THE MEAN-AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY IS WORTH $1 MILLION AFTER YEARS OF SOARING GROWTH, WEALTH AND INCOME. THIS MATTERS FOR INFLATION, FUTURE INTEREST RATES AND THE STRENGTH OF THE DOLLAR.

AN IRANIAN MISSILE ATTACK ON ISRAEL WAS THWARTED OVER THE WEEKEND. WHILE MARKETS ARE CALM, RISKS OF ESCALATION LINGER.

A BLOWOUT JOBS REPORT IS TIPPING BETS TOWARDS FEWER US INTEREST RATE CUTS THIS YEAR. WHAT HAPPENS IF INFLATION CONTINUES TO BOUNCE HIGHER THIS WEEK?

A RESILIENT ECONOMY IS GIVING INVESTORS INCREASED CONFIDENCE TO MOVE BEYOND THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN AND INTO CORNERS OF THE MARKET THAT HAVE LAGGED. THIS BROADENING TREND IS VERY ENCOURAGING.

AFTER THE FLURRY OF CENTRAL BANK DECISIONS LAST WEEK, WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT WHEN (AND HOW MUCH) THE BIG HITTERS PLAN TO CUT RATES?

IN A WAVE OF CENTRAL BANK MEETINGS THIS WEEK, ONE OF THEM IS TRULY DIFFERENT. WHILE ALL OTHER DEVELOPED WORLD POLICYMAKERS ARE PONDERING RATE CUTS, ONLY JAPAN IS CONSIDERING RATE HIKES.

PROBLEMS WITH UK LABOUR SURVEYS ARE MAKING IT HARD TO KNOW THE TRUE RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT. MEANWHILE, THE CHANCELLOR RELEASES A TAX-CUTTING BUDGET THAT LEAVES THE NEXT GOVERNMENT WITH TOUGH CHOICES.

THE CHANCELLOR HOPES TO NARROW LABOUR’S YAWNING LEAD IN OPINION POLLS WITH A TAX-CUTTING BUDGET. GIVEAWAYS MAY BE STYMIED  BY A POOR ECONOMY AND HIGHER COSTS OF PUBLIC SERVICES.

OBSTRUCTIVE PLANNING LAWS ARE CURTAILING THE SUPPLY OF HOMES IN THE UK, THE REGULATOR SAYS. MEANWHILE, THE QUALITY OF BUILDING IS SLIPPING, SUGGESTING WE’RE WRAPPED UP IN THE WRONG RED TAPE.

THE UK SLUMPS INTO RECESSION EVEN AS PEOPLE’S SPIRITS AND RETAIL SALES RISE. MEANWHILE, TROUBLE MAY BE BREWING IN AMERICAN INFLATION.

THE US S&P 500 STOCK MARKET INDEX BROKE THROUGH 5,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME, HITTING A RECORD HIGH LAST WEEK AS INVESTORS SHRUGGED OFF WORRIES THAT INTEREST RATES MAY NOT FALL AS FAST AS MANY HAD HOPED.

US JOBS STRENGTH PUSHES BACK INTEREST RATE CUT FORECASTS YET FURTHER. MEANWHILE, HIGHER RATES AND CHANGING BUSINESS NEEDS KEEPS SQUEEZING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.

NO CHANGE TO MONETARY POLICY IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK, BUT INVESTORS WILL BE EAGER FOR ANY CLUE ABOUT THE BANK OF ENGLAND’S THOUGHTS ON INFLATION AND INTEREST RATE CUTS. 

UK RETAIL SALES SLUMPED IN DECEMBER WHILE INFLATION WENT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. IS THE UK NOW IN RECESSION, ALBEIT THE MILDEST OF THE MILD?

HOUSING COSTS MAKE UP A BIG PART OF PEOPLE’S SPENDING, YET THEY CAN OFTEN OBSCURE WHAT’S GOING ON WITH INFLATION. 

A GRUELLING YEAR FOR INVESTORS ACTUALLY DELIVERED DECENT RETURNS. BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT STRONG PERFORMANCE IS IN ANTICIPATION OF 2024?