August 20, 2024

The Markets

After two weeks of slow and jolting market performance, a bounty of positive news calmed investors and lifted stock markets higher last week.

“Investors seem to have come to the realization that while the economy may be in fact slowing, the Federal Reserve is going to take action to address that by cutting interest rates on Sept. 18… with a September rate cut a near certainty, the mood in the market has turned on a dime,” reported Paul R. La Monica of Barron’s.

Here’s what happened:

Inflation continued to move lower. In July, prices rose 2.9 percent year to year, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report. That was an improvement on June’s 3.0 percent increase. The price of gasoline, new and used vehicles, and medical care moved lower, while the cost of shelter, motor vehicle insurance and recreation moved higher.

“It was the first time that the annual pace of inflation was below 3 [percent] since spring of 2021. Even though June’s inflation reading was slightly better, the pricing data from last month will likely help convince Fed officials to cut interest rates by at least a quarter of a percentage point at their next policy meeting in September,” reported Megan Leonhardt of Barron’s.

Consumer spending remained strong. Consumer spending is the engine that drives the American economy. After slowing (down 0.2 percent) in June, retail sales accelerated (up 1.0 percent) in July, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services.

“The retail sales numbers were a blowout versus consensus [expectations], but more importantly it should lay to rest (at least for the moment) all of the ‘doom and gloom’ that was expressed at the beginning of this month,” said a source cited by Rita Nazareth of Bloomberg.

Consumer sentiment brightened. In August, for the first time in five months, consumer sentiment improved, according to the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Survey. Joanne Hsu, the Survey of Consumers Director, wrote:

“Overall, expectations strengthened for both personal finances and the five-year economic outlook, which reached its highest reading in four months, consistent with the fact that election developments can influence future expectations but are unlikely to alter current assessments. Survey responses generally incorporate who, at the moment, consumers expect the next president will be. Some consumers note that if their election expectations do not come to pass, their expected trajectory of the economy would be entirely different. Hence, consumer expectations are subject to change as the presidential campaign comes into greater focus, even as consumers expect that inflation—still their top concern—will continue stabilizing.”

Major U.S. stock indices finished the week higher. The yield on longer-maturities of U.S. Treasuries moved higher over the week.

Data as of 8/16/24	1-Week	Y-T-D	1-Year	3-Year	5-Year	10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 Index	3.9%	16.5%	26.1%	7.4%	14.0%	10.9%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index	3.6	6.2	13.2	-1.5	4.9	1.9
10-year Treasury Note (yield only)	3.9	N/A	4.3	1.3	1.5	2.4
Gold (per ounce)	3.1	19.6	30.5	11.6	10.4	6.7
Bloomberg Commodity Index	0.2	-3.0	-7.5	0.2	4.5	-2.6

Summer Camp Is a Growing Industry

Many people have fond memories of sleep-away summer camps that feature hiking, canoeing, swimming and campfire songs. Others remember camp as a place where they learned about music, theater, dance, horseback riding, creative writing, environmental education or other activities.

After stalling during the pandemic, camp is once again a growing industry. A 2023 study conducted by the University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute and the American Camp Association (ACA) found, “camp contributes $70 billion to the national economy directly and through ripple effects, including via business-to-business purchases and labor income.”

About 26 million kids—more than 30 percent of school-age children in the United States—go to summer camp. As a result, day camps and overnight camps have become an important aspect of children’s education and growth reported Kira Garcia of Bloomberg.

“Today’s entrepreneurial camp directors are thinking beyond canoes and lakeside cabins,” wrote Garcia. “Want your kid to work on DJ skills, robotics or scuba diving? There’s a camp for that! Specialty programs were the industry’s fastest-growing segment prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and are predicted to be in increasingly high demand from 2023 to 2028.”

Camp is also important for parents. When the school year ends, working parents are left without structured supervision for school-age children. The struggle to juggle work, home and parenting responsibilities can be intense. Camp offers a way for children to refuel and reset, while participating in stimulating activities, reported Alex Frost in Success.

One issue for many families is cost. While the average cost of camp varies widely, the average cost is $87 per day, reported Nancy Chen of CBS News. The ACA reports there are ways to reduce or manage the cost of camp, including:

• Applying for a camp scholarship,
• Taking advantage of early registration discounts,
• Choosing a structured payment plan,
• Spending funds in a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, and
• Receiving the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

If you’re looking for a present for a younger person, gifting a summer camp experience may be a good choice.

Weekly Focus – Think About It

“To this day, I fondly recall the challenges of building a fire, pitching a tent, climbing a New England mountain, canoeing on a lake. Camp songs still resonate inside me. Nobody fails summer camp, a nice respite from winters of fortune and misfortune at school.”

—Michael Eisner, Disney CEO

Wishing you and your families well,
Sean M. Dowling, CFP, EA
President, The Dowling Group Wealth Management

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