Matt Colyar, Assistant Director at Moody's Analytics, shares his insights on inflation data and its impact on interest rates. The conversation highlights persistent inflation challenges, particularly in food and housing. They discuss the Federal Reserve's strategies amidst a strong economy and the potential for interest rate hikes. Additionally, the impact of recent hurricanes on vehicle prices and the relationship between inflation metrics and economic indicators take center stage, making for a rich economic analysis.

Mark, Cris, and Marisa are joined by their colleague Adam Kamins and his infamous closet doors, along with Rebecca Rockey, Deputy Chief Economist at Cushman Wakefield, and Chris Leinberger, Managing Director at Places Platform. Rebecca and Chris review key takeaways from their recent study, Reimagining Cities-Disrupting the Urban Doom Loop. Among the variety of topics covered are the importance of Walkable Urban places; the optimal mix of work, live, and play in cities; how to ensure that the commercial real estate mix aligns with the post-pandemic evolution of downtowns; and Mark’s prowess in pickleball and the possibly made-up sport of wallyball.Guest: Rebecca Rockey, Deputy Chief Economist and Global Head of Forecasting, Cushman & WakefieldGuest: Chris Leinberger, Managing Director and Co-Founding Partner, Places PlatformGuest: Adam Kamins, Senior Director of Economic Research, Moody's AnalyticsHosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s AnalyticsFollow Mark Zandi on 'X' @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Dante DeAntonio, Senior Director of Economic Research at Moody's Analytics, joins the hosts to dive into the latest U.S. employment report for November. They discuss the job market's recovery after recent disruptions and its implications for monetary policy. The conversation highlights concerns around wage growth and inflation while maintaining an optimistic outlook for productivity. Insights into the reliability of job market statistics and the impact of rising unemployment rates in certain communities add depth, concluding with speculations on future economic trends.

Scott Hoyt, Senior Director of Economic Research at Moody's Analytics, brings keen insights into the dynamics of the American consumer as the holiday shopping season approaches. The discussion delves into rising credit delinquency rates and their implications amid inflationary pressures. They explore shifting consumer spending patterns, highlighting the disparity between high and low-income households. Political influences on consumer confidence and the effects of tariffs are examined, alongside the changing landscape of holiday shopping and retail challenges.

Jonathon Hazell, an Assistant Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, shares his insights on inflation's complexities. He explains the surprising stability of inflation before the pandemic and the factors driving its rise recently. Hakell discusses the public's heightened sensitivity to inflation compared to unemployment, questioning the Fed's approach to monetary policy. The chat also probes into how incoming Trump administration policies may impact inflation trends, alongside a light-hearted take on unconventional Thanksgiving dinner choices.

The Inside Economics team assesses the inflation statistics, and why there is no going back to the where prices were prior to fallout from the pandemic and Russian war in Ukraine. And while inflation has largely been quelled, President-elect Trump’s tariff, immigration and other policies threaten to fan inflation anew.  There is also the stats game and listener questions. Guest: Matt Colyar - Assistant Director, Moody's AnalyticsHosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s AnalyticsFollow Mark Zandi on 'X' @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Chris Avallone, Head of Merchant Banking at Amherst Group, brings his expertise to dissect the tangled web of the housing market. He delves into the "lock-in" effect that's tethering homeowners to low rates and the "lock-out" dilemma faced by aspiring buyers. Chris offers insights on how local governments can tweak zoning laws to unlock the market, and explores stats about overvalued homes. The conversation wraps with predictions on what lies ahead for housing affordability and the need to tackle the ongoing crisis.

Mark shares insights from Europe on how the U.S. election could impact global economies. The team analyzes market reactions to recent economic events and discusses the concept of 'vibecession,' highlighting the gap between economists and the public. Anxiety among young consumers in Europe is explored, along with perceptions about tariffs and trade negotiations. The hosts also touch on holiday sales predictions and the importance of transparency in economic data, all while enjoying some lighthearted moments, including a dog's cameo.

Dante joins the podcast to discuss the October employment report. The impact of recent strikes and hurricanes weighed on the headline jobs figure, but everyone agrees that underlying job growth remains strong. Cris and Mark debate the reasons why productivity growth in the U.S. has outpaced the rest of the world, but Dante remains skeptical that recent productivity success is sustainable.Guest: Dante DeAntonio, Se nior Director of Economic Research, Moody's AnalyticsHosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s AnalyticsFollow Mark Zandi on 'X' @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President of the American Action Forum and former Director of the Congressional Budget Office, shares sharp insights on the intersections of tariffs, immigration, and national debt. He explores how proposed immigration reforms could impact the economy and the Federal Reserve's balancing act amidst inflation. The discussion also digs into the political ramifications of upcoming elections, particularly regarding a divided Congress and its effect on fiscal policies and the debt limit. Holtz-Eakin's expertise provides a compelling view of the current economic landscape.