Challenger’s June job-cut report points to a labor market that’s still holding up better than many had feared. Announced job cuts fell 53% from May to 45,849—the lowest monthly total since December—but AI was cited as the leading reason for workforce reductions for the fourth straight month.

The job market's status will be front and center among scheduled economic releases this week. What to know: www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Ask Americans what worries them, and one answer now sits above the rest. In Gallup’s latest reading, 61% say they worry a great deal about the availability and affordability of healthcare, more than for any of the other 15 domestic issues tested. thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/healthcare...

What to watch with the economy this week. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

After a consequential week, where the U.S economy stands, and what you need to know. Read more via The Hamrick Brief on Substack: thehamrickbrief.substack.com

This week marked the end of my time with Bankrate after 13 years. I’ve been fortunate to work with extraordinary colleagues and to spend a career helping people understand the economy and their financial lives. I’m building The Hamrick Brief on Substack and looking forward to what’s next.

Significant ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had not appeared to resume as of Tuesday morning, two days after the U.S. and Iran signed a preliminary deal aimed at ending their war. Follow live updates.

Inflation isn't getting any better. And any increase at this point is just piling on after the post-COVID surge of 30%. The Consumer Price Index: up 4.2% over the past year, paced by surging costs of energy, shelter, and food. Check out The Hamrick Brief on Substack. thehamrickbrief.substack.com

The federal debt has hit a new milestone. But elected officials are not talking about it. Guess who pays the bill. It's what I write about in this week's edition of The Hamrick Brief on Substack.

Mortgage rates are not just following the 10-year Treasury. A historically wide “spread” is acting like a volatility tax on housing, keeping affordability under pressure even when yields ease. Here's more on this: www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Bifurcation is the word of the day in the new Beige Book. While high-end spending holds up, the pressure on low-to-moderate income households is clear. Add in rising energy, insurance and tariff costs and the Fed has a tricky needle to thread on April 29. No rate change is expected.

Bankrate’s Q1 survey of economists shows a "hiring chill" as the economy seeks a new normal. Recession risk is up to 34%, and inflation remains sticky. What about the housing market? www.bankrate.com/mortgages/ec...

Check out the latest edition of The Hamrick Brief: What Our Wallets Say About How We’re Handling Money Right Now. open.substack.com/pub/thehamri...

It's launch day. And what a time to launch a newsletter about the economy. 😅 If you're wondering what the news means for the life you're actually living, that's exactly what The Hamrick Brief is for. Issue 1 is live on LinkedIn and Substack. Link in comments. 🙏 thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the…

Will jobs be added or lost in the March employment report due this week? My take: www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

From Torsten Slok, chief economist, Apollo: For every $5 the U.S. government collects in taxes, $1 goes toward paying interest on the debt.

Our Bankrate weekly average for the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is up to 6.44%, the highest since last September and up from last week's 6.27%. This is another cost of the war, reflecting the reality of surging inflation and coincidentally rising Treasury yields. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Using a four-letter word to describe this morning's jobs report: Ugly. And it's consistent with a pattern of weakening and instability seen over the past year. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

AI isn’t widely wiping out jobs, but it is making it tougher for some entry-level workers. Early data show hiring is slowing in AI-heavy fields, especially for young grads. Wages are rising for experienced workers, replace routine tasks and boost seasoned pros. www.dallasfed.org/research/eco...

What the latest data on inflation does -- and does not tell us. Hint: Affordability challenges remain very much alive. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Job market data out today is roundly downbeat. Next week, we'll get the January employment report, which will be key: www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

What's the outlook for interest rates in 2026? Our team at Bankrate has done the work to help you make sense of it all, affecting the economy, borrowing and savings rates: www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Time to gear down for Winter Break (a RedVentures benefit) to spend time with family. Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2026! 🎄❤️🥂

Happy New Year? Not exactly. A record 32% of Americans say they expect their finances to get worse in 2026, per Bankrate's Financial Outlook Survey. Inflation and politics are driving the pessimism. Read more: www.bankrate.com/banking/fina...

What to watch with the economy this week: Fed Chairman Jerome Powell delivers an eagerly awaited speech as investors bet the central bank is ready to cut interest rates in Sept. Also due, Fed meeting minutes and housing market data. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

The July employment report indicates that job growth has slowed over the past month. I spoke with CNBC about what this says about the job market and why there might be a bumpy road ahead. www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/h...

When do you think it’s appropriate to tip? My teammate Ted Rossman spoke with InvestigateTV about Bankrate’s newest Tipping Survey and why people think tipping culture is out of control. www.investigatetv.com/2025/07/28/g...

What was once a red-hot job market is now cautious and continuing to cool. Here's more on the latest JOLTS numbers, including job openings and hiring. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

A new Bankrate survey finds nearly half of American workers say they're likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

A new Bankrate economist survey outlines challenges ahead associated with a slower job market, persistent inflation, and tariffs. www.bankrate.com/banking/fede...

Be careful — and hydrated— out there!

Americans don't agree on many things, but a majority fear that tariffs will have a negative impact on their personal finances. Here's more on our Bankrate survey: www.bankrate.com/banking/savi...

Univ of Michigan consumer sentiment rises for the first time this year. What are consumers thinking and feeling and what are the risks for the outlook? www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Why the May jobs report deserves more than the proverbial quick read. My take on the blemishes beneath the surface. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Based on Institute for Supply Management (ISM) surveys of services and manufacturing sectors, tariff risks are coming home to roost. Prices paid are surging, and new orders are contracting. Higher inflation and slower economic growth are being observed.

Latest data: Job openings, hires rise at the end of April. Fewer people quit their jobs. My take: www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

What to watch in this week's monthly jobs report: My take. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Contrary to what President Trump and Elon Musk have said at this Oval Office press availability, The New York Times has not been forced to return its 2018 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.

The story that Musk interrupted and kept a Fox reporter from asking about today. Free link: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/u...

New home sales rise, while existing home sales decline. What's going on? www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

BREAKING: A judge blocks President Trump's executive order to shut down the Education Department. Follow live updates.

Home sales drop again, prices edge up and the supply of homes for sale rises to the most in five years. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

10 downside risks for the U.S. economy per Torsten Slok, Chief Economist, Apollo.

Founding fathers of the U.S. would be horrified and embarrassed. amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/05/...

From SABEW: "The Trump administration’s decision to exclude reporters from The Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters from Air Force One for the president’s first overseas trip violates First Amendment principles..." mailchi.mp/sabew/q1cdap...

U.S. housing starts rose 1.6% to 1.361M in April, but builder confidence has dropped to the lowest since Dec '22. Single-family starts declined, while multifamily units jumped. Elevated mortgage rates and tariff concerns weigh heavily on the market. www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Retail sales, wholesale inflation, and jobless claims. What to make of the latest econ data: www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...

Top congressional leaders are pushing back against Trump’s attempt to replace two Library of Congress leaders.

This is the polar opposite of why VOA was founded. It is to promote democracy, not right wing propaganda. www.reuters.com/business/med...

Even a decision by the Federal Reserve to hold the line on interest rates affects our finances (and the economy). Here are some key things to know: www.bankrate.com/banking/fede...