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Economic Outlook: Archive

John Blank

Zacks Expectations for Fed Policy: April Econ Outlook

They can cut policy rates to lift a tepid U.S. jobs market. Then, accept a 'hot' 3.0%+ annual broad CPI rate, with the latest energy shock. Or raise the policy rate to slow inflation down. Holding the Fed Funds rate flat should be the compromise, for now.

John Blank

Want a Credible Wall Street View? Zacks March 2026 Strategy

Jan Hatzius' latest extensive comments, including a research brief released on March 5th, specifically address the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on the domestic and global economy.

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John Blank

Scaling Up: How Increasing Inputs Make A.I. More Capable

"The path to recent advanced AI systems has been more about building larger systems than making scientific breakthroughs."

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John Blank

Final U.S. Q3 Real GDP Growth at +4.3%. GDPNow for Q4? +5.1%

Want another "nothing is really moving off the 2024 real GDP trend" mark? Global GDP is projected by Goldman Sachs Research to increase +2.8% in 2026.

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John Blank

"Real" Consequences from the COVID Money Flood

A unique and massive U.S. coordination of monetary policy and fiscal policy, and a technical regulatory change, led to a huge surge in deposits held by households, banks and businesses.

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John Blank

Trends in U.S. Work-from-Home Data

The stabilized U.S. Work from Home Rate of 24.9% represents a new, permanent structural change in the U.S. economy, rather than a full reversion to pre-COVID norms.

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John Blank

The Worst Parts of U.S. 2025 Joblessness

While the headline U.S. unemployment rate remains low, these underlying trends signal a weakening U.S. economy, and increasing struggles for many U.S. job seekers.

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John Blank

AI's Impact Emerges: A 5.5% California Unemployment Rate

The U.S. household unemployment rate is rising in 2025 due to a combination of factors, including a slowdown in job growth and increased labor force participation, with the August 2025 rate ticking up to 4.3%.

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John Blank

Hyman Minsky's Concept

Many economists and policymakers have found Minsky's framework highly insightful for understanding how the housing and credit bubbles developed and ultimately burst.

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John Blank

Hunting for Excesses (with AI's Help)

Want to endure my stock strategist/economist "wall of worries"? That 23.1 P/E share valuation ratio for the S&P500 is above the 5-year post-COVID average (19.9) and well above a longer current business cycle 10-year average (18.4).

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