Solutions Economic and Market Watch

Hosted by CFC

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Episodes

225

Latest episode

Nov 2026

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About the show

Clear, timely economic analysis for electric cooperative leaders. CFC's economic research team—John Suter, Sam Kem and Antony Davies—break down what markets, rates, and policy mean for your co-op and its members.

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60 recent

November 2, 2026Episode 2217 min

When Lower Prices Cost More — November 2, 2026

Join Antony Davies , director of economic research at CFC, as he examines the hidden costs of freezing electricity rates and explains why price caps can shift costs rather than eliminate them. Read the transcript of this episode. Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions . Sources: Highland Bridge apartments remains stalled, but project advances — Axios Twin Cities California insurance market rattled by withdrawal of major companies | The Associated Press

October 26, 2026Episode 2207 min

Why $40 Trillion Matters — October 26, 2026

Join John Suter , vice president of economic research at CFC, as he examines what the $40 trillion national debt means for interest rates, borrowing costs and the federal budget. Read the transcript of this episode. Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions .

October 19, 2026Episode 2196 min

Is the Middle Class Really Disappearing? — October 19, 2026

Join Antony Davies , director of economic research at CFC, as he explains why a shrinking middle class does not necessarily mean more Americans are falling into poverty—and what the data say are happening instead. Read the transcript of this episode. Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions . Sources: Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average (CPIAUCSL) | FRED | St. Louis Fed Employed full time: Median usual weekly nominal earnings (second quartile): Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over (LES1252881500Q) | FRED | St. Louis Fed https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/tables/time-series/historical-income-households/h17.xlsx Steady 54% of Americans Identify as Middle Class

October 12, 2026Episode 2187 min

Is 5% the New Normal? — October 12, 2026

Join John Suter , vice president of economic research at CFC, as he explores why persistent inflation and a 5% Treasury yield may signal the end of the low-interest-rate era. Read the transcript of this episode. Listen to the episode mentioned in the show, "A Rule of Thumb for an Uncertain Economy." Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions .

October 5, 2026Episode 2179 min

The Hidden Cost of Resilience — October 5, 2026

Join Sam Kem , senior economic research analyst at CFC, as she uses CFC's new Grid Price Index to explain why some electric distribution equipment costs remain structurally higher than before the pandemic and what that reveals about the hidden cost of resilience. Read the transcript of this episode. Find out more about the Grid Price Index. Read Sam's article, "Grid Equipment Inflation Raises the Cost of Resilience." Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions .

September 28, 2026Episode 2166 min

Is the US Running Out of Places To Borrow Money? — September 28, 2026

Join Antony Davies , director of economic research at CFC, as he explains why a growing share of federal debt must be financed by investors who lend by choice rather than obligation, and what that could mean for interest rates and government borrowing costs. Read the transcript of this episode. Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions . Source: The 2026 OASDI Trustees Report

September 21, 2026Episode 2158 min

The Feedback Loop Driving the Bond Market — September 21, 2026

Join Sam Kem , senior economic research analyst at CFC, as she looks at how U.S. fiscal conditions are amplifying global shocks in the bond market and contributing to higher borrowing costs worldwide. Read the transcript of this episode. Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions .

September 14, 2026Episode 2146 min

Is the American Dream Really Dead? — September 14, 2026

Join Antony Davies , director of economic research at CFC, as he digs into new Federal Reserve research to ask whether younger generations really are worse off than their parents. Read the transcript of this episode. Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions . Sources: https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/feds/files/2024007pap.pdf https://www.financialaha.com/data-analysis/us-net-worth-by-generation/ Average Annual Hours Worked by Persons Engaged for United States (AVHWPEUSA065NRUG) | FRED | St. Louis Fed https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1X1JU https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/tables/time-series/historical-income-households/h12ar.xlsx The Fed - Chart: Survey of Consumer Finances, 1989 - 2022

August 31, 2026Episode 2136 min

Shutting Off the Warning Lights — August 31, 2026

Join Antony Davies , director of economic research at CFC, as he explores why the Treasury is buying long-term bonds, what that means for interest rates and borrowers, and why efforts to suppress market signals may create larger problems down the road. Read the transcript of this episode. Download last week's intelligence brief, " $40 Trillion in Federal Debt ." Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit the archives for more intelligence briefs. Visit us, download this week's intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions . Sources: Tentative-Buyback-Schedule.pdf Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity, Quoted on an Investment Basis (DGS10) | FRED | St. Louis Fed Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity, Quoted on an Investment Basis (DGS30) | FRED | St. Louis Fed Bessent vows bigger buybacks after bond yields erased the US Treasury's relief rally | Euronews

August 24, 2026Episode 2127 min

What Your Netflix Subscription Means for Your Retirement — August 24, 2026

Join Sam Kem , senior economic research analyst at CFC, as she looks at the predictability of future expenses and financial planning in the subscription economy. Read the transcript of this episode. Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at economicresearch@nrucfc.coop . Follow the Economic & Market Watch podcast. Visit us, download the intelligence brief and dashboard and explore economic insights on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions . Mentioned in the show: Homeowners Associations Are Foreclosing on More Residents—The Wall Street Journal Recurring Costs Are Reshaping Ownership—CFC Solutions Cooperative News