Anna Helhoski

Hey, Sean. Hey, Elizabeth. There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to how the economy is actually doing. There's data, including recent stats on growth, unemployment, and inflation. And then there's how people feel about the economy and how it's affecting their actions.

Hey, Sean. Hey, Elizabeth. There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to how the economy is actually doing. There's data, including recent stats on growth, unemployment, and inflation. And then there's how people feel about the economy and how it's affecting their actions.

Since the state of economy is looking a little blurry right now, I've asked NerdWallet's resident economist, Elizabeth Renter, to help create a clearer picture. Elizabeth, welcome back to Smart Money. Hey, thanks for having me, Anna. I'm hoping you can first talk a little about why there's some uncertainty about how the economy is doing at this particular moment.

Since the state of economy is looking a little blurry right now, I've asked NerdWallet's resident economist, Elizabeth Renter, to help create a clearer picture. Elizabeth, welcome back to Smart Money. Hey, thanks for having me, Anna. I'm hoping you can first talk a little about why there's some uncertainty about how the economy is doing at this particular moment.

Since the state of economy is looking a little blurry right now, I've asked NerdWallet's resident economist, Elizabeth Renter, to help create a clearer picture. Elizabeth, welcome back to Smart Money. Hey, thanks for having me, Anna. I'm hoping you can first talk a little about why there's some uncertainty about how the economy is doing at this particular moment.

I am referring mainly to the lag in data. What is it and how does it shape economists' perception?

I am referring mainly to the lag in data. What is it and how does it shape economists' perception?

I am referring mainly to the lag in data. What is it and how does it shape economists' perception?

All right, so we've had a few pieces of data trickle out in the last few weeks. If you put them together, what story are they telling?

All right, so we've had a few pieces of data trickle out in the last few weeks. If you put them together, what story are they telling?

All right, so we've had a few pieces of data trickle out in the last few weeks. If you put them together, what story are they telling?

Now, about a month ago, we started to hear murmurings that GDP for the first quarter could be negative. Can you talk a little bit about how GDP has behaved over the last few years and what last week's data means for the economy?

Now, about a month ago, we started to hear murmurings that GDP for the first quarter could be negative. Can you talk a little bit about how GDP has behaved over the last few years and what last week's data means for the economy?

Now, about a month ago, we started to hear murmurings that GDP for the first quarter could be negative. Can you talk a little bit about how GDP has behaved over the last few years and what last week's data means for the economy?

Now, are we continuing to see softening in employment? Is the labor market cooling? Is it normalizing? What's happening there?

Now, are we continuing to see softening in employment? Is the labor market cooling? Is it normalizing? What's happening there?

Now, are we continuing to see softening in employment? Is the labor market cooling? Is it normalizing? What's happening there?

We got fresh inflation data last week, and the core PCE increased by 2.3% in the past 12 months. Now, for those who don't know, core PCE is a measure of prices for goods and services minus volatile food and energy. And it's the Federal Reserve's preferred indicator of inflation. Elizabeth, is inflation still coming down compared to previous months or are we in sticky territory?

We got fresh inflation data last week, and the core PCE increased by 2.3% in the past 12 months. Now, for those who don't know, core PCE is a measure of prices for goods and services minus volatile food and energy. And it's the Federal Reserve's preferred indicator of inflation. Elizabeth, is inflation still coming down compared to previous months or are we in sticky territory?

We got fresh inflation data last week, and the core PCE increased by 2.3% in the past 12 months. Now, for those who don't know, core PCE is a measure of prices for goods and services minus volatile food and energy. And it's the Federal Reserve's preferred indicator of inflation. Elizabeth, is inflation still coming down compared to previous months or are we in sticky territory?