Jenny Plaugher, Author at PlanRock

China Is Exporting More & Making Cheap Products Cheaper – Global Trade Update
China is flooding global markets, including the U.S., with cheap exports across various industries including steel, electric vehicles, solar panels, computer chips, and other manufactured goods. China’s factories are producing far more goods ...

Published On: July 12, 2024Categories: Economy, World
Banks Get A Stress Test & Pass – Banking Sector Review
The Federal Reserve reported in June that results of its annual bank stress test showed the largest U.S. banks and lenders have sufficient capital to withstand an economic catastrophe, while noting that pockets ...

Published On: July 11, 2024Categories: Consumer Finance, Debt/Mortgage/Liabilities
Average Auto Loan Amounts Head Lower – Consumer Finance
As auto sales have decreased over the past few months, so have the prices paid for automobiles and light trucks. Recent data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis show that ...

Published On: July 10, 2024Categories: Consumer Finance
Macro Economic Overview / July 2024
Markets were influenced by election dynamics and economic data in June as equities and bonds responded to uncertainty surrounding the direction of future fiscal policy and when the Fed might commence its rate ...

Published On: July 9, 2024Categories: Economy
Market Indexes / July 2024
(all values as of 06.28.2024) Stock Indexes: Dow Jones 39,118 S&P 500 5,460 Nasdaq 17,732 Bond Sector Yields: 2 Yr Treasury 4.71% 10 Yr Treasury 4.36% 10 Yr Municipal 2.86% High Yield 7.58% ...

Published On: July 8, 2024Categories: Market Index Returns
Unemployment Ticks Up Ever So Slightly – Labor Market Overview
The Department of Labor tracks and compiles data on U.S. workers and employment trends. Identifying what portion of the working population is not employed is measured as the unemployment rate, which is a ...

Published On: June 20, 2024Categories: Economy
Consumers Still Spending Amid Inflation – Consumer Behavior
Consumer sentiment and spending have remained fairly consistent in recent months, as noted by the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE). Despite a dip in the summer of 2022, current consumer sentiment is ...

Published On: June 19, 2024Categories: Consumer Behavior
IRS Waives Penalties For Missed Inherited RMDs – Tax Planning
The IRS has recently extended relief for certain heirs regarding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from inherited IRAs. The penalties for missed RMDs from inherited IRAs for the years 2020 through 2024 will be ...

Published On: June 18, 2024Categories: Retirement, Taxes
Rates Hold Steady Yet Still Too High For Consumers – Fixed Income Update
Rates held steady in May as the Fed’s indecisiveness stirred confusion in the bond markets. The yield on the benchmark 10 year Treasury bond ended May at 4.51%, down from 4.7% in April ...

Published On: June 17, 2024Categories: Economy, Retirement
Fed’s Beige Book Report Sheds Light On Direction of Economy – Domestic Economy
The Beige Book is a report published by the Federal Reserve System that provides information about current economic conditions across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts nationwide. This past month, data revealed that economic ...

Published On: June 14, 2024Categories: Economy

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