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212 episodes
Language
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Money Talk PodcastExplicit
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Date created
2010/10/11
Latest episode
2026/04/17
Average duration
22 min.
Release period
7 days
Description
Independent investment advisor Bob Landaas makes sense of the latest financial developments and how they matter to individual investors. After nearly 20 years with his own popular radio show and almost a decade on public television across the country, Bob shares his plain-spoken insight via podcasts updated each Friday.
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Money Talk Podcast, Friday April 17, 2026
2026/04/17
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Dave Sandstrom
John Sandstrom
(with Max Hoelzl,Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (April 13-17, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
Housing sales stayed “sluggish” in March amid the weakest market in more than 30 years, according to the National Association of Realtors. The annual sales rate dipped another 3.6% from February to 3.98 million, 1% lower than the year before. The trade group blamed elevated mortgage rates and continued lack of inventory. Another 300,000 to 500,000 houses would be needed in addition to the 1.4 million already for sale to reach the historic balance between supply and demand, the group said. The imbalance has resulted in price increases. The median sales price rose 1.6% from the year before to a record $408,880 in March. The Realtors estimated that rising prices have increased the typical homeowner’s wealth by $128,100 since 2000.
Tuesday
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that wholesale inflation rose 0.5% in March, as prices on goods increased while services were unchanged. An 8.5% jump in energy prices, including nearly 16% in gasoline, accounted for the bulk of the rise in the cost of goods. The Producer Price Index advanced 4% from the year before, the steepest increase in more than three years. Excluding volatile prices for food, energy and trade services, the core PPI rose 0.2% from February and was up 3.6% from the year before, the most since November.
Wednesday
No major announcements
Thursday
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose for the seond week in a row following five weeks of no increases. The indicator of employers’ willingness to let workers go remained 42% below the all-time average, dating to 1967, according to Labor Department data. Total claims for jobless benefits fell 4% from the week before to 1.9 million, which was 3% off from where it was the year before.
Industrial production sank in March for the first time in four months as output from mines, utilities and manufacturing all declined. The Federal Reserve Board said overall production fell 0.5%, although it was up 2.4% through the first quarter and was 0.7% ahead of where it stood in March 2025. Factory production dropped 0.1% from February on broad declines led by automotive, which were partly offset by increased output from construction supplies as well as defense and space equipment. Industries’ capacity utilization rate fell slightly from February and stayed below its 54-year average, suggesting higher prices weren’t imminent.
Friday
No major announcements
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 24468, up 1566 points or 6.8%
S&P 500 – 7126, up 309 points or 4.5%
Dow Jones Industrial Average – 49448, up 1531 points or 3.2%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.25%, down 0.08 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday April 10, 2026
2026/04/10
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Steve Giles
Kendall Bauer
(with Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (April 6-10, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
No major announcements
Tuesday
The Commerce Department signaled ongoing weakness in demand for long-lasting manufactured products as orders for durable goods declined in February for the third month in a row and the fourth time in five months. A drop-off in requests for aircraft led a 1.4% dip in orders for the month, though commercial aircraft orders boosted the year-to-year totals to an 8.1% increase. Excluding transportation equipment, orders rose 0.8% from January and were up 5.3% from February 2025. Core capital goods orders, considered a proxy for business investments, rose 0.6% for the month and increased 4.2% from the same time last year.
The Federal Reserve reported that revolving credit debt outstanding rose at an annual rate of 0.6% in February. That was down from paces of 2.3% and 7.4% in the preceding months and suggests a rising reluctance among consumers to carry credit card debt. Revolving credit debt has declined 1.8% from its peak in October 2024. The report showed total consumer debt growing at an annual 2.2% pace, including a 2.8% rise in non-revolving credit, which includes student loans and vehicle financing.
Wednesday
No major announcements
Thursday
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose for the first time in six weeks but remained 42% below the long-term average. The measure is an ongoing indicator of employers’ reluctance to let go of workers. The Labor Department also reported that a little more than 2 million Americans claimed jobless benefits in the most recent week. That’s down 1.3% from the week before and down 2.3% from the same time last year.
U.S. economic growth slowed more than previously reported at the end of 2025. The Bureau of Economic Analysts said gross domestic product rose at an annual pace of 0.5% in the fourth quarter, down from an earlier estimate of 0.7% and a pace of 4.4% in the third quarter. The bureau said lower investment accounted for most of the revision, although consumer spending also slowed, and government spending declined sharply — partly tied to the shutdown in October and November.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis separately reported that consumer spending rose 0.5% in February. Meanwhile, personal income fell 0.1%, resulting in a drop in the personal savings rate. The same report showed the Federal Reserve Board’s favorite inflation gauge unchanged from January at 2.8%. The Fed’s long-term target for inflation broadly is 2%.
Friday
Higher energy prices led a surge in inflation in March. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index, the broadest measure of inflation, rose 0.9% from February and 3.3% from the year before — the biggest one-year increase since May 2024. Energy costs increased 12.5% in the last year, including a 21.2% spike in gasoline prices just in March. Core inflation, excluding food and energy products, rose 0.3% from February and 2.6% from the year before.
