Moody's Talks - Inside Economics

Dante joins the podcast to break down the January employment report. Fitting for Groundhog’s Day, the jobs report delivered an eerily similar upside surprise to what we saw in January 2023. Following the January meeting of the FOMC this week, the team discusses what the Fed is likely to do in light of recent data. To access the 2024 Election Model Whitepaper click here  Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZand...

The Inside Economics team revels in the great economic numbers of the past week. The economy not only avoided a recession in 2023, but it ended the year enjoying robust GDP growth and tame inflation. But there are threats at the start of the new year, including a potential seizing up of the all-important Treasury bond market. Samim Ghamami of the SEC joins the podcast to discuss this threat, its c...

Robert Dietz, Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders, joins Mark Zandi, Marisa DiNatale, and Cristian deRitis to discuss the outlook for mortgage rates, home sales, and construction activity.  The team delves into the immigration and demographic trends affecting housing demand along with the 5 L's (Laws, Labor, Land, Lending, and Lumber) limiting homebuilding today.  Rob's qu...

In this wide-ranging podcast, we tackle the CPI inflation report, the mounting threat posed by cyberattacks on the financial system and broader economy, and the regulatory response. Jill Cetina and Lesley Ritter of Moody’s Investor Service and Joe Lyons of BitSight join us with their insights. And we finally learn how to pronounce Matt’s last name. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @Middl...

This week’s podcast focuses on the jobs report for December. The usual cast of characters discusses the job catch-up (not ketchup) in government and healthcare, and its implications. Everyone agreed that despite the considerable cross-currents in the numbers, it was a good report.   Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight. Q...

John Toohig, head of wholesale trading for Raymond James makes a return appearance on Inside Economics. He last joined us in the wake of the banking crisis this past March, and made the case that the banking system while bowed would not break. He was right.  Join us to hear what John is now saying about the system, loan growth and quality, and what it all means for the Fed and economy. For more on...

In the last podcast before the holidays, Inside Economics chats with Carl Tannenbaum, Chief Economist of Northern Trust about the economy, financial system, Fed and forecasting. The group took as a good omen that they had a Tannenbaum and a DiNatale on the podcast just before Christmas (you may need to Google the names). Not that they attribute their forecasting process to the use of such signs.  ...

The U.S. economy surprised to the upside in 2023 as consumers shrugged off a number of headwinds. With inflation abating and the Federal Reserve facing less pressure to hike interest rates, recession risks are fading. But they can’t be fully discounted given high interest rates, geopolitical turmoil, declining savings, and political uncertainty. Slower growth with somewhat higher unemployment is t...

Michael Strain, resident scholar and the director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) returns to the podcast to discuss the Fed’s big pivot towards rate cuts early next year and the resulting monster rally in stocks and bonds. The discussion then turns to what ails the collective psyche. Think rents and the price of ramen.   For mor information on Michael Strain c...

Mark Donovan founder of the Denver Basic Income Project joins Inside Economics to discuss some early results from a guaranteed income program that provides direct cash assistance to unhoused individuals without conditions. Mark responds to a range of criticisms often levied around such efforts. And you don’t want to miss how Tesla is connected to the start of the project’s funding.    Follow Mark...

Inside Economics discusses the December jobs report, which left Mark feeling “giddy”, Cris “cheerful”, Dante “happy”, and Marisa “great”. The team considers the jobs numbers in the context of other recent labor market indicators which show a resilient but moderating job market. And they end with an assessment of whether the recently boomy labor supply and strong productivity growth are sustainable...

Chris Mayer, Professor of Real Estate Economics at Columbia University and CEO of Longbridge Financial, joins Mark, Marisa, and Cris to discuss reverse mortgages and the state of the residential real estate market. While the single-family market may tread water, multifamily may be in for a serious correction. Mark wonders if we can avoid the fallout from this economic meteor.  For more about Chris...

