Economic Insights by Nationwide

Hosted by Nationwide Economics

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220

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Podcast by Nationwide Economics

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October 29, 202628 min

Data says go, but the Fed says wait

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at its latest FOMC meeting, but what did Chair Warsh's comments reveal about the path ahead for monetary policy? In this episode, Nationwide Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic and Head of Enterprise Portfolio Management Leo Svoboda break down the Fed's decision, discuss whether any surprises emerged from the statement or press conference, and explore what this announcement means for inflation, economic growth, and the outlook for future rate decisions. The conversation also examines how financial markets are reacting, what's driving movements in Treasury yields, where the 10-year Treasury could be headed next, and what investors should watch as markets look toward the December meeting and beyond. Kathy and Leo also discuss conditions in the corporate bond market, high-yield credit, AI-related debt issuance, and the potential market implications of the highly anticipated Anthropic IPO. Whether you're an investor, financial professional, or simply trying to understand how Federal Reserve policy affects the economy and markets, this episode provides timely insights into the forces shaping today's investment landscape. [NFM-22911AO]

October 20, 202634 min

Millennials' retirement planning in the age of uncertainty

Millennials are entering their prime earning years, but are they prepared for retirement? Ben Ayers, Nationwide Senior Economist, and Tom Duncan from Nationwide's Advanced Consulting Group explore the unique retirement planning challenges and opportunities facing the millennial generation. From graduating into the Great Financial Crisis and navigating the pandemic, to managing student loan debt, rising housing costs, childcare expenses, and economic uncertainty, millennials have faced a very different financial journey than previous generations. Yet they also have powerful advantages on their side, including time, technology, greater access to retirement plans, and innovative financial planning tools. [NFM-25838AO]

October 15, 202628 min

Trick or Treat: Is inflation scary enough for another Fed hike?

The latest inflation data may have investors, consumers, and policymakers asking whether another Federal Reserve rate hike is lurking around the corner. Kathy Bostjancic, Nationwide Chief Economist, and Ben Ayers, Senior Economist, break down the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report and what it reveals about the direction of inflation, interest rates, and the U.S. economy. The discussion explores whether rising energy prices are beginning to spill over into broader inflation, what persistent increases in diesel fuel costs could mean for transportation, food prices, and supply chains, and how businesses may respond as profit margins come under pressure. The team also examines the resilience of consumer spending, using Halloween shopping trends as a window into household behavior heading into the critical holiday shopping season. Whether you're an investor, business leader, financial professional, or simply trying to understand what's next for inflation and the economy, this episode offers timely analysis and practical perspective on the forces shaping today's economic environment. [NFM-22911AO]

October 7, 202622 min

The Manufacturing Rebound: What's driving the recovery?

Ben Ayers and Erika Melander share insight on what's driving the sector's recovery, where risks may remain, and what manufacturers should be watching as we head toward 2027. They examine how artificial intelligence, data center expansion, automation, and capital investment are reshaping U.S. manufacturing. They also discuss rising costs, cybersecurity, workforce readiness, supply chain management, and strategies for long-term resilience and profitability. [NFM-22911AO]

October 1, 202638 min

Closing the Gap: Retirement planning for Gen X

As part of our ongoing retirement planning series examining the unique opportunities and challenges facing different generations, we're turning our attention to Generation X. After exploring retirement lessons from Baby Boomers and the Great Wealth Transfer, we're now focusing on Gen X, with upcoming episodes dedicated to Millennials and Gen Z. Generation X is entering its peak retirement planning years, but many are facing a retirement landscape that looks very different from the one their parents experienced. Between rising costs, economic uncertainty, caring for aging parents, supporting college-age children, and the decline of traditional pensions, many Gen Xers are asking the same question: Is it too late to catch up? In this episode of Economic Insights by Nationwide, host Brian Kirk is joined by Tom Duncan and Dee Dee Chadwick of Nationwide's Advanced Consulting Group to discuss what's keeping Gen X up at night about retirement. Together, they explore retirement readiness, common savings gaps, healthcare planning, longevity risk, retirement income strategies, and the practical steps Gen Xers can take now to improve their financial outlook. They also discuss why working with a financial professional may help simplify complex retirement decisions and provide the confidence needed to navigate an increasingly uncertain financial future. Whether you're just starting to plan or reassessing your retirement strategy, this conversation offers actionable insights to help close the gap and prepare for what's ahead. Topics discussed: Retirement planning, Generation X, retirement readiness, retirement savings, healthcare costs, retirement income, financial planning, longevity risk, Medicare, Social Security, retirement strategies, financial advisors, economic uncertainty, and retirement confidence. [NFM-25780AO] Key Moments: 04:21 Retirement readiness statistics reveal major planning gaps 06:25 Risks of inflation, healthcare costs, and market losses 07:31 Understanding longevity risk 08:39 Why many Gen Xers feel behind on retirement savings 10:47 The sandwich generation challenge 13:07 Can Gen X still catch up? 15:46 Most important planning considerations for Gen X 16:48 Healthcare planning before Medicare 20:06 Avoiding costly retirement withdrawal penalties 22:49 Social Security timing considerations 23:54 Why many Gen Xers may need professional guidance 24:48 How financial professionals help reduce uncertainty 28:22 Finding the right financial advisor 34:17 Final retirement planning advice for Gen X 36:32 Key takeaways and closing thoughts