The war in Iran has taken a toll on Americans’ confidence in the economy and their financial outlooks. University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index dropped 11% in March and was 9% below where it stood a year ago. The university said sentiment fell broadly across demographic groups. Expectations for inflation reached the highest levels since a year ago, when they shot up amid uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 22903, up 1024 points or 4.7%
S&P 500 – 6817, up 234 points or 3.6%
Dow Jones Industrial Average – 47917, up 1412 points or 3.0%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.32%, up 0.01 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday April 3, 2026
2026/04/03
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Art Rothschild
Adam Baley
(with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
In a special episode of the Money Talk Podcast, advisors Kyle Tetting, Art Rothschild and Adam Baley review the first year since the U.S. escalated tariffs and global trade wars.
They discuss corporate uncertainty and market volatility stirred by repeated shifts in tariffs, which have varied by country and remain in flux after the Supreme Court ruled that the justification for many of the changes was illegal.
Kyle, Art and Adam related what the developments have meant so far to long-term investors and what that suggests for managing portfolios and expectations amid disruptive global events.
Learn more
Tracking the Impact of the Trump Tariffs & Trade War, from the Tax Foundation
Market Reactions to Tariff Announcements, from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
2025 in rear-view: Lessons learned, by Kyle Tetting
2025 Investment Outlook Seminar, a Money Talk Video with Kyle Tetting
Markets surprise. What should investors do? by Steve Giles
War: Added uncertainty, need for balance, from Kyle Tetting
War in Ukraine reminds us of role for bonds, from Kyle Tetting
Money Talk Podcast, Friday March 27, 2026
2026/03/27
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Art Rothschild
Adam Baley
(with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (March 23-27, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
A drop in residential building in January led a slight decline in U.S. construction spending. The Commerce Department reported a 0.3% drop in overall building expenditures. Housing, which accounts for more than 40% of all construction spending, fell nearly 1%, while manufacturing — about 9% of expenditures — declined 2%. Compared to January 2025, overall construction spending rose 1%, with housing up 2% and manufacturing down 15%.
Tuesday
The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised fourth quarter worker productivity growth to a 1.8% annual rate from a previous estimate of 2.8%. Output weakened to a 1.5% pace from an earlier estimate of 2.6%. In both estimates, the number of hours worked dropped 0.2%. Year to year, productivity rose 2.1% from 2024 to 2025. That was on pace with the current business cycle, which started at the end of 2019. The all-time average since 1947 is 2.2%. Productivity in the previous cycle, which included the Great Recession, averaged 1.5%.
Wednesday
No major announcements
Thursday
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims fell for the fourth week in a row and the fifth time in six weeks. Data from the Labor Department shows the moving average down 42% from its historic average since 1967. The lack of layoffs suggests continued employer reluctance to let workers go in a tight job market. Total jobless claims dropped 1.9% from the week before to 2.1 million, which was 0.8% behind the same time in 2025.
Friday
Consumer sentiment declined nearly 6% in March as the U.S.-Israel war in Iran lowered outlooks while raising expectations for inflation. Sentiment was 6.5% lower than in March 2025. Consumer forecasts for inflation rose the most since the announcement of tariff increases last April. Economists see sentiment as an indication of consumer spending, which drives about 70% of U.S. economic activity. According to the University of Michigan survey, consumers expect effects from the war to be worse in the short run, but that’s subject to how long the war lasts and the impact of higher oil prices. About one-third of the survey came before the war began.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 20948, down 699 points or 3.2%
S&P 500 – 6369, down 138 points or 2.1%
Dow Jones Industrial Average – 45167, down 410 points or 0.9%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.44%, up 0.05 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday March 20, 2026
2026/03/20
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Tom Pappenfus
Dave Sandstrom
(with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (March 16-20, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
U.S. industrial production rose 0.2% in February, following a 0.7% gain in January, according to the Federal Reserve. Manufacturing output also increased 0.2%, led by automotive products. In the last year, total production advanced 1.4% while manufacturing rose 1.3%. The capacity utilization rate, considered a leading indicator of inflation, was unchanged in February, staying at 76.3%, well below the long-term average.
Tuesday
Prospects for home sellers brightened slightly in February with a bump up in the pending home sales index from the National Association of Realtors. The trade group said its index rose 1.8% from January and 0.8% from the year before, though it still stood about 28% below the 2001 index, which the Realtors consider to be a normal sales level. The association credited improved affordability for the rise in pending sales. It also said affordability could be threatened by a “sluggish” job market and rising energy costs stemming from the war in Iran.
Wednesday
Wholesale inflation rose more than analysts expected in February with the highest jump in goods prices since August 2023. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said its Producer Price Index rose 0.7% from January. It was up 3.4% from the year before, the most in a year. Excluding volatile prices for food, energy and trade services, the core PPI rose 0.5% from January and was 3.5% higher than the year before.
Demand for U.S. manufactured goods rose in January for the fourth time in six months. The Commerce Department reported that new orders for factory goods grew by 0.1% from December and were 3.5% ahead of their level in January 2025. Gains were led by commercial aircraft orders, which offset declines in automotive and military aircraft. Excluding the volatile transportation category, orders rose 0.4% for the month and 0.6% for the year. Core capital goods orders, a proxy for business investments, rose 0.1% from December and 2.9% from the year before.
As widely anticipated, the policy-making committee of the Federal Reserve Board voted to hold short-term interest rates steady. After a two-day meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee noted that inflation continued to run above the Fed’s 2% target, although the economy appeared to be expanding at a solid pace and the labor market showed little change since the last meeting.
