Economic Insights by Nationwide

The FOMC held interest rates steady in May, keeping the benchmark range at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent. Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Investment Leader Brad Beman discuss the fed funds rate and the growing risks of higher inflation and rising unemployment due to the changes in tariff policy. [NFM-22911AO]

The rapidly changing landscape of President Trump's second term has been marked by a flurry of executive actions and significant policy shifts. Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Nationwide’s Vice President of Government Relations Ben Brewster discuss the sweeping changes and global impact of Trump's economic strategies. What are the risks and benefits of Trump's tax bill and the li...

Nationwide's Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber provide their outlook for the auto market, which has been impacted by high interest rates, rising prices, and tariffs. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Financial Markets Economist Oren Klachkin compare the recent hard and soft economic data, why they are indicating different economic trends, and how this could impact the FOMC's decision to lower interest rates. [NFM-22911AO]

In April, the U.S. announced aggressive tariffs on its trading partners around the world. A week later, the president announced a 90-day pause in the reciprocal tariffs. With ongoing negotiations, retaliatory tariffs, and great uncertainty, investors have been on a wild roller coaster ride. Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Chief Market Strategist Mark Hackett discuss the tariff im...

Nationwide economists Ben Ayers and Daniel Vielhaber share their outlook for the Ag sector - including an update on egg prices and the potential impact from tariffs. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and investment leader and Head of Fixed Income Brad Beman discuss the FOMC's updated macroeconomic forecast and share their outlook for rate cuts. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Financial Market Economist Oren Klachkin analyze current inflation trends and the impact of tariffs and federal spending cuts. [NFM-22911AO]

Following a post-election bump in November, consumer and business sentiment have subsided in recent weeks. Nationwide's economists Ben Ayers and Oren Klachkin explore these trends and what they could mean for the economic outlook. [NFM-22911AO]

Housing affordability remains a key concern in 2025 with mortgage rates rising again. And the low supply of homes on the market continues to drive up prices for buyers. What can be done to help home builders boost construction this year? Nationwide's Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber provide their outlook on the housing market, including updates on home construction and mor...

January's CPI data continued the upward trend for inflation. What's driving this trend and how could tariffs and other economic factors further impact inflation? Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Senior Economist Ben Ayers provide their perspectives and outlook, including how the Fed may respond to higher inflation. [NFM-22911AO]

The FOMC announced a pause in rate cuts in January. Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Chief Market Strategist Mark Hackett provide their reaction and explore how China’s recent advancements in AI and President Trump’s ambitious public-private partnership could impact the economy and financial markets. [NFM-22911AO]

From tariffs and immigration…to government efficiency and budget outlook, how could President Trump's new policies shape the U.S. economy. Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and VP of Government Relations Ben Brewster discuss Trump's first week back in the White House, what to expect in the coming months, and the potential impacts on businesses, consumers, and investors. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic, Senior Economist Ben Ayers, and Financial Market Economist Oren Klachkin provide their 2025 outlook for the economy and financial markets, including forecasts on consumer spending, employment, inflation, and rate cuts. They also share their predictions for the NFL championship game and the top grossing movies for the year. [NFM-22911AO]

Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Financial Markets Economist Oren Klachkin discuss the FOMC's December rate cut and the possibility for further cuts in 2025. [NFM-22911AO] View the Nationwide Market Insights report (Note: This report will be updated for Q1 2025 in early January.) https://www.nationwide.com/financial-professionals/topics/market-insights/

Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Senior Economist Ben Ayers provide their analysis of November's CPI report and how it could impact the FOMC's decision to cut interest rates. They also explore which economic segments have seen prices come down from their pandemic-related peaks. [NFM-22911AO]

Job growth has struggled recently with weaker data and downward revisions in October. What's driving this downward trend? Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber provide their insights on recent trends in employment data. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide’s Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Portfolio Manager and Head of Emerging Markets Rebecca Wilder provide their outlook on China's struggling economy and how geopolitical tensions could impact oil prices and the U.S. economy. [NFM-23971M6]

How may inflation impact holiday shopping this year. And how could this impact economic growth? Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber provide their outlook on consumer spending ahead of the holiday shopping season. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide Senior Economist Ben Ayers shares his analysis of October's CPI report and how the uptick in inflation could impact our outlook for additional rate cuts. [NFM-22911AO]

The Federal Reserve held their November meeting to announce a 25 basis point rate cut. Nationwide's Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic shares her insights on what led to their decision to lower rates and if more cuts are on the way. [NFM-22911AO]

Nationwide Senior Economist Ben Ayers and Economist Daniel Vielhaber analyze the Q3 GDP report and provide their outlook for interest rate cuts and continued economic growth for Q4 and into 2025. From the mailbag: How could the adoption of AI impact economic growth in the years ahead? [NFM-22911AO]

Kathy Bostjancic, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, and Kevin Jestice, President, Nationwide Funds, discuss the concerns many investors have ahead of the national election and how financial professionals can be a reliable source for consultative support during all turbulent times. Read more from Kevin Jestice about the role of financial advisors ahead of the election. https://www.nationwide.com/financ...

The Monthly Review for October is now available. Hear more analysis from its contributors Ben Ayers, Oren Klachkin, and Daniel Vielhaber. Click here to view the Monthly Review: https://cm-email-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/ContactMonkey-User-I7uWDFlGQ9lOmRjnBdsVshi4XED6MkZS5MksodukZ1ovf8FSqAgI18u55aYIpKnDmWCld6jKitIATavftoClmktnJlI35SXiabnvE55ypnltT1TWwN1EQOJsjz0L2ugu/NWEcon%20Monthly%20Review%2...

Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Financial Market Economist Oren Klachkin look closely at recent employment and inflation data and how they impact our outlook on rate cuts. What are the potential economic impacts from recent weather-related events, labor strikes, and the escalating conflict in the Middle East. From the mailbag: Kathy explains why occasional revisions are made to the monthly jo...