Robert Dietz, Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders, joins Mark Zandi, Marisa DiNatale, and Cristian deRitis to discuss the outlook for mortgage rates, home sales, and construction activity.  The team delves into the immigration and demographic trends affecting housing demand along with the 5 L's (Laws, Labor, Land, Lending, and Lumber) limiting homebuilding today.  Rob's quoting of Tolstoy catches everyone off guard while the wide-ranging discussion made it difficult for the team to come up with a clever podcast title so we took a cue from Friends. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

In this wide-ranging podcast, we tackle the CPI inflation report, the mounting threat posed by cyberattacks on the financial system and broader economy, and the regulatory response. Jill Cetina and Lesley Ritter of Moody’s Investor Service and Joe Lyons of BitSight join us with their insights. And we finally learn how to pronounce Matt’s last name.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

This week’s podcast focuses on the jobs report for December. The usual cast of characters discusses the job catch-up (not ketchup) in government and healthcare, and its implications. Everyone agreed that despite the considerable cross-currents in the numbers, it was a good report. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

John Toohig, head of wholesale trading for Raymond James makes a return appearance on Inside Economics. He last joined us in the wake of the banking crisis this past March, and made the case that the banking system while bowed would not break. He was right.  Join us to hear what John is now saying about the system, loan growth and quality, and what it all means for the Fed and economy.For more on John Toohig, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

In the last podcast before the holidays, Inside Economics chats with Carl Tannenbaum, Chief Economist of Northern Trust about the economy, financial system, Fed and forecasting. The group took as a good omen that they had a Tannenbaum and a DiNatale on the podcast just before Christmas (you may need to Google the names). Not that they attribute their forecasting process to the use of such signs. For more on Carl Tannenbaum click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

The U.S. economy surprised to the upside in 2023 as consumers shrugged off a number of headwinds. With inflation abating and the Federal Reserve facing less pressure to hike interest rates, recession risks are fading. But they can’t be fully discounted given high interest rates, geopolitical turmoil, declining savings, and political uncertainty. Slower growth with somewhat higher unemployment is the most likely outcome. Call it a slowcession. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Michael Strain, resident scholar and the director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) returns to the podcast to discuss the Fed’s big pivot towards rate cuts early next year and the resulting monster rally in stocks and bonds. The discussion then turns to what ails the collective psyche. Think rents and the price of ramen. For mor information on Michael Strain click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Mark Donovan founder of the Denver Basic Income Project joins Inside Economics to discuss some early results from a guaranteed income program that provides direct cash assistance to unhoused individuals without conditions. Mark responds to a range of criticisms often levied around such efforts. And you don’t want to miss how Tesla is connected to the start of the project’s funding.  Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Inside Economics discusses the December jobs report, which left Mark feeling “giddy”, Cris “cheerful”, Dante “happy”, and Marisa “great”. The team considers the jobs numbers in the context of other recent labor market indicators which show a resilient but moderating job market. And they end with an assessment of whether the recently boomy labor supply and strong productivity growth are sustainable.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Chris Mayer, Professor of Real Estate Economics at Columbia University and CEO of Longbridge Financial, joins Mark, Marisa, and Cris to discuss reverse mortgages and the state of the residential real estate market. While the single-family market may tread water, multifamily may be in for a serious correction. Mark wonders if we can avoid the fallout from this economic meteor. For more about Christopher Mayer, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Inside Economics considers the economy’s performance and prospects through the prism of the electric utility industry with the Chief Economist of American Electric Power, Dan White.  It was great to catch up with Dan, a former colleague, and get his insight on how American households and businesses are doing. He also ponders the transition to green energy. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Fred Hochberg, Fmr. Chairman & President of the Export–Import Bank of the United States and author of Trade Is Not a Four-Letter Word: How Six Everyday Products Make the Case for Trade, joins the Inside Economics team to discuss all things related to global trade. The discussion takes up the U.S.-China relationship, the future of globalization, and how trade policy may change after the 2024 election. Marisa’s visit to Disneyland is a (largely irrelevant but entertaining) theme throughout. For more information on Fred Hochberg and his book click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight. 