Thursday
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims fell for the third time in four weeks to 42% below its average since 1967. The Labor Department report suggested continued reluctance among employers to let workers go. Total jobless claims dropped 3.4% from the week before to just under 2.2 million, which was 0.3% behind the same time in 2025.
The market for new houses sank to its slowest pace in more than three years in January. The annual rate of new residential sales fell nearly 18% from December and was the lowest since October 2022, the Commerce Department reported. As a result, the inventory of unsold new houses rose to a 9.7 months’ supply. The median price for a new house fell 6.8% from the year before to $400,500.
Friday
No major announcements
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 21648, down 458 points or 2.1%
S&P 500 – 6506, down 126 points or 1.9%
Dow Jones Industrial Average – 45577, down 981 points or 2.1%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.39%, up 0.11 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday March 13, 2026
2026/03/13
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Dave Sandstrom
John Sandstrom
(with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (March 9-13, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
No major announcements
Tuesday
The National Association of Realtors said the pace of existing home sales rose 1.7% in February, though it was still behind the year-ago rate and around the lowest in more than 30 years. The trade group called demand “muted” as lower mortgage rates and rising wages combined to make housing more affordable than it has been since March 2022. The median sales price rose to $398,000, up 0.3% from February 2025, the 32nd consecutive increase.
Wednesday
The broadest measure of inflation stayed steady in February. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index rose 2.4% from February 2025, unadjusted for seasonality. That was the same rate as January and still above the Federal Reserve’s long-term target of 2%. Shelter costs led the monthly uptick. Gas prices rose for the first time in three months — prior to subsequent spikes spurred by the Iran war. The core CPI, excluding volatile food and energy costs, was up 2.5% from the year before, also the same rate as January.
Thursday
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed by 25% in January to $54.5 billion. The Bureau of Economic Analysis said exports rose 5.5% from December, led by non-monetary gold and other precious metals, as well as computers and civilian aircraft. Imports shrank 0.7%, led by pharmaceuticals and automobiles. Since January 2025, the trade gap contracted by almost 58% as exports expanded 10% and imports fell 11%.
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims fell for the third time in four weeks, suggesting employers continue to be reluctant to let workers leave. According to data from the Labor Department, the four-week number was 41% below the 59-year average. More than 2.2 million individuals were receiving jobless benefits in the latest week, up 3.5% from the week before and down less than 1% from the year before.
The Commerce Department said housing starts and building permits in January continued to track below their pre-COVID levels. Although the annual pace of housing starts rose 7% from December and 9.5% from January 2025, it has been below the pre-pandemic level for nearly two years. Building permits fell both from the month before and the year before. Meanwhile, the pace of houses under construction fell again, sinking 26% below their record pace in late 2022.
Friday
The U.S. economy grew slower than previously estimated at the end of 2025. The gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 1.7% in the fourth quarter, down from a preliminary report of 2.4% and below the 4.4% pace in the third quarter. The Bureau of Economic Analysis blamed the downward revision on weaker consumer spending and private investments and greater declines in government spending and exports. Adjusted for Inflation, GDP grew 2.1% in 2025, the weakest since a 2.1% decline in 2020.
In a possible sign of consumer restraint, personal spending fell slightly behind the pace of personal income in January, raising the personal savings rate to its highest level in six months. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported a savings rate of 4.5% of disposable income, which has been below the pre-pandemic level of 7.5% for more than four years. The same report showed the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation staying above its long-range target of 2%. The personal consumption expenditure index was up 2.8% from the year before, vs. 2.9% in December. The last time it was below 2% was February 2021.
Durable goods orders were unchanged in January as a plunge in demand for commercial aircraft offset scattered gains elsewhere. The Commerce Department reported that orders overall ran 9% higher than the year before. Excluding volatile transportation orders, demand rose 0.4% from the month before and was up 4.4% from January 2025. Core capital goods orders, a proxy for business investments, were unchanged for the month and up 2.9% from the year before.
U.S. employers posted 6.9 million job openings in January, up marginally from December but below the pre-COVID level for the third month in a row. Postings were down 43% from their peak nearly five years ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Based on openings and unemployed job seekers, the supply of available labor has outpaced demand since July. That’s after more than four years of the balance favoring workers. The number and rate of workers voluntarily quitting – an indication of worker confidence – stayed below pre-pandemic levels for the 25th month in a row.
The University of Michigan said consumer sentiment reversed course following the onset of war in Iran. Polling done before Feb. 28 showed improvements in consumer outlooks, the university said, but opinions plunged thereafter regardless of respondents’ incomes, ages or political affiliations. Overall, consumers had lower expectations for their personal finances and higher forecasts for inflation.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 22105, down 282 points or 1.3%
S&P 500 – 6632, down 108 points or 1.6%
Dow Jones Industrial Average – 46560, down 942 points or 2.0%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.29%, up 0.15 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday March 6, 2026
2026/03/06
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Tom Pappenfus
(with Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (March 2-6, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
A two-month expansion of the manufacturing sector slowed in February, just as it did the year before. The Institute for Supply Management said its survey-based manufacturing index signaled the second consecutive month of growth after 10 months of contraction. Prior to 2025, the index shrank 26 months in a row. The trade group said 21% of the manufacturing industry’s gross domestic product contracted in February, following 20% in January. The index suggested the overall U.S. economy was growing at an annual rate of 1.7%.
