain, a more hawkish Warsh than investors expect would actually work in Trump’s favor via its downward effect on long-term Treasury yields. … We expect the Fed to hold rates unchanged at its June meeting, shifting to a tightening policy stance, followed by a rate hike in July. … Also: Two recent Fed reports confirm consumers’ resilience.

Sweet Spot For The Labor Market

April’s employment report had lots of good news for the labor market. Ed & Elias discuss some of the news that seemed to be bad but really wasn’t on closer inspection. In their view, the April jobs report amounts to a vote of confidence in the narrative that the labor market is stabilizing and may even be improving without boosting inflation. Meanwhile, retiring Baby Boomers are weighing on wages, payroll employment, disposable income, and the personal saving rate. But they are boosting consumer spending by spending their substantial net worth. … Incoming Fed chair, Kevin Warsh is likely to find that the majority of his FOMC colleagues will want to eliminate the easing bias in the committee's next statement. … Dr

Consumers Still Doing What They Do Best

Consumer spending is the single biggest driver of US GDP growth, and its remarkable resilience despite lackluster income growth contributes mightily to the resilience of the US economy broadly. Today, Ed and Elias explain why consumer spending has seemed to defy economic gravity and why it should continue to do so. The short answer: our “gen-shaped economy,” shaped by generational dynamics as the Baby Boomers move through life’s phases. As retired Boomers chip away at their massive nest eggs while not earning a paycheck, they’re keeping consumption aloft and the saving rate falling. … Also: Three other consumption tailwinds are worth noting. So is one potential risk to our optimistic spending outlook: a prolonged period of triple-digit oil prices. … And: Dr Ed reviews “Mr. Burton” (+ +).

The Oil Shock & Inflation

Why hasn’t the price of Brent crude oil gone through the roof despite the closure of the Strait of Hormuz since February 28? Ed and Elias explain the anomalous price action. … Also: Why US oil producers aren’t pumped enough by higher energy prices to save the day. … And: How the energy supply crisis is likely to feed into inflation, not just via higher gasoline and fuel prices but higher food prices as well given constrained fertilizer supplies. Nevertheless, disinflationary wage and rent forces should prevail once inflationary pressures dissipate in coming months. … Finally, how the Fed is likely to react to higher inflation data near term. … Also: Dr Ed reviews “Michael” (+ +).

Debating Warsh

Kevin Warsh, the probable next Fed chair, wants to lower the federal funds rate sooner rather than later. Few FOMC members agree with him. Ed and Elias don’t either. Today, they explain why Warsh’s case for lower rates is fundamentally flawed. It rests on the economic dogma that, because the labor share of National Income is declining amid an AI-fueled productivity boom, the theoretical neutral federal funds rate, R*, is also declining. On the contrary, explain Ed and Elias, the productivity boom raises R* for reasons unique to the current economic backdrop. That leaves little room for the aggressive rate cuts Warsh envisions without risking speculative bubbles and a financial crisis. Also, the Bond Vigilantes would probably resist Fed easing, as they have since 2024. … Ed reviews “Anniversary” (++).

On US Profits, Consumers & Inflation

With the US economy producing record-breaking earnings and margins, Dr Ed and Elias wouldn’t be surprised to see employment pick up despite AI adoption and other factors holding it back. … They also expect consumer spending to remain resiliently robust even though income growth isn’t keeping up, which is depressing the saving rate. But not even a negative saving rate—which may occur—would tank consumer spending in today’s environment, they maintain. The spending of retired Baby Boomers would keep it afloat. … Also: CPI inflation historically runs higher than PCED inflation; lately, the reverse is true. That’s mostly because rent inflation, which is moderating rapidly, carries more weight in the CPI.

Anatomy Of The US Labor Market

Last week's employment report was widely interpreted as good because jobs growth rebounded and the unemployment rate dropped. Dr Ed and Elias disagree. Our inflation-adjusted Earned Income Proxy fell as inflation surged, a bad sign. Moreover, the jobs growth required to keep unemployment stable (the "breakeven rate") has collapsed, so a dropping unemployment rate must be evaluated in that context. Both labor supply and labor demand have contracted in recent months but remain roughly in balance. In sum, it's too simplistic to evaluate payroll reports against the old benchmarks. Folks who do are likely to draw the wrong conclusions. Also noteworthy: Retiring Baby Boomers are weighing on real disposable income while simultaneously bolstering consumer spending.

All About Earnings (with special guest Nick Raich)

Join Ed Yardeni with special guest Nick Raich (https://www.earningsscout.com) as they discuss recent earnings.

From Powell To Warsh

Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee to replace Fed Chair Powell, no doubt will lean toward dovish policy-making, under pressure from the President to convince the rest of the FOMC to err on the side of easing. But the timing of Warsh’s confirmation is uncertain. Today, Dr Ed along with our new contributing editor Elias Griepentrog take us on a thought experiment: Under three alternative scenarios for the length of the Iran war, they project the economic impacts and associated ramifications for monetary policy under Warsh’s leadership versus that of Powell.

Is Less Dire Strait Easing Market Fears? (with special guest Eric Wallerstein)

The energy and financial markets are taking the war in the Middle East remarkably well, all things considered. Investors seem to believe that the war will be short-lived and perhaps are focusing on the bright side: The lost physical supplies of oil are maybe half as much as they could have been, partly because Iran is still allowing tankers from friendly nations to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Today, Dr Ed reviews the current state of affairs, concluding that the blockade of the Strait might not be as dire a development as widely feared, including by us.

Between Iran & A Hard Place

With the US suddenly thick in the fog of war, Dr Ed discusses the collateral effects on the US economy and stock market. Spiking oil prices may precipitate a stock market correction rather than a bear market, but the latter is possible. The Roaring 2020s remains Dr Ed’s base-case outlook for the rest of this year with subjective odds unchanged at 60%. But there’s now much less chance of a Meltup (with odds of just 5%) and greater odds of a Meltdown (35%). For the rest of the decade, he sees either a continuation of the Roaring 2020s (85%) or a new scenario, the Stagflating 1970s Redux (15%). If investors start expecting stagflation, a bear market is more likely. Markets should stabilize once the Strait of Hormuz reopens to safe navigation.

Another Regime Alteration

Saturday’s military attack on Iran by the US and Israel that killed Iran’s leader and 40 top officials is likely to push oil prices higher this week. However, in our short-war scenario, oil prices should fall in the coming weeks after a ceasefire. In any event, the attack also incapacitated Iran’s navy, so the threat of a blocked Strait of Hormuz has been greatly reduced. This is potentially a positive development from economic and investment perspectives, greatly reducing geopolitical risk in the Middle East once the war ends. If oil prices drop in the coming weeks following a ceasefire, US inflation and gasoline prices will decline, boosting US consumer spending and benefiting global economies and stock markets. The weekend’s Middle East developments make us even more confident in our Roaring 2020s scenario.