FED Holds Rates Steady
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in its meeting this week. The interesting part of the story is that 3 of the 12 Fed Governors dissented by voting for a rate increase. Expectations have now risen that the Fed will hike rates by a quarter point at the September meeting. Sticky inflation is the culprit causing the rise in support for a rate increase.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Manufacturing Surge
The Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index jumped to 41.4 in July from 10.3 in June, as new orders, shipments, and hours worked all rose — the fastest regional factory growth since late 2021.
Source: Federal Reserve of Philadelphia
Which Generation Pays the Most in Taxes?
Americans between the ages of 45 and 55 pay nearly 30% of all income taxes, paying an average tax rate of around 17%. They pay the most in absolute terms and experience the highest effective rates. Those under age 35 account for only 11% of total taxes, representing 35% of all taxpayers.
Source: The Tax Foundation, Internal Revenue Service
Small Time Brand Influencers
Research firm Emarketer Research firm forecasts that US-based influencers will earn $21 billion this year. Around 45% of brand spending on influencer marketing will go to creators with less than 20,000 followers, compared with 19.5% in 2021. Nearly 20% of spending will go to “nanoinfluencers” with less than 5,000 followers, compared with a measly 3.1% five years ago. It seems that smaller influencers have a more engaged fan base than those with much higher follower counts. But don’t quit your day job – more than half of full-time creators said they earned below a living wage.
Source: Emarketer, Wall Street Journal
Bleisure Travel
The term “bleisure” was coined by Future Laboratory Consulting in 2009. Following the end of the pandemic, bleisure travel exploded, especially among Gen Z’ers (AKA Zoomers). Nearly two-thirds of the youngest workers who travel for business are taking part in bleisure, according to a 2025 Harris Poll survey. Meanwhile, nine in 10 Zoomers see the trips as a chance to elevate their lifestyle. According to Booking.com research, the best destinations for bleisure travel are New Orleans, followed by Las Vegas, Orlando, Boston, and Washington, DC.
Source: Forbes, Skyscanner
On This Day
On this day in 1975, Jimmy Hoffa’s wife reported him missing. An American labor leader who served as president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1957 to 1971, Hoffa was one of the most controversial labor organizers of his time. His disappearance is one of the most enduring unsolved cases in the United States. The search for his remains spans five decades and thousands of leads, but it’s never turned up a single piece of confirmed evidence.
Source: Britannica