Tuesday
No significant reports
Wednesday
The service sector of the U.S. economy expanded in February for the 20th month in a row and at the highest level since mid-2022. The Institute for Supply Management said the four most impactful index components rose together for the third month in a row, repeating a streak from a year ago. The ISM’s survey of supply managers reported more uncertainty about trade policies following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found some tariffs illegal. But managers also suggested companies were learning to accommodate volatility in tariff rules.
Thursday
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said worker productivity rose at an annual pace of 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The rate resulted from the annual pace of output rising 2.6% while hours worked decreased at a 0.2% pace. Productivity advanced 2.2% over the last four quarters, equal to the average since the end of 2019. That compared to 1.5% annual growth in the previous 12-year business cycle and an average of 2.2% since 1947. Labor costs rose 1.3% in the last year, and the share of output accrued to workers through compensation reached a record low in data going back to 1947.
The Labor Department reported the four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims fell for the second time in three weeks. It remained 40% below its average since 1967. Total claims for the latest week declined 2.9% from the week before to just under 2.2 million. That was 1% lower than the year before.
Friday
Employers cut 92,000 jobs on net in February, the second decline in three months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate edged up to 4.4%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs report, combining payroll data and household surveys, offered mixed signals on a generally weaker labor market. On the plus side, the average hourly wage continued to outpace broad inflation, and the share of prime-age workers either employed or looking for jobs stayed near the highest level since 2001. On the other hand, a measure of underemployment remained above the pre-pandemic mark for the 26th month in a row, and — outside the pandemic — the employment of temporary-help workers dropped to the lowest count since 2012.
Retail sales declined in January as seven of 13 categories reported lower revenue, the Commerce Department reported. Gas stations were among the decliners, reflecting lower gas prices in January. But sales at bars and restaurants, an indicator of consumer confidence, fell for the third time in four months. Consumer spending drives about 70% of the U.S. economy, as measured by gross domestic product. Adjusted for inflation, total retail sales dropped for at least the second month in a row. Inflation data for October and November are missing because of a federal government shutdown.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 22388, down 281 points or 1.2%
S&P 500 – 6740, down 109 points or 1.6%
Dow Jones Industrial Average – 47502, down 1476 points or 3.0%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.13%, up 0.17 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday Feb. 27, 2026
2026/02/27
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Art Rothschild
Steve Giles
(with Max Hoelzl, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 22668, down 218 points or 1.0%
S&P 500 – 6849, down 60 points or 0.9%
Dow Jones Industrial Average – 48977, down 649 points or 1.3%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 3.96%, down 0.12 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday Feb. 20, 2026
2026/02/20
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Steve Giles
Tom Pappenfus
(with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (Feb. 16-20, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
Markets closed for Presidents Day
Tuesday
No major releases
Wednesday
Home construction gained slightly in December but continued to provide little relief to ongoing inventory shortages. The Commerce Department said the annual rate of housing starts rose 6% from November, though it was down 7% from the year-ago pace and has remained below the pre-pandemic level since mid-2023. The pace of housing permits also rose for December but kept under the pre-pandemic rate. The number of houses under construction was down 26% from its peak in November 2022.
The Commerce Department said durable goods orders fell 1.4% in December, the second decline in three months. A dip in commercial aircraft orders led the drop-off. Excluding transportation equipment, demand for long-lasting manufactured items was up 0.9% from November and was up 2.8% from the year before. Core capital goods orders, a proxy for business investments, rose 0.6% for the month and were 3.5% ahead of December 2024.
The Federal Reserve reported that industrial production rose 0.7% in January, led by a broad lift in manufacturing output. The 0.6% increase in factory production was the most since February and included the first gain for auto makers since August. Industries’ capacity utilization rate rose slightly in January but stayed below the long-term average, suggesting low potential for inflation.
Thursday
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed slightly in 2025, as the value of exports outpaced imports. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the 2025 trade gap was $901.5 billion, down 0.2% from the year before. Exports grew 6.2% in the year while imports rose 4.8%. Trade gaps detract from economic output, as measured by the gross domestic product. From November, the deficit widened 32.6% with exports declining 1.7% and imports rising 3.6%.
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment insurance claims declined for the first time in four weeks, remaining 39% below the 59-year average, according to new Labor Department data. Some 2.2 million Americans claimed jobless benefits in the latest week, down 0.4% from the week before and up 0.9% from the same time in 2025.
The Conference Board reported a 0.2% decline in its index of leading economic indicators in December. It was the fifth consecutive drop. In the last half of 2025, the index fell by 1.6%, an improvement from the 2.8% fall in the first half of 2026. The business research group said weak consumer expectations and meager factory orders led the decline. The Conference Board forecast 2.1% growth in U.S. gross domestic product in 2026, down slightly from estimates for 2025.
Commitments to home buying slipped in January as sales activity remained the lowest in three decades. The pending home sales index of the National Association of Realtors declined 0.8% from December and was down 0.4% from January 2025. The trade group said lower mortgage rates have improved affordability and could spur another 550,000 home buyers into the market in 2026. But with ongoing inventory shortages, additional buyers could boost prices.
Friday
The U.S. economy grew at a 1.4% annual pace in the fourth quarter, down from 4.4% in the third quarter, according to a preliminary estimate by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Expansion of the gross domestic product slowed mostly because consumer spending decelerated but also as a result of a 17% decline in federal government spending, which shaved nearly 1.2 percentage points from the growth rate. For all of 2025, GDP rose 2.2%, down from a 2.4% increase in 2024 and the weakest in three years.
