StoneFlare

Cutting through the noise with data-driven analysis

Latest Articles

Fed

Two-Speed Economy in Focus: August 1, 2026 Beige Book Reveals Uneven Growth and Persistent Cost Pressures

The Federal Reserve’s August 1, 2026 Beige Book paints a picture of “modest” national growth, but scratch beneath the surface and you find a sharply bifurcated economy. While sectors like data cent...

Employment

Hiring Hits the Brakes: August ADP Jobs Gain Slows to +38,000 on September 2, 2026 Release

The September 2, 2026 ADP employment report delivered a modest headline: private-sector jobs increased by **+38,000** in August. On the surface, that’s a positive number—jobs were created, after al...

Manufacturing

August 2026 Manufacturing Outlook: Expansion Hits Five-Year High—but Demand Momentum Slows

The August 17, 2026 BLS Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey paints a picture of robust expansion with a five-year high in general activity at **47.4**, yet beneath the headline lies a nuanced sto...

Employment

July Labor Market: Stability in Openings Masks a Slowdown in Hiring and Turnover

The U.S. labor market’s latest snapshot, released September 1, 2026, offers a tale of two realities. On the surface, **job openings held steady at 7.3 million**, barely budging from June’s revised ...

Manufacturing

Manufacturing’s Slow Burn: August ISM PMI Shows Expansion Losing Steam Amid Rising Costs

The September 1, 2026 ISM Manufacturing PMI release confirms the sector is still expanding, but the devil is in the details. The headline 54.6 reading keeps the expansion narrative alive, yet benea...

Housing

Housing Market Momentum Hits the Brakes: FHFA Reports 2.1% Annual Growth but Quarterly Gains Slow Sharply (August 25, 2026)

The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s August 25, 2026 release paints a picture of a housing market caught between two narratives: **national house prices are up 2.1% year-over-year**, marking an acc...

Fed

Warsh’s Jackson Hole Playbook: Inflation Discipline Meets Forward Guidance Reboot

On **August 28, 2026**, Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh took the stage at the Kansas City Fed’s Jackson Hole symposium with a message that’s equal parts hawkish and strategic recalibration. Hi...

Manufacturing

Durable Goods Dance Around Reality: July 2026 Capex Gains Mask Core Weakness, August 26 Release Shows

The Census Bureau’s August 26, 2026 durable goods report paints a picture of steady growth: new orders and shipments are up, backlogs are swelling, and business investment looks healthy. But scratc...