Moody's Talks - Inside Economics

Dante joined the Inside Economics crew to discuss the September employment report, which told a more consistent story of a soft labor market. The team also dove into the bevy of other economic data released this week, including GDP, inflation, income, and spending. Recent data revisions were a recurring theme throughout the discussion, but in the end, the balance of revisions does not fundamentally change the team’s outlook.

Interested in the Moody's Economics conference at New York on 10/22? Email [email protected]. 

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X' and BlueSky @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

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Wayne Best, Chief Economist at Visa and The Wall Street Journal’s Most Accurate Forecaster of 2025, joins the Inside Economics team to discuss the state of the economy with a focus on consumer spending. Despite a similar forecast for next year, Wayne is slightly more sanguine than the Inside Economics team about the durability of consumer spending. The discussion then leads to a surprising and fascinating look at Wayne’s recent research on the generational wealth transfer. Over the next 20 years, the Boomers will pass on trillions in wealth to their heirs, but it may not be the macroeconomic boon many are expecting.

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X' and BlueSky @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Guest: Wayne Best, Chief Economist at Visa

Check out Visa's study on the wealth transfer: The Great Wealth Transfer Reality Check

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

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Originally published on May 1st, 2026.
Peter McCrory, the Head of Economics at AI juggernaut Anthropic, joins the Inside Economics team to consider all things AI and the economy. The discussion begins with how the group is using Claude in our work, then shifts to AI’s current and expected lift to productivity, and to the underappreciated economic ramifications of AI. It turns out that Lancaster PA, is turning out some great economists.

Guest: Peter McCrory, Head of Economics at Anthropic

For more from Peter McCrory: https://peter-mccrory.github.io/

Read The Macroeconomic Consequences of AI and Aging and the Productivity Puzzle

View our latest articles and research on AI- https://www.economy.com/ai-insight-hub

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X' and BlueSky @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Fed met this week and gave the Inside Economics crew a lot to talk about. Joining the fray are three colleagues, Martin Wurm, Justin Begley, and Matt Colyar. Opinions varied on the wisdom of September’s rate hike, how much of an attempt it was to signal Chair Warsh’s independence from the White House, and the likelihood that more hikes are in tow. The group plays the numbers game and debates what changes should be made to Moody’s Analytics baseline forecast after Wednesday’s meeting. All of this is prefaced by a lengthy conversation about everyone’s hair (or lack thereof). 

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X' and BlueSky @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben Harris, Director of the Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution, joins the Inside Economics team to discuss his new research on how AI could shape the nation’s fiscal outlook. The bottom line: it’s complicated. AI has the potential to lift economic growth and ease pressure on the budget, but it won’t erase the difficult choices ahead on taxes, spending, and the nation’s long-term debt path.

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X' and BlueSky @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Guest: Ben Harris, Director of Economic Studies Program, Brookings Institution

View our latest articles and research on AI- https://www.economy.com/ai-insight-hub

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

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The Inside Economics team is joined by colleague and CPI guru Matt Colyar to discuss August's CPI inflation report, which came in a touch hotter than expected. Mark ranks his top four inflation culprits, and the team weighs in. Next week's Fed meeting is top of mind, and there's some disagreement about the likelihood of a Fed rate hike.

Guest: Matt Colyar

To access Mark and Matt's paper The Fed's Inflation Drama, click here: https://www.economy.com/getfile?q=0944A835-CD53-4092-ADD2-B22EEC4A45D3&app=download

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X' and BlueSky @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of our AI series, Ara Kharazian, lead economist at fintech company Ramp, joins the Inside Economics team to discuss the state of AI adoption. Drawing on Ramp’s real-time business spending data, Ara offers a unique view into which firms and industries are moving fastest, which are lagging, which LLMs are gaining traction, how token pricing is evolving, and what data center constraints and government regulation could mean for the AI boom.

Guest: Ara Kharazian, Lead Economist, Ramp

View our latest articles and research on AI- https://www.economy.com/ai-insight-hub

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark and Cris are joined by Dante to unpack the August employment report. While the headline number surprised to the upside, they agree it does little to change their view of underlying job growth. The discussion turns to the implications for monetary policy, including how renewed pressure from President Trump for rate cuts could factor into the Fed outlook. With Marisa away, the team skips the usual stats game and instead weighs the economic risks and opportunities they believe are underappreciated.

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X' and BlueSky @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Continuing the AI series, the Inside Economics team talks with ConstructConnect Chief Economist Michael Guckes about the data center boom. Michael’s granular view of the buildout sheds light on both the opportunities and risks, including whether financing has outpaced construction and whether cheaper AI models could leave some premium data centers stranded. And as a bonus, he has some thoughts on construction in Area 51.

Guest: Michael Guckes, Chief Economist, ConstructConnect

View our latest articles and research on AI- https://www.economy.com/ai-insight-hub

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X' and BlueSky @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stripe Chief Economist Ernie Tedeschi joins the Inside Economics team to separate the signal from the noise in a busy week for the economy and financial markets. The group discusses Kevin Warsh's recent speech and the market's reaction, unpacks the latest PCE inflation data and what it means for the Fed, and explores the remarkable surge in business formations. Are more Americans becoming entrepreneurs because of shifts in how firms are organized, or is technology making it easier than ever to launch and run a business? Ernie shares insights on the rise of solopreneurs and what it could mean for the future of work, productivity, and economic growth.

Questions or Comments, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.