The Federal Reserve Board’s preferred measure of inflation rose to 2.9% in December, its highest rate since March 2024. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported the Personal Consumption Expenditure index was down from a four-decade high of 7.2% in June 2022 but has stayed above the Fed’s long-range target of 2% since early 2021. The report also showed consumer spending rising 0.4% in December, outpacing the 0.3% gain in personal income. As a result, the personal saving rate fell to 3.6% of disposable income, its lowest point in more than three years.
Sales of newly constructed houses slipped in December, as the annual pace dropped 1.7% from November to 745,000 houses. New home sales were up nearly 4% from the year before, as the rate rose above the pre-pandemic level for the second month in a row. The median sales price fell 2% from December 2024 to $414,400. The inventory of unsold new houses fell to 7.6 months’ worth of inventory at current sales rates, compared to less than six months’ just before the pandemic.
The University of Michigan reported that its consumer sentiment index rose slightly from January. The reading was nearly 21% below where it stood in January 2025 as nearly half of all respondents said prices were eroding their personal finances. Sentiment was higher among consumers who were wealthier and had more education. Uncertainty and inflation expectations remained elevated historically but settled down from mid-2025 highs. Economists see consumer sentiment as a precursor to consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the U.S. gross domestic product.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 22886, up 339 points or 1.5%
S&P 500 – 6910, up 73 points or 1.1%
Dow Jones Industrial Average – 49626, up 125 points or 0.3%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.09%, up 0.03 point
.
Money Talk Podcast, Friday Feb. 13, 2026
2026/02/13
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Art Rothschild
Adam Baley
(with Max Hoelzl and Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (Feb. 9-13, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
No major announcements
Tuesday
The Commerce Department reported no change in retail sales in December, following a 0.6% decline in the value of goods and services sold in November. Eight of 13 retail categories posted lower sales, led by furniture stores. Home-and-garden centers led the five categories that gained. Adjusted for inflation, retail sales declined by 0.3% in December, at least the fourth drop since April, with data missing from October because of the federal government shutdown.
Wednesday
U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs in January, far above the monthly pace of 15,000 in 2025. The employment situation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics included other estimates surpassing analyst expectations, such as a 4.3% unemployment rate, down from 4.4% in December. The labor force participation rate of prime-age workers between 25 and 54 reached its highest point in nearly 25 years. Average wage increases continued to outpace overall inflation. Still, some measures suggested a harder employment market. The U-6 underemployment rate remained above the pre-pandemic level for the 26th month in a row. And employment in temporary help services — often a harbinger of job trends — stayed below the pre-pandemic mark for the 32nd month in a row.
Thursday
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose for the third week in a row but continued to indicate employer reluctance to let workers go. According to new data from the Labor Department, the rolling average of claims stayed 39% below the long-term average. Total jobless claims rose 3.5% from the week before, exceeding 2.2 million, but was 1.5% under the same time in 2025.
The U.S. housing market remained the worst in more than 30 years in January, as the National Association of Realtors reported existing home sales dropped another 8.4%. The annual rate of unit sales was down 4.4% from the year-ago pace. And while extraordinarily cold and snowy weather contributed to low sales in January, the trade group continued to cite lack of supply for the industry’s woes. The median sales price rose 0.9% from the year before to $396,800, the 31st consecutive increase. But average wages rose faster than prices, and mortgage rates were lower than the year before, which improved affordability to the best level for buyers since March 2022. That’s when the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates to combat high inflation.
Friday
Despite another increase in housing costs in January, the overall inflation rate dipped to its lowest level since May. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said its Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% from December, led by shelter costs and food prices, which were partially offset by a 3.2% dip in gas prices. Compared to January 2025, the broadest measure of inflation rose 2.4%. That’s still above the Federal Reserve’s long-term target of 2% but down from a four-decade high of 9.1% in June 2022. Excluding volatile costs for food and energy items, the core CPI added 0.3% from December and was up 2.5% from the year before, the lowest rate since reaching 1.6% in May 2021.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 23031, down 431 points or 1.8%
S&P 500 – 6932, down 7 points or 0.1%
Dow Jones Industrial – 50116, up 1223 points or 2.5%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.21%, down 0.04%
Money Talk Podcast, Friday Feb. 6, 2026
2026/02/06
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Tom Pappenfus
Mike Hoelzl
(with Max Hoelzl, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (Feb. 2-6, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
The manufacturing sector expanded in January for the first time in a year and only the second time in more than three years, according to the Institute for Supply Management. The trade group’s index, based on surveys of manufacturing supply managers, showed new orders growing for the first time since August and at the fastest pace in four years. Production also rose the most since early 2022, while employment contracted for the 28th month in a row. The ISM said 12% of manufacturing gross domestic product was in strong contraction in January, compared to 43% in December.
Tuesday
No major releases, in part because of the partial shutdown of the federal government.
Wednesday
Service industries, the largest segment of the U.S. economy, showed continued expansion in January. The Institute for Supply Management’s service index indicated growth for the 19th month in a row. The index level was unchanged from December and the highest since October 2024. Supply managers surveyed for the report continued to voice concerns over the impact and uncertainty of tariffs. The trade group said a trend in price increases deserved monitoring.
Thursday
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row but continued to suggest a historically tight job market. According to data from the Labor Department, the latest four-week average was 41% below the all-time average, dating back to 1967. As an early measure of layoff trends, new jobless claims have signaled reluctance by employers to let workers go. Total claims fell 4.2% from the week before to just below 2.2 million, which was 1.2% lower than the year before.
