Rates, jobs, inflation, and the Fed — the macro backdrop, explained.
Economy
What GDP Reports Actually Tell YouThe number that claims to measure the whole US economy arrives three times, gets revised for years, and is old news the day it prints. Here's how to read GDP without overreading it.
Sep 29, 2026, 11:42 AM ET
Economy
CPI vs. PCE: Why the Fed's Inflation Gauge Isn't the Famous OneThe inflation number financial television counts down to isn't the one the Federal Reserve targets. Here's how CPI and PCE differ in what they count, how they're built, and why the Fed prefers the quieter report.
Sep 8, 2026, 10:18 AM ET
Economy
Jobs Friday: How to Read the Monthly Employment ReportWhat nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate actually measure, and why wage growth and revisions can matter more than the headline number.
Aug 11, 2026, 10:28 AM ET
Economy
The Yield Curve, Explained: What Inversion Signals and Why Markets Watch ItThe gap between short- and long-term Treasury yields has flashed ahead of every US recession in the past half-century. Here's how the curve is built, what happens when it inverts, and why that track record still comes with an asterisk.
Jul 21, 2026, 10:07 AM ET
Economy
How the Fed Moves Markets: Rates, Guidance, and What Investors WatchA plain-English guide to the FOMC, the fed funds rate, and how Federal Reserve decisions ripple through stocks and bonds.
Jul 11, 2026
Economy
CPI Day: How to Read an Inflation Print Like the Market DoesWhat the Consumer Price Index actually measures, why 'core' matters, and why markets often react to the surprise rather than the number.
Jul 11, 2026
