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ITR Economics
ITR Economics
Author: ITR Economics
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ITR Economics delivers data-driven economic insight that helps leaders cut through the media noise, anticipate change, and make confident decisions. Our conversations translate complex trends, policy shifts, and market dynamics into clear, actionable guidance grounded in objective analysis and long-term forecasting. Designed for executives and decision-makers, our content clarifies what’s happening now and what’s coming next, so that you can better prepare your business strategy. Tune in today.
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Stronger Jobs Report, Fed Pause Likely, and Global Concerns Rise | Fed Watch by ITR Economics
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Taylor St. Germain breaks down the key economic benchmarks shaping business conditions in 2026. Industrial production, employment, capital investment, and consumer spending are all showing improvement, but growth comes with new challenges. As demand returns and competition for labor intensifies, businesses must stay disciplined on margins to win in this cycle. Are you prepared for what the second half of 2026 may bring?
This week on Fed Watch, ITR Economist and Speaker Connor Lokar steps in to unpack how markets are responding to the Fed Chair announcement and what the latest data means for rates, inflation, and demand. With bond yields holding steady and PMI surging to a multi-year high, a key business pain point remains front and center: meaningful rate relief still looks elusive. Connor explains why stable yields do not signal coming cuts, how rising new orders point to renewed demand pressure, and why the housing market faces a longer recovery timeline than many expect.
What do these signals mean for your planning as we move deeper into 2026?
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Taylor St. Germain breaks down the European economic outlook for 2026, highlighting where growth is returning and where businesses still face pressure. Western Europe is moving through recovery, Eastern Europe is poised to outperform, and business confidence is finally improving across most markets. But inflation dynamics and margin management remain key challenges leaders cannot ignore. What does this mean for companies planning international growth in the year ahead?
This week on Fed Watch, ITR Economist and Speaker Lauren Saidel-Baker breaks down a busy week for the Federal Reserve, from the FOMC’s decision to hold interest rates to the surprise announcement of Kevin Warsh as President Trump’s pick for Fed Chair. With markets already uneasy about inflation and the timing of the next rate move, leadership changes at the Fed raise important questions for businesses planning around borrowing costs, capital investment, and economic uncertainty. Get insight into what Warsh’s policy stance could signal for rate cuts, Fed credibility, and the path forward. What should decision-makers be watching most closely right now?
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Taylor St. Germain breaks down the latest automotive industry outlook, including why North American light vehicle production is expected to return to growth in 2026 after a difficult 2025. While production and retail sales show improvement, cost pressures and rising auto loan delinquencies present real challenges for industry leaders. How should automotive firms prepare for a slower, more disciplined growth cycle ahead?
This week on Fed Watch, Economist and Speaker Lauren Saidel-Baker examines the issue of central bank independence and what it means for today’s financial markets. She breaks down why markets have largely dismissed recent concerns about the Federal Reserve’s autonomy and explores the risks that could emerge if interest rate cuts move ahead without support from underlying economic conditions. Lauren also unpacks the inflationary implications and key market signals business leaders should be monitoring. Are you factoring these policy dynamics into your forward-looking strategy?
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Taylor St. Germain breaks down the global economic outlook for 2026 at a time when geopolitical uncertainty and trade policy changes are creating anxiety for business leaders. Despite the noise, key indicators point to continued global growth, though not without important shifts that could impact your strategy. Which regions are positioned to outperform, and how should businesses think about trade and supply chain risk this year? Watch to understand what matters most for planning in 2026 and beyond. What does this global growth environment mean for your business decisions?
Click here for a Free Preview of Trends Report → https://hubs.la/Q03ybVV00
This week on Fed Watch, ITR Economist and Speaker Lauren Saidel-Baker breaks down the delayed December jobs report and explains why softer hiring may not signal economic weakness, highlighting employment as a lagging indicator and the growing divide between sector winners and losers in the labor market. She also examines what the latest data means for the Federal Reserve’s rate path, why borrowing costs continue to diverge from Fed policy, and how renewed discussions around Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could influence mortgage rates, raising important questions for businesses and borrowers navigating ongoing uncertainty.
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Taylor St. Germain breaks down the 2026 economic outlook after a challenging 2025. Growth is returning across GDP, industrial production, and business investment, but higher labor, electricity, and tariff-related costs threaten margins. Which sectors are positioned to improve, and what should leaders focus on now to stay profitable and prepare for the 2030s?