And while employers appear reluctant to dismiss workers, the number of job openings dropped in December to the lowest level since the pandemic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 6.5 million openings in December, down from a record 12.1 million in March 2022 and below the pre-pandemic mark for the first time since September 2020. The number and rate of worker quitting their jobs — a measure of worker confidence — have stayed below pre-pandemic levels since the end of 2023.
Friday
A report on jobs and employment from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was delayed because of the partial shutdown of the federal government.
The University of Michigan said a preliminary measure of its consumer sentiment index showed essentially no change from January. Though it was the highest reading since August, it was down 11% from February 2025 and remained “relatively low from a historical perspective.” The survey-based report found consumers continuing to be concerned about their personal finances because of high prices and weakened job prospects. Stockholders tended to feel more confident. Expectations for inflation continued to outpace expectations before the pandemic.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 23031, down 431 points or 1.8%
Standard & Poor’s 500 – 6932, down 7 points or 0.1%
Dow Jones Industrial – 50116, up 1223 points or 2.5%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.21%, down 0.04%
Money Talk Podcast, Friday Jan. 30, 2026
2026/01/30
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Mike Hoelzl
Kendall Bauer
(with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (Jan. 26-30)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
Orders for commercial aircraft boosted durable goods orders in November, the Commerce Department reported. Total orders rose 5.3% from October, the third increase in four months, and were 7.3% ahead of their level in November 2024. Excluding transportation equipment, orders rose 0.5% for the month and were up 2.4% from the year before. Core capital goods orders, a proxy for business investment, gained 0.7% from October and were up 3.1% from November 2024.
Tuesday
Housing prices increased again in November, though less than overall inflation, according to the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller national index. The 1.4% gain was unchanged from October and compared to a 2.7% year-to-year increase in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. An executive with the index said it indicated the U.S. housing market is in a period of tepid growth. Data showed a divergence of markets geographically with prices rising 5.7% in Chicago and declining 3.9% in Tampa. Month to month seasonally adjusted prices fell in 15 of 20 major cities.
The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell in January to its lowest point since May 2014. The business research group said expectations sank across demographics including age, income and party affiliation. Expectation levels continued to signal near-term economic recession. Economists follow consumer confidence as a precursor to consumer spending, which drives about 70% of U.S. economic activity.
Wednesday
The policy-making body of the Federal Reserve Board announced no change to the overnight funds rate. Citing stabilizing unemployment and somewhat elevated inflation, the Federal Open Market Committee said it would hold the fed funds rate after dropping it three times in the last half of 2025. The rate is what banks charge one another. The Fed tends to raise it when it’s more concerned about inflation and to lower it when unemployment gets worrisome.
Thursday
The U.S. trade deficit nearly doubled in November, widening by 94.6% to $56.8 billion. Exports declined as imports rose as global trade continued to be volatile amid fluctuating U.S. tariffs. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, exports fell by 3.6% from October, led by sales of non-monetary gold and pharmaceutical products. Imports gained 5%, led by increased U.S. purchases of overseas pharmaceuticals and computers. Through the first 11 months of 2025, the deficit — which detracts from gross domestic product — widened 4%; exports gained 6.3%, and imports rose 5.8%.
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose for the first time in four weeks but continued to show overall tight hiring conditions. The average was 43% below the all-time average dating back to 1967. The Labor Department said just under 2.3 million Americans claimed jobless benefits in the latest week, down 3% from the week before and a smidge below the same time in 2024.
Worker productivity increased at a 4.9% annual rate in the third quarter, unchanged from a previous estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported worker output rose at a 5.4% pace while hours worked rose 0.5%. Hourly compensation advanced at a 2.9% pace in the quarter, resulting in a decline of 1.9% in labor costs. Year to year, productivity rose 1.9%, just below the 2% annual average in the business cycle that started at the end of 2019. In the previous cycle, beginning at the end of 2007, productivity averaged 1.5%, vs. a 2.1% average gain since 1947.
A rise in demand for commercial aircraft boosted factory orders in November. The Commerce Department reported that total orders rose 2.7% from October, the third increase in four months. Demand for manufactured goods was up 3.4% from the year before. Excluding volatile orders for transportation equipment, orders rose 0.2% for the month and were up 0.7% from November 2024. Core capital goods orders, a proxy for business investments, rose 0.4% from October and were up 3.1% from November 2024.
Friday
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that wholesale inflation rose 0.5% in December, as prices on goods were unchanged while services increased. The Producer Price Index advanced 3% from the year before, down from 3.5% in 2024 but up from as low as 2.4% in June. The Federal Reserve target for long-term inflation is 2%. Excluding volatile prices for food, energy and trade services, the so-called core PPI rose 0.4% from November and was up 3.5% from December 2024.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 23462, down 39 points or 0.2%
Standard & Poor’s 500 – 6939, up 23 points or 0.3%
Dow Jones Industrial – 48892, down 206 points or 0.4%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.24%, no change
Money Talk Podcast, Friday Jan. 23, 2026
2026/01/23
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Dave Sandstrom
Mike Hoelzl
(with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (Jan. 19-23, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
Markets and government offices closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday
No major releases
Wednesday
U.S. construction spending rose in October for the fourth time in five months. Data from the Commerce Department, delayed by the government shutdown in the fall, showed the seasonally adjusted annual rate of building expenditures up 0.5% from September. It was 1% below its year-ago pace. Spending on residential construction — accounting for 57% of the total — slipped 1.2% from the October 2024 pace. Manufacturing accounted for 10% of all construction spending and was down 11% from a record high last May.
