Economic & Market Watch

In the News

Economy

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the ongoing federal government shutdown is starting to hurt the U.S. economy, with delays in payments and disruptions to services.
• A new survey by the National Association for Business Economics shows that economists now expect U.S. gross domestic product growth of about 1.8 % in 2025, supported by strong business investment, but they also warn that job gains will remain weak and inflation could stay elevated.

Markets

• West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rebounded modestly to about $60/barrel, recovering from recent lows as optimism over U.S.-China trade talks helped temper earlier downside pressure.
• U.S. equity markets gained ground Monday, recouping some Friday losses, after President Trump softened rhetoric toward China; the S&P 500 rose roughly 1.4% while the Nasdaq jumped about 2%.

Current Events

• JPMorganChase unveiled a $1.5 trillion, 10-year investment initiative aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities in critical sectors, including manufacturing, energy and technology.
• ExxonMobil’s CEO warned of a tighter global oil market in the medium to long term, especially if investment in non-conventional oil and gas does not keep pace.

Meet the Team

CFC's economic research team—John Suter, Sam Kem and Antony Davies—share their expert, yet easily digestible, perspective on what you need to know.

Have feedback about the podcast? A topic you'd like the EMW team to cover? Get in touch at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Trading Economics