Check out a Trends Report Free Preview here → https://hubs.la/Q03ybVV00
This week on Fed Watch, ITR Economist and Speaker Lauren Saidel-Baker breaks down why inflation is becoming the Fed’s dominant concern as we enter 2026. She unpacks the latest Fed meeting minutes, growing dissent within the FOMC, and what a more hawkish voting lineup could mean for interest rate policy. Lauren also explores why the U.S. consumer remains resilient, how upcoming tax refunds could provide short-term support, and why now is the time for businesses to revisit pricing strategies as CPI pressures build. What risks should business leaders be watching most closely this year?
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist Taylor St. Germain breaks down why inflation is expected to accelerate into 2026 and what it means for business margins, pricing strategy, and profitability. Producer costs are rising, consumer inflation is picking up, and interest rate flexibility may be limited. What should leaders be watching now, and how can organizations prepare before cost pressures intensify?
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist Taylor St. Germain shares a long-term economic outlook that every business leader should be planning for now. With strong GDP and Industrial Production growth expected through 2029, the real risk is not the next few years but how prepared your business will be when the downturn arrives around 2030. Learn which markets are positioned to outperform, why waiting to react is costly, and how today’s growth cycle creates rare opportunities for diversification, market share gains, and strategic acquisitions. Are you using the next four years wisely?
Click here to buy our webinar, Strategic Shifts for Resiliency in the 2030s Great Depression, here → https://hubs.la/Q03VQwhz0
December 19, 2025
This week on Fed Watch, ITR Economist and Speaker Lauren Saidel-Baker breaks down the latest U.S. jobs report and what softer headline growth is really signaling beneath the surface. She also examines why inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed’s target, what recent CPI data suggests about a turning point ahead, and how rising cost pressures could impact pricing strategies in 2026. Plus, Lauren looks ahead to GDP, business spending, and why uncertainty may finally be easing as we move into the new year. What should business leaders be preparing for now?
Click here to buy our webinar, Strategic Shifts for Resiliency in the 2030s Great Depression, here → https://hubs.la/Q03VQwhz0
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Taylor St. Germain breaks down why electricity costs are rising and how data center expansion is reshaping the economic landscape heading into 2026. As inflation pressures build and power infrastructure strains intensify, electricity is emerging as a top input cost for many businesses. Where are the risks, and where are the opportunities for growth despite higher costs?
Click here to buy our webinar, Strategic Shifts for Resiliency in the 2030s Great Depression, here → https://hubs.la/Q03VQwhz0
December 12, 2025
This week on Fed Watch, ITR Economist and Speaker Lauren Saidel-Baker unpacks the Fed’s latest rate cut. Is the real story hiding between the lines? With committee views drifting apart and borrowing costs sticking higher than many expected, the outlook is anything but settled. Are the Fed’s inflation assumptions on track, or is the bond market seeing something they’re not? Tune in for our unbiased answers.
Click here to buy our webinar, Strategic Shifts for Resiliency in the 2030s Great Depression, here → https://hubs.la/Q03VQwhz0
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Taylor St. Germain assesses the health of the U.S. consumer and what the latest data means for companies preparing for 2026. Consumer spending continues to rise at a pace above inflation, delinquency rates remain below financial crisis levels, and a growing share of households are paying off full credit card balances.
December 5, 2025
This week on Fed Watch, ITR Economist and Speaker Lauren Saidel-Baker breaks down a pivotal moment for monetary policy as markets price in a likely rate cut ahead of next week’s meeting. With government data delayed by the shutdown, businesses are left navigating uncertainty and relying on less-predictive private-sector indicators. Lauren also highlights major Federal Reserve data revisions that could reshape how leaders interpret historical trends, plus new political developments that may influence future Fed leadership and independence.
If your business is interest rate sensitive, this episode offers timely context to help you prepare for rate-driven risks and opportunities. What change in policy would impact you most?
Join us for our upcoming webinar to discover the essential tools and strategies you will need → https://hubs.la/Q03VQwhz0
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Michael Feuz explains why 2026 is setting up to deliver more economic growth than 2025. He highlights the key “ingredients of growth” already in motion, from resilient consumer spending to rising B2B activity and expanding corporate cash levels. Michael also addresses a critical pain point for leaders: margin pressures that will intensify as growth accelerates.
How should businesses prepare for this next phase? Tune in for guidance on capacity planning, efficiency, and protecting the bottom line. What steps are you taking to get ready?
This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist and Speaker Taylor St. Germain breaks down the latest data on US Private Nonresidential Construction and explains why the current downturn is expected to remain mild. Taylor highlights what the most reliable leading indicators are telling us and outlines when businesses should begin preparing for the next growth cycle in 2026.







