---
title: The Independent Market Observer | Outlook. Opinion. Insight. | Sam Millette (29)
description: Sam Millette is a portfolio manager on the Investment Management and Research team at Commonwealth. With the firm since 2013, he manages the fixed income research team, responds to advisor requests, analyzes individual bonds, and authors market research and commentary. Sam graduated from Tufts University with a degree in economics and is a member of the CFA Society Boston. (29)
---

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## Sam Millette

![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Millette_Sam@2x.png?width=100&name=Millette_Sam@2x.png)

Sam Millette is a portfolio manager on the Investment Management and Research team at Commonwealth. With the firm since 2013, he manages the fixed income research team, responds to advisor requests, analyzes individual bonds, and authors market research and commentary. Sam graduated from Tufts University with a degree in economics and is a member of the CFA Society Boston.

### Recent Posts

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-housing-market-remains-healthy)

## [Monday Update: Housing Market Remains Healthy](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-housing-market-remains-healthy)

February 24, 2020

Last week’s economic updates highlighted the housing sector, which continues to hum along at a healthy rate. This week’s reports will cover broader territory, as we wrap up the month with important releases that hit on most major areas of the economy.

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-housing-market-remains-healthy) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-housing-market-remains-healthy#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-on-tuesday-consumer-confidence-continues-to-rise)

## [Monday Update (on Tuesday): Consumer Confidence Continues to Rise](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-on-tuesday-consumer-confidence-continues-to-rise)

February 18, 2020

Last week’s economic updates came in mixed, with solid reports on retail sales and consumer confidence offsetting a modest uptick in inflation and disappointing industrial production results. Given the importance of consumer spending to the overall economy, the positive reports represent a good tailwind for economic growth to start the year. This week, the focus will be primarily on housing-related updates, with forecasts for continued year-over-year growth in this important sector of the economy.

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-on-tuesday-consumer-confidence-continues-to-rise) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-on-tuesday-consumer-confidence-continues-to-rise#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-business-confidence-and-employment-beat-expectations)

## [Monday Update: Business Confidence and Employment Beat Expectations](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-business-confidence-and-employment-beat-expectations)

February 10, 2020

Last week, two major measures of business confidence and January’s jobs report came in better than anticipated, as did most of the other economic updates. This week will be another busy one for reports, with the focus on consumer prices, spending, and confidence.

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-business-confidence-and-employment-beat-expectations) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-business-confidence-and-employment-beat-expectations#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-consumer-confidence-gdp-growth-are-highlights)

## [Monday Update: Consumer Confidence, GDP Growth Are Highlights](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-consumer-confidence-gdp-growth-are-highlights)

February 3, 2020

Last week, results came in mixed for the large number of data releases. Highlights included better-than-expected results for two major consumer surveys and fourth-quarter GDP growth. This week, the focus will be on the business side of the economy, with updates on manufacturer and nonmanufacturer confidence, international trade, and employment all on tap.

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-consumer-confidence-gdp-growth-are-highlights) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-consumer-confidence-gdp-growth-are-highlights#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-existing-home-sales-beat-expectations-again)

## [Monday Update: Existing Home Sales Beat Expectations Again](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-existing-home-sales-beat-expectations-again)

January 27, 2020

Last week was very quiet on the economic update front, with only the release of December’s existing home sales report during the holiday week. This week will be quite another story, with six major releases scheduled. Highlights include both major consumer confidence surveys, as well as the first look at fourth-quarter GDP growth.

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-existing-home-sales-beat-expectations-again) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-existing-home-sales-beat-expectations-again#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-on-tuesday-housing-sector-continues-to-shine)

## [Monday Update (on Tuesday): Housing Sector Continues to Shine](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-on-tuesday-housing-sector-continues-to-shine)

January 21, 2020

Last week was full of economic updates, with more than a half dozen important data releases. The results largely beat expectations, revealing muted inflation pressure and strong results for retail sales and the housing sector. This week will be very quiet, with Wednesday’s report on existing home sales the only scheduled release.

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-on-tuesday-housing-sector-continues-to-shine) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-on-tuesday-housing-sector-continues-to-shine#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-service-sector-confidence-improves)

## [Monday Update: Service Sector Confidence Improves](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-service-sector-confidence-improves)

January 13, 2020

Last week was relatively quiet on the economic update front, with only three major data releases. The reports on international trade and service sector confidence beat expectations, but December jobs didn’t meet the number forecasted. This week will be packed with news, as more than a half dozen important releases are scheduled.

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-service-sector-confidence-improves) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-service-sector-confidence-improves#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-consumer-and-manufacturer-confidence-fall)

## [Monday Update: Consumer and Manufacturer Confidence Fall](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-consumer-and-manufacturer-confidence-fall)

January 6, 2020

Last week, we saw both consumer and manufacturer confidence fall unexpectedly in December, despite minutes from the Fed’s December meeting showing central bankers are satisfied with the current economic expansion. This week marks a return to normal for economic updates following two holiday-shortened weeks. We’ll be focusing on international trade, service sector confidence, and the December jobs report.

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-consumer-and-manufacturer-confidence-fall) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-consumer-and-manufacturer-confidence-fall#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-durable-goods-orders-down-new-home-sales-up)

## [Monday Update: Durable Goods Orders Down, New Home Sales Up](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-durable-goods-orders-down-new-home-sales-up)

December 30, 2019

Last week was slow on the economic update front, with only two major updates being released. This week will also be quiet as we finish 2019 and enter the new year. We’ll be focusing on consumer and manufacturer confidence, as well as the minutes from the most recent Fed meeting in December. 

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-durable-goods-orders-down-new-home-sales-up) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-durable-goods-orders-down-new-home-sales-up#comments-listing)

[![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2017/MarketOutlook_1.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-economy-picking-up-speed)

## [Monday Update: Economy Picking Up Speed](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-economy-picking-up-speed)

December 23, 2019

Last week, economic updates were largely positive, with seven of the eight releases beating forecasts. This week will be very quiet, with only two major updates scheduled, both on Monday morning.  

[Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-economy-picking-up-speed) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/monday-update-economy-picking-up-speed#comments-listing)

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- [March 2015 (23)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2015/03)
- [February 2015 (22)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2015/02)
- [January 2015 (21)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2015/01)
- [December 2014 (24)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/12)
- [November 2014 (19)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/11)
- [October 2014 (26)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/10)
- [September 2014 (22)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/09)
- [August 2014 (24)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/08)
- [July 2014 (24)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/07)
- [June 2014 (24)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/06)
- [May 2014 (25)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/05)
- [April 2014 (23)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/04)
- [March 2014 (24)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/03)
- [February 2014 (20)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/02)
- [January 2014 (23)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2014/01)
- [December 2013 (23)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/12)
- [November 2013 (24)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/11)
- [October 2013 (27)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/10)
- [September 2013 (23)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/09)
- [August 2013 (26)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/08)
- [July 2013 (23)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/07)
- [June 2013 (22)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/06)
- [May 2013 (26)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/05)
- [April 2013 (24)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/04)
- [March 2013 (24)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/03)
- [February 2013 (20)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/02)
- [January 2013 (30)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2013/01)
- [December 2012 (34)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2012/12)
- [November 2012 (39)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2012/11)
- [October 2012 (42)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2012/10)
- [September 2012 (36)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2012/09)
- [August 2012 (30)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2012/08)
- [July 2012 (31)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2012/07)
- [June 2012 (18)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/archive/2012/06)

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