Inflation Archives - Unify Financial Advisors

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Weekly Market Update – 2.17.2025

Markets closed higher last week despite mixed economic signals, including weaker retail sales and ongoing tariff concerns. The S&P 500 posted a 1.47% gain, with information technology and consumer staples leading the rally, while consumer discretionary and financials lagged. Treasury yields edged lower, and crude oil prices remained volatile amid supply concerns. Inflation remains a key concern. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5% in January, marking the largest monthly ...
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Weekly Market Update – 2.10.2025

Unify Financial Advisors Weekly Market Update The S&P 500 declined 0.24% last week. Declines in US equity indexes and gains in international equity indexes could be attributed to tariff expectations. US equity valuations are elevated, while non-US equity valuations are low relative to historical averages. Home bias investing is the tendency to invest in domestic companies for comfort. Click here for information and a short video on home bias investment implications. Inflation data ...
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Weekly Market Update – 2.3.2025

Stocks started in the red last week following the DeepSeek AI news, but they managed to claw back most of their losses throughout the week. However, following the tariff announcement Friday afternoon, stocks sold off, and the S&P 500 finished the week down -1.00%. We saw solid earnings from big tech companies, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple. On the economic side, inflation seems to have stalled, growth remains solid on the back of strong consumer spending, and the Federal Reserve held ...
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Weekly Market Update – 1.13.2025

Last week, solid job numbers were a case of good news is bad news for the markets, with the S&P 500 declining by (1.94%). Job creation and openings support economic growth but can prompt the Federal Reserve (Fed) to maintain higher rates for longer to fulfill its dual mandate of maximum employment and price stability. As long-term investors, we prefer a strong jobs market and cautious Fed over a weak jobs market and easy Fed policy. The latter is usually in response to a poor economy ...
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Weekly Market Update – 12.16.2024

Last week, warm November inflation readings for CPI and PPI put downward pressure on stocks and bonds, with the S&P 500 declining 0.61% and longer-term yields increasing 0.25%. Rent inflation has been stubborn since the pandemic, but last week’s underlying data for rents showed their weakest pace in over three years, suggesting further progress on inflation.  Investors will focus on retail sales and the FOMC rate decision this week. The CME ...
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Weekly Market Update – 6.24.2024

Last week, stocks rallied but closed short of their all-time highs. May’s Retail Sales Report showed a 0.1% increase from the previous month, below the 0.3% expected. The category of sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments, and book stores saw the biggest m/m increase of 2.8%. In contrast, gasoline stations and furniture sales saw the largest decreases, 2.2% and 1.1% respectively. Look for summer-time discounts on home furniture and furnishings.    This ...
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Weekly Market Update – 6.3.2024

Unify Financial Advisors Weekly Market Update Last week, we saw monthly gains in consumer confidence and the home price index of 4.6% and 0.3%, respectively. Nationwide home values increased 7.4% in the last 12 months ending in March. Consumer confidence reversed a two-month decline, but inflation worries of the surveyed participants persisted. Declines in revised GDP and Personal Consumption Expendituresgave mixed signals, but stocks declined, with the S&P 500 finishing the week ...
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Weekly Market Update – 5.20.2024

Last week, stocks and bonds appreciated Wednesday’s Consumer Price Index(CPI) report. After months of stubborn inflation data, April’s report showed that headline and core inflation slowed. Over the last twelve months, consumer prices were up 3.4%.  The week ahead includes the release of the FOMC meeting minutes, new home sales data, and PMI. Nvidia (NVDA) will draw much attention before and after its Q1 earnings report after the market closes on Wednesday.  ...
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Weekly Market Update – 5.13.2024

Last week, stocks posted gains, with the S&P 500 approaching a record high and bond yields remaining relatively unchanged. Good corporate earnings and signs of a softening labor market contributed to stock gains. Inflation is back in focus this week, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report coming out on Wednesday. The market expects April’s CPI to decrease from the previous month. Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Here’s to a great week ...
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Weekly Market Update – 1.16.2024

Last week, the Michigan Wolverines pounced on the Washington Huskies in the NCAA Football Championship. Their victory is analogous to how the shelter component dominated the warmer-than-expected inflation data in the December Consumer Price Index (CPI). The index component for shelter continued its rise, contributing to over half of the overall CPI increase. The owners’ equivalent rent of residences (OER) survey, which accounts for 75% of the shelter index, could overstate current ...
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