Ben Carter is a staff writer at P&L, covering markets, dealmaking, and public companies. He previously worked in equity research, focusing on valuation, earnings, and IPOs.
How have investors responded to ugly data and political spectacle? Financial markets absorbed the jobs shock—and the firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics chief Erika McEntarfer—with only a
Is the U.S. economy really approaching a recession, or are we spooked by one ugly jobs report? Anxiety is climbing after July's jobs data landed with a
Is the shrinking trade gap a sign of strength—or warning of something deeper? The U.S. trade deficit hit a two-year low, falling 16% to $60.2 billion in
How much can Wall Street stomach? Stocks have seesawed as investors try to balance solid corporate earnings against escalating tariff headwinds and shifting economic data. Positive earnings from McDonald’s
Is America’s rising household debt a red flag or just a new normal? The latest data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows U.S. household debt
Soaring profits... but for how long as debt and tariffs bite? Corporate America is currently delivering a parade of positive surprises—66% of S&P 500 companies beat earnings
Are shrinking trade deficits disguising deeper risks for consumers and companies? The U.S. trade deficit fell to $60.2B in June, its lowest in nearly two years, thanks to
Can blockbuster earnings keep the bull market running despite economic warning signs? After a volatile stretch, U.S. stocks are again capturing the glass-half-full narrative. The Dow rose 0.17%
Is America's debt pileup accelerating—right as households show fresh signs of strain? The latest data from the New York Fed paints one unmissable picture: total U.S.
The U.S. trade deficit plunged to a nearly two-year low in June, with the gap between the U.S. and China shrinking to its smallest in over two decades.
OPEC+ Ramps Output Amid Geopolitical and Market Pressures The OPEC+ coalition is accelerating oil production, having approved a substantial hike of 547,000 barrels per day for September as part
Controversy Surrounds Bureau of Labor Statistics Amid Job Report Revisions President Donald Trump's recent dismissal of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer has thrust the credibility