Economic Insights by Nationwide

As North America hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States is experiencing one of the largest sporting events in history - and the economic impact is expected to be massive with ripple effects reaching far beyond the stadiums. Jim McCoy (Nationwide's VP of Sports Marketing) and Oren Klachkin (AVP, Financial Market Economist) explore the impact that the World Cup and sports in general have o...

Nationwide's Ben Ayers and Daniel Vielhaber discuss the economic perspectives of America 250 and how the economy has evolved over the years - from prices and population shifts to global influence and emerging industries. We’ll also explore how regional celebrations and global events like the World Cup could shape economic activity in the years ahead. And finally, as we look ahead, we'll ask what h...

The FOMC just wrapped up its first meeting with new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. What comments did Warsh provide on the state of the economy and where rates may be headed. Are hikes possibly in the future or could we see more cuts? What other changes could we see from the Fed under its new leader? Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Investment Leader and Head of Fixed Income for Nationwide...

Nationwide recently hosted a Midyear Economic Roundtable on the economy and financial markets, with insight from Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic, Chief Investment Officer Joel Coleman, Chief Market Strategist Mark Hackett, and Nationwide's Vice President of Government Relations Ben Brewster. The group discussed how inflation has been impacted by the spike in energy prices, the resiliency of the c...

In this five-part series, we’ll explore how four generations—Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z—are approaching retirement and investing. While each group faces different challenges, new research suggests they may be more alike than we think. In this episode, Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Senior Vice President of Nationwide Financial Marketing & Nationwide Retirement I...

As we head into the summer travel season, demand remains strong—but higher prices and evolving economic conditions are shaping how Americans plan their trips. What impact is the World Cup having on the travel industry? Nationwide's Ben Ayers and Daniel Vielhaber provide their outlook for summer travel—from rising travel costs to shifting consumer behaviors. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Financial Market Economist Oren Klachkin share their analysis of April's CPI report, how the markets are reacting, and how this rise in inflation could impact the fed funds rate. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide's economists Ben Ayers and Daniel Vielhaber discuss the state of the housing market, exploring national trends, regional differences, policy impacts, and what lies ahead for housing in 2026 and beyond. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide’s Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Chief Market Strategist Mark Hackett discuss the factors that drove the FOMC's decision to hold rates steady in April. Kathy provides an update on the leadership changes at the Fed and how that could influence future policy. Mark shares his outlook for how the resilient markets are responding to the continued war in Iran. [NFM-25266M5]

Nationwide's Rebecca Wilder, Josephine Shea, and Jake Bupp discuss the impact of the war in Iran on the global economy, how different regions are holding up, where economic stress is most visible, and how global markets are responding to overlapping shocks. [NFM-25266M4]

After several years of tightening margins, U.S. farmers are now grappling with the added impact of the war in Iran and shifting market dynamics. Bridge payments and ongoing Farm Bill negotiations in Congress are offering some relief—though financial stress remains elevated. Nationwide’s Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber discuss the current state of the agriculture industry,...

As a benefit of last year's “One Big Beautiful Bill”, tax refunds are expected to be much larger this year - boosting consumer spending and providing incentives for businesses. Nationwide's Senior Economist, Ben Ayers, and Senior Director of Advanced Consulting Group, Tom Duncan, discuss what these tax changes could mean for households, businesses, and the broader economy - as higher gas prices fr...

It’s been one year since “Liberation Day” (April 2, 2025) when the White House announced a range of new tariffs on many of our global trading partners. Nationwide’s Chief Economist, Kathy Bostjancic, and Nationwide’s VP of Government Relations, Ben Brewster, unpack how tariff policy has evolved over the past year and its impact on the economy and financial markets. They also discuss what's on the...

Nationwide's Kathy Bostjancic and Oren Klachkin break down the Fed’s decision to keep rates unchanged in March, the financial market's reaction, and what to watch for in the months ahead. We also examine how other major central banks’ decisions this week may reflect the broader health of the global economy amid the uncertainty from geopolitical events. [NFM-22911AO]

Geopolitical tensions have rattled energy markets this month—raising questions about what higher oil and gasoline costs could mean for inflation readings and the broader economic outlook. Nationwide's Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber share their insight on how oil prices impact inflation readings and what we expect for inflation in response to the conflict in Iran. [NFM-22...

In this timely episode, Nationwide’s Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Chief Investment Officer of Nationwide Funds Chris Graham break down how the recent conflict in Iran is influencing the U.S. economy, global financial markets, and the Federal Reserve’s policy path. Together, they unpack the economic ripple effects that geopolitical shocks can create—from volatility in equities, bonds, and c...

Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Financial Market Economist Oren Klachkin analyze the final GDP report from 2025 and examine the Supreme Court’s decision that ruled against the Trump administration’s IEEPA‑based tariffs. [NFM-22911AO]

The housing market is one of the major drivers of today’s inflation trends, with affordability pressures touching millions of households. As home prices, rental rates, and borrowing costs continue to shift, understanding their impact on overall inflation is more important than ever. In this episode, Nationwide economists Ben Ayers and Oren Klachkin discuss the forces behind shelter inflation, the...

Nationwide Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber discuss the current state of the labor market, looking closely at hiring trends and the regions where the job market is growing the most. [NFM-22911AO]

Which direction is our economy heading? Some data show positive trends. But consumer and business surveys may provide a completely different view. Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Financial Market Economist Oren Klachkin compare the hard and soft economic data and explain why they are saying different things about our economy. We also discuss soft and hard data regarding the NFL c...

Nationwide Financial Market Economist, Oren Klachkin, and Investment Leader and Head of Fixed Income for Nationwide, Brad Beman, discuss January's FOMC announcement to pause rate cuts, how the markets are responding, and when the Fed could cut rates again. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber discuss the current state of the auto industry, impact from tariffs, affordability concerns for consumers, and the outlook for 2026. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Financial Markets Economist Oren Klachkin analyze December's inflation and employment reports and how they could impact the markets and the Fed's decision on interest rates. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide hosted a forum on the economic and financial market outlook for 2026, featuring Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic, Chief Investment Officer Joel Coleman, Chief Market Strategist Mark Hackett, Nationwide's Vice President of Government Relations Ben Brewster, and Senior Economist Ben Ayers. Panelists cover a wide range of topics including the stimulus that could result from the One Big Bea...

Kathy Bostjancic (Nationwide's Chief Economist), Ben Brewster (Vice President of Government Relations), and Tom Duncan (Senior Director, Advanced Consulting Group) explore how the tax law changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could shape the economy, influence planning strategies, and create new opportunities for growth. [NFM-23971M9]