Financial Literacy Month

• According to a new survey from Step, 97% of GenZ think financial literacy is important. (Yahoo Finance)
• The American Banker is suggesting to its bank and credit union constituents that financial literacy is the key to attracting a broader base of customers.

Investing

• CoinBase had a successful IPO this week (AP News), as did online betting company Esports (Seeking Alpha).
• What does the Coinbase listing means for the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? (CNBC)
• What impact will NFTs have on the environment? Read both sides of this argument. (NYT)
• We posted Jamie Dimon’s letter to shareholders last week, how about Jeff Bezos this week?
• Check out this chart of returns by Asset Class (posted in Ritholz Reads 4/12/21)

Economics 

• Fed chair Jerome Powell was interviewed on 60 Minutes this past Sunday. Read about it (Reuters), or watch it (CBS). 
• Here are two on evaluation inflation numbers. (Yahoo Finance) (NYT Upshot)
• And here is another NYT Upshot article looking at explaining why, with so many people still out of work, there is a parallel labor shortage.
• Initial jobless claims dropped last week to their lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic. (Yahoo Finance)
• Retail sales jump in March (year-over-year). (CNBC)
• How did we spend money (or not) during the pandemic? This Vox Recode article has several graphs that tell the story.
• Here are two great, current supply and demand examples to draw on:
  • The worldwide chip shortage is impacting everything from cars to gaming devices. (The Verge)
  • Lumber prices soar—why, and what does that do to the housing market: (The Morning Brew)

• Where does your state stand in terms of its contribution to GDP? (posted in Ritholz Reads 4/15/21)

Higher Education

• Read about the debate among colleges regarding requiring students to be vaccinated before returning to campus. (AP News)

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.