There’s no shortage of financial noise out there—tweets, charts, headlines, hot takes. But clear, consistent insight? That’s harder to find.
American Ledger is here to cut through the clutter.
Every week, I’ll break down the major moves in U.S. markets, economic trends worth watching, and the deeper forces shaping the American financial landscape.
I’m Lauren, a finance writer based in Canada, watching U.S. markets with fresh eyes and no allegiance to legacy narratives. You’ll get analysis, not hype. Signals, not noise.
This Week’s Briefing: "The Soft Landing That Refuses to Land"
The U.S. economy continues to defy gravity. Inflation is cooling. Unemployment remains low. Consumers are still spending. The Fed’s interest rate hikes? So far, they've slowed things down—but not stopped the show.
Key data this week:
CPI YoY: 3.1% (down from 9.1% peak in 2022)
Unemployment: 4.0%
Retail sales: Up 0.3% month-over-month
Markets are pricing in a September rate cut, but the Fed keeps hedging. Jerome Powell’s latest remarks? “We’re not there yet.”
What to watch:
If wage growth ticks up while inflation stays flat, the Fed could move sooner.
Tech earnings next week could swing sentiment sharply—NVIDIA and Apple are on deck.
Signal, Not Noise
This newsletter isn’t here to predict the next meme stock. It’s here to explain the real story behind the numbers, and how they affect markets, businesses, and your financial decisions.
If that sounds like your kind of read, you’re in the right place.
See you next week.
— Lauren
Editor, American Ledger