If you entered this NFL season as a Kansas City Chiefs fan, you’re probably hoping for a Super Bowl win after clinching three of the past five Super Bowls and having Patrick Mahomes as your quarterback and Taylor Swift backing the team. (As a Patriots fan, I remember that feeling.) Similarly, after the S&P 500 beat earnings estimates for several quarters, investors aren’t just hoping to beat earnings. They are looking for both a beat and better guidance going forward. Investors had to settle for just one of those in the second quarter.

Each week, we break down the latest U.S. economic reports, including what the results mean for the overall health of the economy. Here, you will find how economists’ forecasts compare with actual results, key takeaways to consider, as well as a list of what’s on tap for the week ahead.

August was an encouraging month for stocks, as markets were able to end the month in positive territory despite an early-month sell-off. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the month at a record high, while the S&P 500 was close to its own record level. The Nasdaq Composite lagged its peers, but the technology-heavy index still managed to eke out a modest gain during the month.

August saw a shaky start with an initial sell-off, but it ended on a positive note as markets rallied. Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced it was time to start cutting rates, and stock and bond markets bounced on the news—with the Dow setting a new high and the S&P 500 getting close. The expected rate cuts are based on a slowing economy and the hope that inflation will keep trending downward. Beyond the economy, political risks are expected to rise as the elections get closer. 

Each week, we break down the latest U.S. economic reports, including what the results mean for the overall health of the economy. Here, you will find how economists’ forecasts compare with actual results, key takeaways to consider, as well as a list of what’s on tap for the week ahead.

Each week, we break down the latest U.S. economic reports, including what the results mean for the overall health of the economy. Here, you will find how economists’ forecasts compare with actual results, key takeaways to consider, as well as a list of what’s on tap for the week ahead.

July was a mixed month for markets, with two of the three major U.S. equity indices up for the month. The S&P 500 gained 1.22 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average grew 4.51 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.73 percent. These mixed results came in despite supportive fundamentals, with earnings growth beating analyst expectations.

Each week, we break down the latest U.S. economic reports, including what the results mean for the overall health of the economy. Here, you will find how economists’ forecasts compare with actual results, key takeaways to consider, as well as a list of what’s on tap for the week ahead.

“Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

The July reports indicated slowing economic growth during the month. Hiring slowed notably, which could signal potential weakness for the labor market. Service sector and consumer confidence both improved in July, and the yield curve inversion widened modestly due to falling long-term interest rates.