This week is Black Friday, which means it’s the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season. The big question many economists want to know is will consumer spending be strong? WSJ retail reporter Sarah Nassauer joins us as we look ahead to earnings reports this week from retailers, like Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods, to find out if the holiday spirit is enough to boost sales. Then, we’re turning our attention to artificial intelligence. Nvidia, the technology company known for...

This week, we're grabbing our toolboxes and heading to Home Depot. The home improvement retailer is expected to report earnings on Tuesday. Jinjoo Lee, who covers big retailers for The Wall Street Journal’s Heard on the Street column, joins guest host Telis Demos to talk about how the housing market, consumer spending and supply chains all play an integral role in Home Depot’s success. We’re also turning our attention to two upcoming reports on inflation to take a deeper look at what they...

Mohamed El-Erian is one of the world’s most respected economists and he has growing concerns about a recession in 2024. El-Erian previously served as the chief executive and chief investment officer at financial services company Pimco, and now is the chief economic advisor at Pimco’s parent company, Allianz, one of the world’s largest insurance and financial services firms. He is also the president of Queens’ College at the University of Cambridge. In this special episode of WSJ's Take On the...

This week, we’re turning our attention to breakfast cereals and snacks. Kellogg, the company responsible for cereals like Frosted Flakes and snacks like Pringles, in early October split into two companies: WK Kellogg and Kellanova. WK Kellogg maintained the company’s cereal products, while Kellanova kept snacks. Snacks have been big business for companies, but with changes to eating habits brought on by obesity drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, these companies may face some struggles ahead. WK...

This week, we’re opening up our digital wallets and examining the current state of crypto. Wall Street hasn’t been talking much about crypto this year, and that silence has been golden for digital assets. The price of bitcoin has jumped by more than 100% year to date. Cryptocurrency exchange platform, Coinbase, is expected to report earnings this week so we’re chatting with Jeff Dorman, the chief investment officer of Arca, a crypto-focused asset manager, to find out why he thinks crypto will...

This week, we're looking ahead to the GDP data for the third quarter of 2023 to find out how much the American economy grew from July to September. Thanks to higher than expected numbers from the latest retail sales and jobs reports, economists have lowered the probability of a recession occurring next year to below 50 percent, the lowest it's been since summer 2022. With recession worries now taking a back seat, attention has shifted to the economy’s surprising growth and why it just might...

This week, we’re looking at what the Federal Reserve is watching as it plots the course of interest rate hikes. In their most recent meeting, last month, minutes revealed that a majority of Fed members say one more rate hike would be appropriate. We’re two weeks away from the next Fed meeting, and investors are paying close attention as the decisions made will play a significant role on consumer spending and banks’ deposits. Mary Daly, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve, joins...

This week, we have banking and the recent rise in government bond yields in focus. Mary Daly, president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve, tells us that the run-up in bond yields means the need for another interest rate hike is “diminished.” But with the September jobs report showing job growth remaining stronger than expected, and the Fed seemingly committed to keep interest rates high, what could that mean for three of the biggest banks, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup, who are...

It’s a new month and quarter, and this week, we’re talking about three big pieces of economic news that could impact your money: the September jobs report, the turnover or JOLTS report, and the return of student loan payments. Last month, we saw job gains easing and unemployment ticking higher. Now, as student loan payments resume, economist Danielle DiMartino Booth makes the case that we’re heading for recession. We’re also previewing earnings from Constellation Brands, the company that made...

This week, we have our eye on the sneaker giant Nike. The company behind the Lebron 21, Air Force 1 and Air Jordans is expected to report its first quarter earnings, and it comes at a pivotal time. Nike stock is down around 20% year to date, as it faces a glut of inventory and a rash of thefts. Ahead of the holiday shopping season, Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih explains why she thinks it’s time to Just Do It and bet on Nike stock going higher. We’re also adjusting our collars as we gear up...

This week, the Federal Reserve is gathering to make its latest interest rate decision. The central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady, but the FOMC September meeting will give us a lot of clues about the future of the economy and the direction of the stock market. Former Fed official Vincent Reinhart, now chief economist at Dreyfus and Mellon, talks about how a new approach from the central bank could affect our money. We’ve also got our eyes on FedEx. The shipping giant is expected...

The market’s next move will be determined by what happens with inflation, and this week, we’re looking ahead to the latest Consumer Price Index inflation report. One of the biggest drivers of inflation right now is housing costs. Chief economist at Zillow, Skylar Olsen, helps break down how the housing and rental markets are contributing to high inflation. Plus, WSJ’s Deputy Editor in Chief Charles Forelle joins to discuss Charles Schwab’s recent financial troubles and what those could mean...

WSJ’s Take On the Week is a new weekly podcast that looks ahead at the events on the economic and business calendar to explain what they mean for your money and investments. With straightforward analysis and insight from guests who know what matters, this show provides you with what you need to know to take on the week. Episode 1 will be available September 10.