Inside Economics considers the economy’s performance and prospects through the prism of the electric utility industry with the Chief Economist of American Electric Power, Dan White.  It was great to catch up with Dan, a former colleague, and get his insight on how American households and businesses are doing. He also ponders the transition to green energy.   Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRi...

Fred Hochberg, Fmr. Chairman & President of the Export–Import Bank of the United States and author of Trade Is Not a Four-Letter Word: How Six Everyday Products Make the Case for Trade , joins the Inside Economics team to discuss all things related to global trade. The discussion takes up the U.S.-China relationship, the future of globalization, and how trade policy may change after the 2024 elect...

Teresa Bazemore, CEO of the San Francisco Federal Home Loan Bank, joins the podcast to discuss the nation's reeling housing market, and the role of the FHLB system. There's a lot to talk about as Teresa weighs recent criticism of the FHLBs in the wake of the banking crisis earlier this year, and the recent report from the FHLBs' regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, proposing reforms to t...

Dante joins the podcast to break down the October employment report. With job growth moderating and the unemployment rate edging higher, the Fed’s fight against inflation should get a little bit easier. The team also takes a few listener questions about the definition of the unemployment rate and what impact softening rents will have on single-family housing.    Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris...

The inside Economics team takes up the gangbuster GDP growth in the third quarter. Marisa walks the group though the GDP identity C+I+G+net exports and concludes that while the report overstates the case, it makes a strong case that the economy is on solid ground. Cris gives Marisa an A+ for her exposition. Good thing given their history.   Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon...

Mark, Cris and Marisa welcome colleague David Fieldhouse to Inside Economics to talk about the run up in long-term bond yields and mortgage rates, as well as the outlook for the consumer. The team discusses why the 10-year yield has breached 5% for the first time since before the GFC and what it might mean for the economy if rates stay higher for longer. They also consider the possibility of the y...

Inflation was front and center in this week’s podcast. Mark and Marisa (yes, she’s back and winning the stats game again) hosted a wonderful cast of colleagues to talk over the September CPI report, the European inflation experience, which is similar to that here in the U.S., and given recent grim events in the Middle East, energy prices. The bottom line is inflation continues to head in the right...

Dante joins Cris and Mark to digest the September jobs report. The outsized job gain during the month was surprising, but after Dante’s masterful dissection of the data, the group agrees there is a lot to like in the report. After the stats game, they discussion turns to the recent surge in long-term interest rates and how big a threat it poses to the economy. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris de...

The fast approaching federal government shutdown is top of mind on this week’s podcast. Mark and Cris consider how the shutdown may play out and the economic consequences. Two other colleagues, Steve Cochrane and Stefan Angrick, then join the conversation to assess the all important Chinese and Japanese economies. Are the economic fortunes of these two massive economies flip-flopping? For China an...

Inside Economics welcomes Rob Fauber, President and CEO of Moody’s Corporation to the podcast.  He discusses his concept of exponential risk and the opportunities and challenges of using AI. Rob shares what it's like to lead a global firm and answers a few get-to-know-you questions from Mark, Cris and Marisa. But before the conversation with Rob, the team discusses how worried they are about vario...

The looming UAW strike is top of mind, and no one better to talk to about how it may play out and what it means for the economy than Jonathan Smoke of COX Automotive and our own vehicle industry expert, Mike Brisson.  Bernard Yaros also joins the podcast to talk about the consumer inflation report.  Mark and Cris agree that while the current economic numbers look good, there’s plenty to worry abou...

Given the strong counter narratives regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on the economy – from bright optimism that AI will significantly lift productivity growth and wealth to dark pessimism that it will lead to a dystopic increase in unemployment and cybercrime – we asked Martin Fleming to sort it out. And the former chief economist of IBM and current author and Chief Revenue Scientis...

The August jobs report couldn’t have been much better.  Dante and Cris called it a good report, while Mark and Marisa thought it was a VERY good report.  Either way, the report has soft landing written all over it.  In standing with the good cheer over the jobs numbers, the group recounted their favorite music. Some surprises there. For the full transcript, click here Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi,...