September 24, 202619 min

Energy's impact on the economy, inflation, and the Fed

Rising oil, gasoline, and diesel prices are creating new challenges for consumers, businesses, and policymakers alike. As geopolitical tensions disrupt global energy markets, questions are mounting about the potential impact on inflation, consumer spending, economic growth, and the future path of Federal Reserve policy. In this episode of Economic Insights by Nationwide, host Brian Kirk is joined by Kathy Bostjancic, Nationwide's Chief Economist, and Oren Klachkin, Financial Market Economist, to examine what's driving the recent surge in energy prices and why it matters for the broader economy. Together, they discuss global oil supply disruptions, the role of refining capacity, the effects of higher fuel costs on households and businesses, and the growing challenges facing policymakers as they work to bring inflation back toward the Federal Reserve's 2% target. The conversation also explores how higher energy costs could influence food prices, supply chains, consumer behavior, labor markets, and interest rate decisions in the months ahead. Whether you're interested in inflation, financial markets, Federal Reserve policy, or the economic outlook, this episode provides timely insights into one of the most important forces shaping today's economy. Topics discussed: Energy prices, oil markets, gasoline prices, diesel prices, inflation, Federal Reserve policy, interest rates, consumer spending, economic growth, supply chains, labor markets, tariffs, artificial intelligence investment, and the U.S. economic outlook. [NFM-22911AO] Key Moments: 00:52 What's driving higher energy prices? 02:24 Refining capacity challenges and fuel costs 03:57 Why energy prices act like a tax on the economy 04:46 The impact on household budgets and consumer spending 05:23 Diesel prices, supply chains, and food inflation 06:18 Business costs and corporate profitability 08:13 Energy's contribution to inflation 09:46 Tariffs and AI as additional inflation drivers 10:50 Can the Fed fight energy-driven inflation? 11:42 Why monetary policy has limits during supply shocks 14:46 Outlook for interest rates and Fed policy 15:57 Key economic indicators to watch 16:12 Labor market risks and consumer resilience 17:10 Consumer spending and savings trends

September 17, 202615 min

The Fed gets serious about inflation

The Federal Reserve raised rates in September, providing fresh insight into how policymakers are thinking about inflation, interest rates, and the path of the economy. While the decision itself is important, investors are also parsing the details of the statement and Chair Warsh's comments for clues about what comes next. Nationwide's Brad Beman (Investment Leader and Head of Fixed Income) and Oren Klachkin (Financial Market Economist) provide their analysis and outlook, how the markets are reacting, and the factors that are driving bond yields higher. [NFM-22911AO]

September 10, 202618 min

Beyond the jobs report: What's really driving the labor market?

Ben Ayers and Daniel Vielhaber unpack the August employment data and discuss how labor shortages, immigration trends, and artificial intelligence are reshaping the workforce. They also share their outlook on what recent labor market developments could mean for the Federal Reserve's next policy decision. [NFM-22911AO]

August 26, 202621 min

What back-to-school shopping says about today's consumer

Nationwide economists Ben Ayers and Daniel Vielhaber discuss one of the biggest consumer spending seasons of the year: back-to-school shopping. Every August, American families head to stores and websites to purchase everything from pencils and backpacks to laptops, tablets, dorm furnishings and clothing. This year, consumers are balancing those purchases against higher prices, economic uncertainty, and ongoing concerns about household budgets. Yet despite those pressures, spending on both K-12 and college students is expected to reach record levels. Ben and Daniel share their thoughts on what all this says about consumer confidence, inflation, credit usage, retail trends, and the broader health of the U.S. economy. [NFM-22911AO]

August 19, 202631 min

AI's impact on the economy and financial markets

Kathy Bostjancic (Nationwide's Chief Economist) and Mark Hackett (Nationwide's Chief Market Strategist) discuss the impact that AI investment is having on the economy and financial markets, how investor sentiment is shifting, and whether the rapid acceleration in investment could be setting the stage for an AI-driven bubble. [NFM-25266M3]

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