Teresa Bazemore, CEO of the San Francisco Federal Home Loan Bank, joins the podcast to discuss the nation's reeling housing market, and the role of the FHLB system. There's a lot to talk about as Teresa weighs recent criticism of the FHLBs in the wake of the banking crisis earlier this year, and the recent report from the FHLBs' regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, proposing reforms to the system.For more information about Teresa Bazemore click hereMoody's Papers discussed in this episode click here and hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Dante joins the podcast to break down the October employment report. With job growth moderating and the unemployment rate edging higher, the Fed’s fight against inflation should get a little bit easier. The team also takes a few listener questions about the definition of the unemployment rate and what impact softening rents will have on single-family housing.  Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

The inside Economics team takes up the gangbuster GDP growth in the third quarter. Marisa walks the group though the GDP identity C+I+G+net exports and concludes that while the report overstates the case, it makes a strong case that the economy is on solid ground. Cris gives Marisa an A+ for her exposition. Good thing given their history. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Mark, Cris and Marisa welcome colleague David Fieldhouse to Inside Economics to talk about the run up in long-term bond yields and mortgage rates, as well as the outlook for the consumer. The team discusses why the 10-year yield has breached 5% for the first time since before the GFC and what it might mean for the economy if rates stay higher for longer. They also consider the possibility of the yield curve reverting into positive territory soon. Mark tries to help Cris overcome his fears of a consumer-led recession and the team considers what a Phillies World Series win might mean for the economy. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Inflation was front and center in this week’s podcast. Mark and Marisa (yes, she’s back and winning the stats game again) hosted a wonderful cast of colleagues to talk over the September CPI report, the European inflation experience, which is similar to that here in the U.S., and given recent grim events in the Middle East, energy prices. The bottom line is inflation continues to head in the right direction, but not in a straight line. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Dante joins Cris and Mark to digest the September jobs report. The outsized job gain during the month was surprising, but after Dante’s masterful dissection of the data, the group agrees there is a lot to like in the report. After the stats game, they discussion turns to the recent surge in long-term interest rates and how big a threat it poses to the economy.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

The fast approaching federal government shutdown is top of mind on this week’s podcast. Mark and Cris consider how the shutdown may play out and the economic consequences. Two other colleagues, Steve Cochrane and Stefan Angrick, then join the conversation to assess the all important Chinese and Japanese economies. Are the economic fortunes of these two massive economies flip-flopping?For China and Japan: Facing History, a book outlining the strained historical relationship between these two countries, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Inside Economics welcomes Rob Fauber, President and CEO of Moody’s Corporation to the podcast.  He discusses his concept of exponential risk and the opportunities and challenges of using AI. Rob shares what it's like to lead a global firm and answers a few get-to-know-you questions from Mark, Cris and Marisa. But before the conversation with Rob, the team discusses how worried they are about various economic threats and their potential impact on the macroeconomic economy. Guest: Rob Fauber, President & CEO of Moody’s CorporationFor more insight into the era of exponential risk, click here.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight. 

The looming UAW strike is top of mind, and no one better to talk to about how it may play out and what it means for the economy than Jonathan Smoke of COX Automotive and our own vehicle industry expert, Mike Brisson.  Bernard Yaros also joins the podcast to talk about the consumer inflation report.  Mark and Cris agree that while the current economic numbers look good, there’s plenty to worry about.For more from Jonathan Smoke, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Given the strong counter narratives regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on the economy – from bright optimism that AI will significantly lift productivity growth and wealth to dark pessimism that it will lead to a dystopic increase in unemployment and cybercrime – we asked Martin Fleming to sort it out. And the former chief economist of IBM and current author and Chief Revenue Scientist at Varicent does just that. And Mark does a bit of advertising along the way.For more about Martin Fleming, click hereFor more on Martin Fleming's book, Breakthrough: A Growth Revolution, click hereTo participate in the weekly Survey of Business Confidence, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

The August jobs report couldn’t have been much better.  Dante and Cris called it a good report, while Mark and Marisa thought it was a VERY good report.  Either way, the report has soft landing written all over it.  In standing with the good cheer over the jobs numbers, the group recounted their favorite music. Some surprises there.For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight. 

