By every definition of the word, we’re in a bull market.
The S&P 500 hit record highs for five consecutive days last week, and remained strong throughout this week.
The Dow is above 38,000 for the first time in history.
Unemployment has stayed below 4 percent for 24 months, marking the strongest jobs market in half a century.
And consumer sentiment, which reflects more pessimism than the data warrants, is showing signs of improvement.
The Fed met this week and decided to hold rates steady, as expected, but there are hints that they’ll start dropping interest rates within a few months.
Inflation isn’t yet down to the Fed’s target rate of two percent, but it’s getting closer — with one notable exception. Auto insurance has skyrocketed; across the nation, car insurance is 17 percent higher than last year.
Meanwhile, a shake-up in the real estate industry is creating tumult for the National Association of Realtors, which is facing its first serious challenge in 100 years. The outcome could determine how steeply you’ll have to pay when you sell your home.
Where do we go from here? What’s next for the economy? We tackle these questions in this First Friday podcast episode.
Enjoy!
Thanks to our sponsors!
Indeed
If you’re looking for amazing talent to bolster your team, you need Indeed. Go to indeed.com/paula for a $75 job credit to upgrade your listing and start hiring today.
Shopify
Diversify your business by selling physical and digital products through Shopify’s all-in-one platform. Go to shopify.com/paula for $1/month trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact makes it easy to promote your business with powerful tools like email and SMS marketing, social media posting, and even event management. Tackle any challenge with Constant Contact’s free trial. Plus, everything’s backed by their 30-day Money-Back Guarantee.
Quince
Quince offers a range of high-quality items at prices within reach. Go to Quince.com/paula for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
