Moody's Talks - Inside Economics

Ethan Harris, former Head of Global Economic Research at Bank of America, joins the Inside Economics team to discuss his views on the economy’s resiliency, AI, and the Fed. Ethan expounds on the new Chair Kevin Warsh’s stance on inflation and how to interpret his views from the latest Fed minutes. The team discusses whether AI is affecting productivity and the risks it poses to the wider economy a...

The Inside Economics crew takes a deep dive into the June employment report, which was notably softer following a string of upside surprises. The team debates how to define labor market slack given the sharp divergence between the payroll and household surveys since the beginning of the year. The stats game had some twists and turns, from the labor market to the World Cup, and Dante takes heat for...

Mark and Marisa dissect the raft of economic data released this past week, and debate what it means for the outlook. Chris joins the conversation and weighs in on where oil prices will settle. The group plays the Stats game – some tough stats. The discussion ends with Mark peppering our new colleague, Colin Ellis, with wide-ranging questions about the global economy. Guests: Chris Lafakis and Coli...

Claudia Sahm, Chief Economist of New Century Advisors joins the team to break down Kevin Warsh's first FOMC meeting and press conference. The group covers the rate decision, changes to Fed communications, the dot plot's future, and what Warsh's balance sheet views signal for monetary policy ahead. The new Chair is in the seat, time will tell if it's a comfortable one. Questions or Comments, please...

The Inside Economics team welcomes Jim Lebenthal, Chief Market Strategist at Cerity Partners, to discuss all things investing on the morning of the SpaceX IPO. Jim discusses the equity market’s extraordinary run, whether AI stocks are overvalued, and how investors should think about picking individual stocks versus investing in index funds. The team also welcomes Matt Colyar to talk about this wee...

Dante joins the Inside Economics crew to dissect the May jobs report, which he describes as shocking. The team discusses whether there is enough evidence to declare that the labor market and underlying job growth have shifted into a higher gear, and debates the growing disconnect between the payroll and household surveys. The stats game delivers some interesting insights about the strength of job...

Three economists. Three opinions. The Inside Economics team worked through a panoply of fresh releases, covering GDP, spending, income, new-home sales, durable goods orders, and inflation, to piece together the true state of the economy. Three tricky statistics tested the team in the stats game before a three-part listener question closed things out. Stay tuned for Cris' paper mentioned in the epi...

After two failed attempts at recording the podcast due to technical issues, the team finally nails it on the third try. In a light data week, the team discusses the wide disparity in sentiment between consumers, stock investors, and business leaders. The team discusses Mark’s recent meetings with Brazilian clients, Marisa’s trip to Silicon Valley, and Cris’s meeting with banking clients and their...

If you want to get the skinny on anything related to financial markets or the financial system, then you need to talk with Samim Ghamami, Chief Economist of the New York state Insurance Fund.  That’s what Mark and Cris do on this podcast. The conversation begins with the outlook for interest rates, turns to a perspective on a popular AI narrative that artificial intelligence will push rates up fur...

On this momentous day at the Federal Reserve, with Jay Powell handing over the chair to Kevin Warsh, the Inside Economics team, along with guest Julia Coronado, Founder of Macropolicy Perspectives, and colleague Martin Wurm, consider all things related to the venerable institution. There’s, of course, the issue of Fed independence, and beyond that, what changes the new Fed chair may champion. And...

In a quick-hitting mini-podcast, Mark and Cris are joined by colleague Matt Colyar to discuss April’s (hot) consumer price index data. U.S. inflation has accelerated dramatically since the war in Iran began. Matt breaks down April’s report and opines about where inflation is likely headed from here. Amid affordability concerns and an approaching election, the crew then evaluates recent proposals p...

The Inside Economics crew dives into the April employment report. Despite better-than-expected headline job growth, they debate the best way to characterize the current state of the labor market. The team agrees that despite a still-low unemployment rate, there are reasons to be concerned. The stats game proves particularly difficult, but delivers key insights about the labor market, and also prov...

