Under “normal” circumstances, economists and analysts study a variety of specific indicators to understand what’s happening with the US economy. But lately, those indicators have been sending mixed signals. The FT’s US financial commentator Robert Armstrong explains why they’re wonky and how that’s led him to a different data source to help him understand the economy.
Plus, have your own burning questions about business or finance? Send us your questions and we may use them in a future show!  Record a voice message here: https://sayhi.chat/rmc2b 
Or, email Michela at michela.tindera@ft.com, or message her on Twitter at @mtindera07 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: Recession odds fall, a bit There is more slack in labour markets than we think An ‘immaculate disinflation’ in the US is not guaranteed Stocks rise on robust US bank earnings and ECB rates signal Listen to the Unhedged podcast
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A different way to understand the US economy

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For decades, countries in the Middle East have dominated the oil market, pumping large quantities of the world’s supply. Along with that has come a pattern: when there’s conflict in the region, oil prices rise. The pattern seems to be breaking though, mainly because of one thing: US shale. The FT’s Myles McCormick explains how production in the country shifted oil’s epicentre away from the Middle East, and how long that may last. 
Clips from Al Jazeera, CBS, CNN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: How US shale keeps sheltering America from the next oil price surge On markets and geopolitics, it is a mistake to forget about shale Why oil prices remain steady even as Middle East tensions escalate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  On X, follow Myles McCormick (@mylesmccormick_) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. 
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How shale rewrote the global oil order

When a company is sold there tends to be a standard playbook: There’s some tough negotiations. Then, the buyer gets a business and the seller gets a check. Everyone’s happy. That’s not what happened when a private equity firm recently bought a California grocery store chain. The FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap explains how the deal went off the rails, and how the supermarket’s owners might end up paying millions of dollars to sell their company. 
Clip from KCRA  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: The inequity method of accounting Opposition shadows Cerberus windfall from Albertsons supermarket deal  The pool is closed, part 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  On X, follow Sujeet Indap (@sindap) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When M&A goes wrong

A few years ago, four men went on a hunting trip to Wyoming. That trip would end up changing their lives — and possibly, the future of the public’s access to millions of acres of land in America's western states. The FT’s Oliver Roeder expands on the saga that’s played out since 2021 inside courtrooms and within thousands of pages of legal documents.  
Clips from KGWN, Ludlow Music and The Richmond Organisation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: Battle for the American West Seven states, 3,000 miles: a trip across the US energy divide Wyoming’s Carbon Valley aims to turn ‘coal into gold’ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  On X, follow Oliver Roeder (@ollie) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside the battle for America’s West

Introducing Money Clinic’s Five Minute Investor, a miniseries hosted by Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor. In each episode, Claer challenges top financial commentators to break down financial jargon in just five minutes, making you a smarter, and hopefully richer, investor. Tune in every Tuesday, and subscribe to Money Clinic wherever you get your podcasts. If you would like Claer to demystify an investment term, email the team at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming soon: The Five Minute Investor from Money Clinic

WeightWatchers is struggling. Launched in the early 1960s, the brand grew by helping members shed pounds through behavioural change programmes. Then, GLP-1 anti-obesity drugs hit the market, long-time spokesperson and board member Oprah Winfrey announced her departure, and the company’s credit rating was downgraded. FT reporter Anna Mutoh examines whether WeightWatchers’ latest strategy can produce the turnaround investors are hoping for.  
Clip from Lionsgate Television - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: WeightWatchers faces an era when weight loss comes in a syringe Behold the Ozempic effect on business  The race to develop the next generation of weight-loss drugs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  On X, follow Anna Mutoh (@anna_mutoh) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. 
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A different way to understand the US economy

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