Episodes

  • The Fed is Still Cutting in November
    Oct 7 2024

    On this episode of The Rate Guy we discuss how to view the latest Jobs print and how it won't impact the Fed's move in November.

    FYI the graph is full of orange representing the Unexplained Employment.(not red as Sarah remembered on the podcast) To view in the Pensford newsletter click here.

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    17 mins
  • JMo Unmasked
    Sep 30 2024

    On this episode of The Rate Guy, we break down the latest economic data, including inflation, jobs reports, GDP. GPI, and why the Fed might be boxed in on rate cuts. Tune in for all the insights and our take on what’s next.

    Plus, JMo finally conceded defeat on our inflation bet, and we unveil his identity!

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    19 mins
  • The Fed Should Cut 50bps This Week, but They Won't
    Sep 15 2024

    On this episode of The Rate Guy, we’re keeping it short and sweet. We’re prepping for Wednesday’s rate cut decision and breaking down 7 reasons why the Fed won’t go for a 50bps cut, despite market hopes. We’ll also touch on what you might want to do with caps ahead of the meeting.

    Here is the link to register for the Q3 Interest Rate Webinar that you won't want to miss!

    Topics of Discussion

    Register to attend Pensford's quarterly markets and interest rate update on September 19th, 2024 at 1:00pm EDT.

    This webinar will cover a variety of topics including:

    • Fixed and Floating Rate Forecasts
    • Rate Cuts Faster than Expected
    • Whether Rate Cuts are too Late
    • Labor Market Weakness
    • Risk of Recurring Inflation
    • Hedging Against Falling Rates
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    22 mins
  • The Fed Should Cut to 3.25%
    Sep 9 2024

    In this episode of The Rate Guy, we discuss why cutting rates to 3.25% might be the right move for the Fed.

    Fed Chair Powell recently stated at Jackson Hole, “We do not seek or welcome further cooling in labor market conditions,” which has huge implications for future rate cuts. With job gains averaging just 116k per month, we break down why the benchmark for job growth is 100k—not zero—and how that ties into the Fed’s decision-making.

    We also dive into research, like Indeed's Nick Bunker’s analysis on how much the labor market has already cooled (link), and ask the key question: will cutting rates fast reaccelerate inflation?

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    21 mins
  • The Fed Is Cutting No Matter What NFP Says
    Sep 3 2024

    On this episode of The Rate Guy, we discuss the latest inflation data, why the Fed will cut rates, regardless of what Friday's Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) report reveals and what may influence a 50bps cut instead of 25bps. We also address concerns about the economy heating up again when the Fed starts cutting and why that's not going to happen.

    Link to the CNBC article about fake jobs.

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    23 mins
  • The Fed Might Cut 50bps Next Month
    Aug 25 2024

    Football season is back, and so is JP's trash talk! In this episode of The Rate Guy, we touch on some friendly (or not-so-friendly) college football banter and dive into the real game: Fed policy moves. With Powell signaling a rate cut next month and the labor market's true strength under scrutiny, we break down what this means for the economy. We'll also explore how misleading job data could be skewing perceptions and why easing off the brakes might be just what the economy needs right now.

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    18 mins
  • I'm Getting to Jackson Hole One Way or Another!
    Aug 19 2024

    On this episode of The Rate Guy we discuss this week's Jackson Hole meeting where the theme is “Reassessing the Effectiveness and Transmission of Monetary Policy.” We talk about some of the things they might touch on and how the market may react. We also discuss the consumer spending situation; why it's not as rosy as the number suggests and why these red flags have not yet caused a more significant slowdown in consumer spending.

    Here is the link to the quarterly report that the NY Fed puts out on consumer debt that we discuss. For graphs referenced, check out this week's Pensford Newsletter.

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    20 mins
  • The Interest Rate Olympics
    Aug 12 2024

    On this week's episode of The Rate Guy we get a little creative and compare Olympic athletes to players in the Interest Rate game. On the heels of a couple data heavy weeks, we hope this is a breathe of fresh air for you all. And you may be asking, there's a connection between the Australian "break dancer" and interest rates!? Yep, there sure is!

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    31 mins