The economy is performing about as well as could be expected. Growth is resilient, inflation is moderating, and unemployment is low and stable. It appears increasingly likely the economy will avoid a recession. But having said this, the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes are weighing heavily on the financial system and economy. To avoid a recession, nothing else can go wrong. In this podcast, Mark, Cris and team consider what could go wrong. For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Despite the light week of economic data, there was lots going in in the economy to discuss for the Inside Economics team, including the runup in 10-year Treasury yields and fixed mortgage rates. Noted investment banker Chris Whalen then joins the conversation to talk about the banking system, its’ under significant pressure, the independent mortgage banks, a shakeout is underway, and the Fed and other regulators, he’s not a fan.For more on Chris Whalen, click hereFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

The Inside Economics team dissects the July report on consumer price inflation and concludes that inflation is on track to be back to the Fed’s inflation target by this time next year. Well, OK, Cris thought more likely the end of next year. The discussion then turned to modest fallout from the banking crisis earlier this year (at least so far) and Fed policy with University of Maryland economics professor Sebnem Kalemli-Ozcan.For more from Sebnem Kalemli-Ozcan, click hereFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

It’s jobs Friday, and Mark, Cris and Dante discuss the near perfect (Dante’s description) July employment report. Job growth remains strong, but it is moderating, and should help convince the Federal Reserve that its interest rates hikes are over.  The group identified a few nits in the numbers, but the report was so good Cris lowered his odds the economy will suffer a recession in the coming year.  For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Mark, Cris and Marisa (yes, she is back) welcome Matt Robison of the Beyond Politics podcast to talk policy and politics. The discussion ranges from the risk of a government shutdown and Bidenomics to a consideration of whether the nation’s politics are as fractured as they seem and who is going to be the next President.  It goes without saying there was also a fulsome conversation about this past week’s economic data - could the numbers have been any better? Even “supercore” inflation was up just 0.2% month over month and 4.2% year over year in June.For more from Matt Robison, click hereFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Mark and Cris take stock of the economy’s performance so far this year, and consider what surprised them (think the job market), what they got right (think weaker house prices), and what they got wrong (think the banking crisis). They also look forward and discuss what people are overly considered about, and what they should be more worried about.  Where’s Marisa?For the full transcript, click here.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

The stellar June CPI inflation report is top of mind for Mark, Cris and Bernard.  The report arguably couldn’t have been better, as the conversation makes clear.  The podcast then turns to a discussion of whether the worst is over for the troubled single family housing market with Lance Lambert, the real estate editor for Fortune. No one has a better pulse of the market than Lance.For more on Lance Lambert, click here or follow him on twitter @NewsLambertFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Mark, Cris & Marisa are joined by Jobs Day regular Dante DeAntonio to discuss the June employment report. Job growth is slowing to script but wage growth is still stubbornly high. The group discusses full employment, the probabilities of recession in the next year and what this all means for the Fed’s upcoming meetings.For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Stephen Roach, Senior Fellow at the China Center of Yale Law School, discusses China’s near and longer-term economic prospects with Mark, Cris and Marisa. Steve explains why he has evolved from a bull to a bear on China’s economy, why the critical relationship between China and the U.S. has gone sideways, and how to get the relationship moving in a positive direction.For more on Stephen Roach, click hereFor more information on Stephen Roach's book, Accidental Conflict: America, China, and the Clash of False Narratives, click hereFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Mark, Cris and Marisa weigh whether or not to change the forecast for the Fed funds rate and dig deep to play the statistics game. Later they are joined by Professor Glenn Mueller of the University of Denver to talk all things commercial real estate. Professor Mueller ranks the segments of the CRE market from worst to best performing and explains why the legalization of marijuana has disrupted the retail market. For more on Glenn Mueller, click hereFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

The Inside Economics team takes shelter from a tornado (true story), and Mark Calabria, senior advisor to the Cato Institute and former director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, describes the FHFA’s efforts to provide shelter to the housing and mortgage finance markets during the pandemic. His new book “Shelter from the Storm,” is a fascinating telling of that difficult period.For more on Mark Calabria, click here.For more information on Mark Calabria's book "Shelter from the Storm," click here.For the full transcript, click here.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Amid mounting geopolitical tensions over the independence of Taiwan, Mark and team consider various scenarios regarding how this is ultimately resolved. China appears to be taking a long-term perspective in its goal to unify Taiwan with the mainland, and thus the most likely scenario assumes the current uncomfortable, but peaceful status quo.  But much darker scenarios can’t be ruled out.For the full report on the China-Taiwan Scenarios, click here.For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

