Blog

America’s economy is not skating on thin ice, but it does feel a bit like the ice could be more solid. It’s frozen enough to etch its direction of travel across the surface, but there are hints of fragility beneath which should not be ignored, especially if one is inclined to do a quad axel.

Atlas has been noticing recently what is called the K-shape of the American economy. In short, a portion of the economy, and a relatively small segment at that, has fared relatively well while a larger ratio of the population seems to be having a different experience.

Tariffs are difficult for those paying them.

The calendar has flipped, the fireworks have faded, and most resolutions have already been broken.  A new year can bring a sense of renewal, or at least the illusion of a fresh start.  But in the world of federal policy, the first few days of a new year can give way to what was.

Happy New Year! Today is the first business day of 2026, so let’s spend some time talking about businesses. Last year was a strong one for some of the most noteworthy companies. Rising revenues coupled with improved productivity helped usher in large gains in profitability.

Here we are the day after Christmas, and many countries are now celebrating Boxing Day.  In nations like the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, and Nigeria, this day was born in the tradition of charity.  Wealthy employers would often give servants the day off to enjoy and provide them with boxes containing everything from food and gifts to bonuses.  You may have noticed America is not conta

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet reflects that “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In other words, the essence of the thing (in her case Romeo), not the label, is what truly matters.

The Federal Reserve left the door ajar at Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, not fully open nor closed, but just wide enough to keep markets guessing about the next steps.

The National Association for Business Economics (NABE) is a professional group of applied economists, strategists, and policy specialists who use economic analysis in business, finance, government, and academia. Each month, NABE publishes an economic outlook. The most recent edition, the November 2025 NABE Outlook Survey, suggests the U.S.