Economics

• Core PCE, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, rose at a 5.4% annual rate in February, the highest rate since 1983. (CNBC)
• Historic oil reserve release announced to relieve supply side pressures on gas prices. (CNN) Related: what are oil reserves? (WAPO – subscription may be required)
• Looking to explain what is going on with oil? Morning Brew Breakdown has an 11-minute video explaining the oil market.
• Employment up 431,000 in March, and unemployment down to 3.6% in March jobs report. February numbers revised upward, and wages increasing. (BLS) (CNBC)
• Labor market still has 5 million more job openings than the number of unemployed people. (CNBC)

Investing

• It was the worst quarter for the stock market in 2 years as the market closed down for the quarter. (CNBC)
• The yield curve inverted this week. What does that mean? (CNBC1) (CNBC)
• Mortgage rates are at their highest level since 2018 (4.67%). What will this mean for housing supply? (Marketplace) Related: can home prices and interest rates both go up at the same time? (NYT-subscription may be required)
• Humble Dollar touts the relative success of passive investing.

Crypto

• Wharton’s Kevin Werbach discusses why he feels the Executive Order re: cryptocurrencies is an important step forward. Read/listen here.
• There was another crypto hack reported this week., this time worth $620 million. (VentureBeat)

Scams

• Watch out for text messages from your own number: “bad actors” have targeted Verizon customers recently. (NYT-subscription may be required)

About the Author

Beth Tallman

Beth Tallman entered the working world armed with an MBA in finance and thoroughly enjoyed her first career working in manufacturing and telecommunications, including a stint overseas. She took advantage of an involuntary separation to try teaching high school math, something she had always dreamed of doing. When fate stepped in once again, Beth jumped on the opportunity to combine her passion for numbers, money, and education to develop curriculum and teach personal finance at Oberlin College. Beth now spends her time writing on personal finance and financial education, conducts student workshops, and develops finance curricula and educational content. She is also the Treasurer of Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.