An early indicator of home sales declined in December. The National Association of Realtors’ index of pending home sales dropped 9.3% from November and was down 3% from December 2024. The trade group said several seasonal factors could have affected the reading but that low inventories probably dampened demand. At 71.8, the index of pending sales was nearly 30% below what the association considers normal. Total sales for 2025 tied with the year before for the lowest since 1995.
Thursday
The U.S. economy grew at an annual pace of 4.4% in the third quarter, up from 3.8% in the previous three months and the highest rate in two years. The Bureau of Economic Analysis said the acceleration in gross domestic product was led by consumer spending, exports, government spending and investments. A decline in imports also contributed to the third-quarter gain.
The 4.4% pace was revised from 4.3% in an earlier estimate. Since the third quarter of 2024 and adjusting for inflation, GDP rose 2.3%.
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims fell for the third week in a row and the fourth time in five weeks to reach the lowest level in two years. The average was 44% below the all-time average dating back to 1967. The Labor Department said 2.3 million Americans claimed jobless benefits in the latest week, up more than 5% from the week before and 1.5% higher than the same time in 2025.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis said consumer spending rose 0.5% in November, outpacing a 0.3% increase in personal income. As a result, the personal saving rate dipped to 3.5% of disposable income, the lowest in more than three years. The personal consumption expenditures index, the Federal Reserve Board’s favorite measure of inflation, rose 2.8% from November 2024, up from 2.7% in October. The inflation rate remained above the Fed’s 2% long-term target but was below a four-decade high exceeding 7% in June 2022.
Friday
The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index improved from December with a small, broadly based increase. The index rose 6.6% from the month before and remained 21% below where it stood in January 2025, as consumers continued to complain about high prices and expressed concerns about weakening job conditions. Expectations for inflation ran at 4% in the next year and 3.3% longer term. Consumers’ outlook for inflation stayed high historically but was down from mid-2025 peaks, which were blown up by worries over global trade wars.
The U.S. economy should slow in 2026, the Conference Board said, based on its November report of leading economic indicators. The business research group said its index declined 0.3% in November after dropping 0.1% in October, led by weak consumer expectations and falling demand for manufactured goods. Among the positive indicators were fewer unemployment insurance claims and more factory hours worked. For the latest six months, the index fell 1.2%, compared to a decline of 2.6% in the previous six months.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 23501, down 14 points or 0.1%
Standard & Poor’s 500 – 6916, down 24 points or 0.4%
Dow Jones Industrial – 49099, down 261 points or 0.5%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.24%, up 0.01 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday Jan. 16, 2026
2026/01/16
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Adam Baley
Kendall Bauer
(with Max Hoelzl,Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (Jan. 12-16, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
No major announcements
Tuesday
The broadest measure of inflation rose slightly in December, staying above the Federal Reserve Board target though below the four-decade peak in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index, rose 0.3% from November, led by shelter costs and food prices, offset by lower gas prices. The CPI advanced 2.7% from December 2027, unchanged from the November pace. That’s down from 9.1% in June 2022 but above the Fed’s long-range target of 2%. Excluding volatile prices for food and energy items, the core CPI rose 0.2% from November and was 2.6% ahead of December 2024, the slowest pace for core inflation since March 2021.
The Commerce Department reported a slight decline in the annual rate of new home sales in October. All the growth occurred in southern states and was nearly 19% ahead of the year-ago pace. Despite declining 0.1% from September, the annual sales rate of new houses stayed above the pre-pandemic level for the third month in a row. An increase in sales of houses for less than $400,000 brought the median sales price down to $392,300, 8% below the mark in October 2024.
Wednesday
The Commerce Department said retail sales rose 0.6% in November after slipping 0.1% in October. The latest gain suggested continued resilience in the economy, with 10 of 13 retail categories expanding, led by car dealers, gas stations, home-and-garden centers and sporting goods/hobby stores. Sales at bars and restaurants also rose in November, rising for the fifth time in six months. Retail sales represent about two-thirds of consumer spending, which drives more than two-thirds of economic growth.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that wholesale inflation rose 0.2% in November, as prices on goods increased while services were unchanged. A 4.6% jump in energy prices accounted for 90% of the rise in the cost of goods. The Producer Price Index advanced 3% from the year before, down from the record 11.7% reached in March 2022. Excluding volatile prices for food, energy and trade services, the so-called core PPI also rose 0.2% from October and was up 3.5% from the year before, the most since March.
Housing sales continued to tank in 2025. The National Association of Realtors reported 4.06 million houses and condominium sold, the same as 2024, and the lowest since 1995. Existing home sales account for 90% of the residential market. The trade group cited record-high prices and scant supply. The median sales price for December reached $405,400, up 0.4% from the year before, the 30th straight increase. The number of unsold houses on the market fell below 1.2 million, or 3.3 months’ worth at the current sales pace.
Thursday
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims fell to its lowest level since January 2024, dropping 43% below the all-time average. An indicator of employers’ willingness to let workers go, the moving average was 1% above where it stood just before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Labor Department data. Total claims for jobless benefits rose 16% from the week before to 2.2 million, affected in part by year-end layoffs. That was up 0.2% from the year before.
