Moody's Talks - Inside Economics

Epizody

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  The Curious Case of the Vehicle Market 24.07.2026 1h 14min

  Nowhere is the economy’s resilience more evident than in the vehicle market. To break this down, the Inside Economics team is joined by colleague Mike Brisson, and the brain trust at Cox Automotive, including Jeremy Robb, Chief Economist, and repeat guest Jonathan Smoke, Chief Strategy Officer. The group weighs how the recent escalation of the Iran War is impacting gas prices and consumer decisions around new and used car buying, including EVs and hybrids. They also discuss how tariffs have (or haven’t) affected vehicle prices over the past year and consider auto lending as interest rates rise. Following the stats game, the experts give their forecasts for vehicle sales.
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  Thriving, Striving or Surviving 17.07.2026 1h 7min

  The financial health of the American consumer is top of mind these days, and no one better to discuss it with than Emmaline Aliff of Equifax and our own consumer maven, Mike Brisson, join the podcast to dig into the evidence. While the consumer sector as a whole remains resilient, the story differs dramatically across the thrivers, the strivers, and the survivors. We also unpack a week full of inflation data with Matt Colyar, who helps us sort through the numbers and their implications for the economic outlook.
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  A Dove in Hawk's Clothing 10.07.2026 1h 3min

  Ethan Harris, former Head of Global Economic Research at Bank of America, joins the Inside Economics team to discuss his views on the economy’s resiliency, AI, and the Fed. Ethan expounds on the new Chair Kevin Warsh’s stance on inflation and how to interpret his views from the latest Fed minutes. The team discusses whether AI is affecting productivity and the risks it poses to the wider economy and labor market.
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  A Jobs Debate 02.07.2026 58min

  The Inside Economics crew takes a deep dive into the June employment report, which was notably softer following a string of upside surprises. The team debates how to define labor market slack given the sharp divergence between the payroll and household surveys since the beginning of the year. The stats game had some twists and turns, from the labor market to the World Cup, and Dante takes heat for mixing up positives and negatives.
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  The Data, Oil, and a Global Q&A 26.06.2026 1h 17min

  Mark and Marisa dissect the raft of economic data released this past week, and debate what it means for the outlook. Chris joins the conversation and weighs in on where oil prices will settle. The group plays the Stats game – some tough stats. The discussion ends with Mark peppering our new colleague, Colin Ellis, with wide-ranging questions about the global economy.
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  Breaking in a new Chair 18.06.2026 51min

  Claudia Sahm, Chief Economist of New Century Advisors joins the team to break down Kevin Warsh's first FOMC meeting and press conference. The group covers the rate decision, changes to Fed communications, the dot plot's future, and what Warsh's balance sheet views signal for monetary policy ahead. The new Chair is in the seat, time will tell if it's a comfortable one.
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  Stocks, SpaceX, and Subways 12.06.2026 1h 7min

  The Inside Economics team welcomes Jim Lebenthal, Chief Market Strategist at Cerity Partners, to discuss all things investing on the morning of the SpaceX IPO. Jim discusses the equity market’s extraordinary run, whether AI stocks are overvalued, and how investors should think about picking individual stocks versus investing in index funds. The team also welcomes Matt Colyar to talk about this week’s inflation data, and Marisa addresses a slew of comments from last week’s podcast.
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  Dazed and Confused 05.06.2026 51min

  Dante joins the Inside Economics crew to dissect the May jobs report, which he describes as shocking. The team discusses whether there is enough evidence to declare that the labor market and underlying job growth have shifted into a higher gear, and debates the growing disconnect between the payroll and household surveys. The stats game delivers some interesting insights about the strength of job growth for women and the impact that remote work has had on young college graduates.
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  Economic Data Dump 29.05.2026 1h 16min

  Three economists. Three opinions. The Inside Economics team worked through a panoply of fresh releases, covering GDP, spending, income, new-home sales, durable goods orders, and inflation, to piece together the true state of the economy. Three tricky statistics tested the team in the stats game before a three-part listener question closed things out.
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  Third Time’s the Charm 22.05.2026 49min

  After two failed attempts at recording the podcast due to technical issues, the team finally nails it on the third try. In a light data week, the team discusses the wide disparity in sentiment between consumers, stock investors, and business leaders. The team discusses Mark’s recent meetings with Brazilian clients, Marisa’s trip to Silicon Valley, and Cris’s meeting with banking clients and their takeaways about the moods among those audiences. The podcast concludes with a set of thought-provoking listener questions, most of which are related to AI.
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  Mr. Financial System 19.05.2026 50min