The group dives deep into the jobs report for May. They dissect the cross-currents in the numbers, and consider what the report means for financial markets, monetary policy and the macroeconomy. The economic fallout of the legislative deal to end the debt limit drama, including the end of the student loan payment moratorium, are also part of the discussion. And of course there is the statistics game.For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Ben Harris, former Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the US Treasury, summarizes the latest proposal for raising the debt ceiling. An acceptable deal seems to be within reach but remains politically uncertain even as the x-date draws near.  What are the alternatives if no deal is reached?  And what could be the consequences for bondholders, Social Security recipients, and other stakeholders?  Ben joins Mark and Cris in a round of the Inside Economics Statistics Game and provides his views on the future of retirement financing.For more on Ben Harris, click hereFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Richard Branch, Chief Economist for Dodge Data & Analytics, joins the podcast to share his insights on all things construction. Construction is the most interest rate sensitive sector of the economy, yet despite the near unprecedented tightening in monetary policy, it is holding its’ own.  What gives?  The group also digs deep into the different parts of the construction sector, from the struggling office market to the surge in public infrastructure.For more on Richard Branch, click here.For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Mark and team do a deep dive into the inflation numbers and consider prospects that inflation will continue to moderate. After the statistics game, they turn to their latest research considering the economic fallout of what could happen if lawmakers fail to increase the debt limit in time. It isn’t pretty.For more on the debt limit breach scenarios, click here.For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Another jobs Friday, another strong jobs report. Dante DeAntonio joins the crew to break down the employment numbers and what they mean for the near-term outlook. The team also discusses the recent banking crisis, the looming debt limit x-date, and the most likely outcomes for both. And is someone using ChatGPT to cheat at the statistics game?For the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Falling house prices and recent housing policy actions taken by the FHA and FHFA to address housing affordability are top of mind this week. Edward Pinto, Senior Fellow and the Director of the AEI Housing Center at the American Enterprise Institute joins to discuss. The team also provides their thoughts on weaker-than-expected GDP data. Is the weak GDP # good or bad for the economy? Marisa dominates the statistics game. For more on Edward Pinto, click hereFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

John Toohig, head of Whole Loan Trading at Raymond James, joins Mark, Cris and Marisa to discuss the fallout of the banking crisis on lending standards, credit growth and the economy. The fallout so far seems manageable, but...For more on John Toohig, click here or follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter.  If you would like to learn more about upcoming Moody’s Analytics & Raymond James in Conversation events click hereFor the full transcript, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Jonathan Smoke, chief economist of Cox Automotive and colleague Mike Brisson join Mark and Cris to discuss what’s going on in the vehicle market. After a rundown on this week’s inflation stats we discuss prospects for vehicle prices, sales, production, and the implications of tighter underwriting and weaker credit quality in the auto loan market. We also take up the tough new emission standards and what they mean for EV adoption.Full episode transcriptFor more on Jonathan Smoke,  click here.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Heather Boushey, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, joins the podcast. She gives us a rundown on the economy, including her thoughts on the job market and inflation, and the hard work of incorporating climate risk into the outlook for the economy and federal budget.For more information on Heather Boushey’s work with the Council of Economic Advisers click here or follow her on Twitter at @HBoushey46. Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Inside Economics regular Dante DeAntonio joins us for the March release of the US employment report. Down the strike zone.  In the middle of the uprights. Down the fairway. Sticking to script.  All apt descriptions of the job market in the month of March. But this is all before the fallout of the banking crisis has become evident.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, chief investment officer for Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs, join Mark, Cris and Marisa to cut through the uncertainty over the banking crisis and China’s prospects. The worst of the banking crisis appears to be over, but China’s economic problems are only beginning.For more about Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani click hereFor more on Goldman Sachs Investment Strategy Group 2023 Outlook click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Diane Swonk, chief economist of KPMG returns to discuss fragilities in the financial system and the impact on credit availability and the economy. She shares her view that a meaningful recession is dead ahead. We also discuss the Fed’s meeting earlier this week and their decision to not pause rates given the banking system turmoil.For more on Diane Swonk, click hereFollow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.

Mark and Marisa welcome third time returning guest Aaron Klein, Senior Fellow of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institute to discuss the recent bank failures. They converse and debate about how things went so badly off the rails, the government’s response and what could have been done differently, and the implications for the Fed’s interest rate decision next week.For more on Aaron Klein, click here.For the full transcript, click here.Follow Mark Zandi @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis @MiddleWayEcon, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn for additional insight.