Friday
Industrial production rose in December for the second month in a row and gained 2% from the year before. The Federal Reserve Board said production from factories increased 0.2% from November and also was up 2% from December 2024. Industries’ capacity utilization rate — covering manufacturing, mining and utilities — also rose for the second consecutive month, though it stayed below its 53-year average, suggesting higher prices weren’t imminent.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 23515, down 156 points or 0.7%
Standard & Poor’s 500 – 6940, down 26 points or 0.4%
Dow Jones Industrial – 49359, down 145 points or 0.3%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.23%, up 0.04 point
Money Talk Podcast, Friday Jan. 9, 2026
2026/01/09
Advisors on This Week’s Show
Kyle Tetting
Art Rothschild
Mike Hoelzl
(with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik)
Week in Review (Jan. 5-9, 2026)
Significant Economic Indicators & Reports
Monday
The Institute for Supply Management reported that its manufacturing index signaled contraction in December for the 10th month in a row and the 36th time in 38 months. Based on surveys of supply managers, the index showed that the industry slump accelerated for the third month in a row. The trade group said 85% of the sector’s gross domestic product shrank in December, compared to 58% in November, and 43% of manufacturing GDP was in strong contraction, vs. 39% the month before. The ISM said the index suggested the overall U.S. economy was growing at an annual rate of 1.6%.
Tuesday
No significant reports or announcements
Wednesday
A report from the Commerce Department showed manufacturing orders shrinking in October for the third time in five months. The value of orders fell 1.3% from September and was 3.3% ahead of October 2024. Excluding volatile orders for transportation equipment – most notably commercial aircraft, orders sank 0.2% for the month and gained 0.8% from the year before. A proxy for business investments was up 0.5% from October and 3.1% from the year before.
U.S. employers posted 7.1 million job openings in November, as both hiring and separations remained stagnant. Openings were down from a record high of 12.2 million in March 2022 and remained above the pre-pandemic level of about 7 million. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that both the number and proportion of workers quitting their jobs – an indicator of worker confidence – stayed below the pre-pandemic level for the 23rd month in a row.
The U.S. services sector grew at a faster pace for the third month in a row in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management. The trade group’s services index showed most components improved from November. Employment expanded for the first time in seven months. The 12-month average for the index has been dropping for nearly four years. Supply managers told the ISM they’re concerned about prices, tariffs and seasonal factors.
Thursday
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed 39% in October to $29.4 billion, the slimmest margin since mid-2009, amid continued adjustments to shifting tariffs. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, exports rose by 2.6% from September, with non-monetary gold and other precious metals offsetting a decline in other goods sold abroad. Imports fell 3.2%, led by pharmaceuticals. Through the first 10 months of 2025, the deficit – which detracts from gross domestic product – widened 7.7%; exports gained 6.3%, while imports rose 6.6%.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said worker productivity rose at an annual rate of 4.9% in the third quarter, the fastest pace in two years. Measured year over year, productivity advanced 1.9% from the third quarter of 2024. That compares to an average 1.5% annual gain since the end of 2019, which is below the 2.1% average since 1947. The productivity report showed unit labor costs falling at a 1.9% annual pace during the latest quarter, as output rose faster than compensation. Adjusted for inflation, compensation rose 0.3% from the third quarter of 2024.
The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims fell for the second time in three weeks to its lowest level since April 2024. The measure of employer willingness to part with workers was 41% below the all-time average and 2% above where it stood just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the Labor Department showed 1.9 million Americans claiming unemployment benefits in the latest week. That was down 5.7% from the week before and up 1% from the same time last year.
In a sign of ongoing consumer caution, credit card debt sank in November at a 1.9% annual pace. The Federal Reserve Board reported that revolving consumer debt outstanding declined for the sixth time in 13 months. The decrease amounted to $2.1 billion. Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. economic output, as measured by the gross domestic product. Credit card debt partly reflects the confidence of consumers to keep spending.
Friday
U.S. employers added 50,000 jobs in December, barely higher than the average for 2025 and well below the monthly addition of 168,000 jobs in 2024. Other data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report suggests a resilient though cooling job market. Temporary help jobs — considered a bellwether of overall hiring trends — dropped to the lowest number in 14 years. The average hourly wage rose 3.8% from December 2024, exceeding overall inflation for the 31st month in a row. The same report showed the unemployment rate at 4.4%, staying above the pre-pandemic rate since mid-2023.
The pace of U.S. housing starts and building permits continued to slow in October. The Commerce Department reported the annual rate of new construction declined nearly 5% from September and almost 8% from the year before. The annual pace of permits inched down 0.2% for the month and was more than 1% lower than in October 2024. The pace of houses under construction was down 23% from the peak three years earlier but still stayed 8% above the pre-pandemic level.
The University of Michigan reported a second consecutive month of slightly improving consumer sentiment. A preliminary January reading of the survey-based index showed overall sentiment down nearly 25% from the beginning of 2025, though up from mid-year pessimism surrounding unclear tariff policies. The university said consumers remained mostly concerned about higher prices and a weaker job market.
Market Closings for the Week
Nasdaq – 23671, up 436 points or 1.9%
Standard & Poor’s 500 – 6966, up 108 points or 1.6%
Dow Jones Industrial – 49504, up 1122 points or 2.3%
10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.17%, down 0.02 point
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