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Labor Market

Inflation expectations in the US remain reasonably well anchored and there are few signs of a brewing wage-price spiral. Thus, the near-term risks to growth outweigh the risks of higher inflation. Looking beyond the next year or two, however, we are worried about stagflation.

August ISM Services beat expectations, but employment weakness highlights fragile momentum. The index rose to 52.0 from 50.1, driven by business activity and new orders. However, the employment component stayed in contraction at 46.5. Inflation signals…
US jobless claims rose to 237k, the highest since July, underscoring fragile labor momentum. While still below the recent 250k peak, claims have been rising steadily since early July, suggesting the labor market weakness seen in the July employment…
US job openings fell to a 10-month low in July, underscoring continued labor market weakening. Openings declined to 7.18m from 7.36m. The decline was led by non-cyclical sectors such as education and health services, which had recently been drivers of…

Our Portfolio Allocation Summary for September 2025.

August ISM Manufacturing was mixed, with stronger orders offset by weak production and employment. The headline rose to 48.7 from 48.0, missing expectations. New orders beat estimates, rising into expansion at 51.4 and lifting the New…
July income and spending data confirmed resilient consumption and sticky inflation, however, slowing labor momentum keeps us defensive. Real personal spending increased 0.3% m/m. Personal income rose 0.4% m/m, with real income ex-transfer payments…

In Section I, Doug notes that a negative stance toward stocks will require a meaningful and imminent deterioration in the US macro data given the ongoing impact of AI optimism on the global equity market. In Section II, Chester reviews the outlook for stablecoins, cryptocurrencies, and central bank digital currencies.

In Section II, Chester reviews the outlook for stablecoins, cryptocurrencies, and central bank digital currencies.

A surge in UK employees on long-term sick leave or with a work limiting health condition explains stubbornly high UK wage inflation. This leaves the Bank of England and the UK government with some tough choices to make in the months ahead. Plus, a new tactical trade is short CSI 300.