Peter McCrory, the Head of Economics at AI juggernaut Anthropic, joins the Inside Economics team to consider all things AI and the economy. The discussion begins with how the group is using Claude in our work, then shifts to AI’s current and expected lift to productivity, and to the underappreciated economic ramifications of AI. It turns out that Lancaster PA, is turning out some great economists....

Mark, Cris and Marisa recap the week’s economic news, including the now highly likely confirmation for the Fed Chair nominee, Kevin Warsh, the ongoing conflict in Iran and its impact on energy and related commodities, and the proposed bailout of Spirit Airlines. After the stats game, the team takes a few thought-provoking listener questions about tax policy and tariffs. Email us at InsideEconomics...

Stock prices are hitting new records, while consumer sentiment has fallen to record lows. Businesses are of mixed minds. What’s driving this disconnect—and who’s right? Mark and Cris are joined once again by colleague Matt Colyar to break down the divergence between investors, consumers, and business leaders. Their insights reveal key dynamics shaping the economic outlook. Plus, the statistics gam...

The Inside Economics team is joined by Matt Colyar to discuss the week’s loaded economic data slate. First, Matt offers a detailed reaction to March’s hot CPI report – the first inflation data capturing effects from the conflict in the Middle East. Next, the group discusses how each is thinking about their recession probabilities in light of the tenuous ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and the...

The Inside Economics crew (minus Dr. DeAntonio) parses the March jobs report, which came in surprisingly strong. They all agree that the headline number is deceptive and the labor market is actually quite weak and poised to weaken further in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East. Mark unveils his new take on the Sahm Rule indicator, which points to a surprising conclusion. The stats game is...

Moody's commercial real estate experts Tom LaSalvia and Kevin Fagan join Mark, Marisa, and Cris to take stock of where CRE markets stand today. Tom and Kevin go beyond the headlines to unpack the nuances driving the office market's uneven recovery, multifamily's supply-driven growing pains, and retail's quiet comeback. Their verdict: measured confidence — provided the broader economy cooperates. A...

Hostilities with Iran are entering their second month, and the damage to financial markets and the economy is mounting. The Inside Economics team and colleague, Shandor Whitcher, take up the question of what it all means for the prospects of recession. Shandor tells us about his prescient random forest model of the probability of recession starting in the next year, and it’s not encouraging. Odds...

Mark, Cris and Marisa recap the week’s events in the Middle East and at the Fed and debate whether or not the baseline forecast warrants a rethink given the rising uncertainty around how and when the conflict in the Middle East will end. The crew discusses the tumultuous week in financial markets, the impact that prolonged high oil prices could have on the U.S. economy, and what this means for the...

The Inside Economics team is joined by Scott Galloway, bestselling author and professor of marketing at NYU Stern, for a wide-ranging conversation spanning geopolitics, technology, and generational justice. The group touches on the escalating conflict in Iran before turning to the transformative — and disruptive — potential of artificial intelligence. The conversation takes a sharp turn as Scott e...

Mark and Marisa are joined once again by colleagues Chris Lafakis and Juan Pablo Fuentes to discuss the past week’s developments in the Middle East and whether the forecast has changed as a result. Matt Colyar joins to review the week’s release of inflation data, which show stickiness in inflation prior to the $40 jump in oil prices since the start of the year. After a review of weak reports on GD...

The Inside Economics team tackles the tough economic data and developments of the past week. There was nothing redeeming in the February jobs numbers, as the economy struggles to create jobs and unemployment edges higher.  And this is before the fallout from the U.S. conflict with Iran hits the economy, which threatens to be considerable. The discussion ends on the question of how the fighting wil...

Mark, Cris & Marisa reunite for a lively discussion about their predictions around AI’s impact on the economy over the next year or two. The team talks about their recently released webinar & white paper on the Macroeconomic Consequences of AI and answers several great listener questions in the process. Marisa and Cris try to talk Mark down off the AI-apocalypse ledge, as the once eternally optimi...

Former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, Jared Bernstein, and housing maven, Jim Parrott, join Mark and Cris to drink from today’s fire hose of events, including the SCOTUS decision striking down President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs to the 4th quarter GDP numbers. The conversation turns to how well the economy is performing through the prism of AI, housing, and jobs. It’s a veritable e...