  If you want to get the skinny on anything related to financial markets or the financial system, then you need to talk with Samim Ghamami, Chief Economist of the New York state Insurance Fund. That’s what Mark and Cris do on this podcast. The conversation begins with the outlook for interest rates, turns to a perspective on a popular AI narrative that artificial intelligence will push rates up further by spurring investment and reducing household savings, and closes with a timely look at private credit and the risks it may pose to the broader financial system.
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  Focus on the Fed 15.05.2026 56min

  On this momentous day at the Federal Reserve, with Jay Powell handing over the chair to Kevin Warsh, the Inside Economics team, along with guest Julia Coronado, Founder of Macropolicy Perspectives, and colleague Martin Wurm, consider all things related to the venerable institution. There’s, of course, the issue of Fed independence, and beyond that, what changes the new Fed chair may champion. And soaring stock prices and bond yields, and what they mean for the economy, couldn’t help but be topics of conversation.
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  Inflation: No Quick Fix 12.05.2026 40min

  In a quick-hitting mini-podcast, Mark and Cris are joined by colleague Matt Colyar to discuss April’s (hot) consumer price index data. U.S. inflation has accelerated dramatically since the war in Iran began. Matt breaks down April’s report and opines about where inflation is likely headed from here. Amid affordability concerns and an approaching election, the crew then evaluates recent proposals put forward by policymakers to alleviate some of the burden on U.S. consumers.
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  Jobs: Soft, Stable, or Something Else 08.05.2026 1h 1min

  The Inside Economics crew dives into the April employment report. Despite better-than-expected headline job growth, they debate the best way to characterize the current state of the labor market. The team agrees that despite a still-low unemployment rate, there are reasons to be concerned. The stats game proves particularly difficult, but delivers key insights about the labor market, and also provides some key figures to watch moving forward.
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  Inside AI with Anthropic's Peter McCrory 01.05.2026 1h 9min

  Peter McCrory, the Head of Economics at AI juggernaut Anthropic, joins the Inside Economics team to consider all things AI and the economy. The discussion begins with how the group is using Claude in our work, then shifts to AI’s current and expected lift to productivity, and to the underappreciated economic ramifications of AI. It turns out that Lancaster PA, is turning out some great economists.
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  An Economic Grab Bag 24.04.2026 1h 12min

  Mark, Cris and Marisa recap the week’s economic news, including the now highly likely confirmation for the Fed Chair nominee, Kevin Warsh, the ongoing conflict in Iran and its impact on energy and related commodities, and the proposed bailout of Spirit Airlines. After the stats game, the team takes a few thought-provoking listener questions about tax policy and tariffs.
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  3 Lenses, 1 Economy 17.04.2026 1h 5min

  Stock prices are hitting new records, while consumer sentiment has fallen to record lows. Businesses are of mixed minds. What’s driving this disconnect—and who’s right? Mark and Cris are joined once again by colleague Matt Colyar to break down the divergence between investors, consumers, and business leaders. Their insights reveal key dynamics shaping the economic outlook. Plus, the statistics game returns – back by overwhelming listener demand.
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  Oil, Cows and Taxes 10.04.2026 1h 4min

  The Inside Economics team is joined by Matt Colyar to discuss the week’s loaded economic data slate. First, Matt offers a detailed reaction to March’s hot CPI report – the first inflation data capturing effects from the conflict in the Middle East. Next, the group discusses how each is thinking about their recession probabilities in light of the tenuous ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and the latest economic data. The group closes, of course, with the numbers game where Mark reveals that he doesn’t file his own taxes, and despite not eating meat, Cris provides an update on how America’s steakhouses are faring amid rising beef costs.
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  Curb Your (Job Market) Enthusiasm 03.04.2026 1h 10min

  The Inside Economics crew (minus Dr. DeAntonio) parses the March jobs report, which came in surprisingly strong. They all agree that the headline number is deceptive and the labor market is actually quite weak and poised to weaken further in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East. Mark unveils his new take on the Sahm Rule indicator, which points to a surprising conclusion. The stats game is back (and not going anywhere), and the team takes several good listener questions.
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  The Sages of CRE 31.03.2026 45min

  Moody's commercial real estate experts Tom LaSalvia and Kevin Fagan join Mark, Marisa, and Cris to take stock of where CRE markets stand today. Tom and Kevin go beyond the headlines to unpack the nuances driving the office market's uneven recovery, multifamily's supply-driven growing pains, and retail's quiet comeback. Their verdict: measured confidence — provided the broader economy cooperates. As a bonus, Tom reveals the philosopher alter ego hiding inside each host. Spoiler alert: not everyone gets to be Socrates.