Mark Hamrick
@hamrickisms.bsky.social
Translating the economy and beyond for the life you're actually living. Former National Press Club & SABEW President, AP alum. Read The Hamrick Brief: https://thehamrickbrief.substack.com.
The Fed raises rates in response to high inflation. But its tools are limited, and what are the risks? My take after attending the news conference. thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-brief-...
The Brief, Briefly: The Federal Reserve hikes rates for the first time in 3 years
Inflation is in the central bank’s crosshairs
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
September 16, 2026 at 8:20 PM
The Fed raises rates in response to high inflation. But its tools are limited, and what are the risks? My take after attending the news conference. thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-brief-...
Only 48% of Americans say capitalism is working well. The debate comes ahead of the midterm elections.
This week’s edition of The Hamrick Brief looks beyond the campaign rhetoric (or the noise) explaining a more fundamental tension.
Read and subscribe via Substack:
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
This week’s edition of The Hamrick Brief looks beyond the campaign rhetoric (or the noise) explaining a more fundamental tension.
Read and subscribe via Substack:
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
The Hamrick Brief | Substack
Connecting the dots between economic data and everyday life — analysis, context, and clarity on what the economy means for you. Click to read The Hamrick Brief, by Mark Hamrick, a Substack publication...
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
September 7, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Only 48% of Americans say capitalism is working well. The debate comes ahead of the midterm elections.
This week’s edition of The Hamrick Brief looks beyond the campaign rhetoric (or the noise) explaining a more fundamental tension.
Read and subscribe via Substack:
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
This week’s edition of The Hamrick Brief looks beyond the campaign rhetoric (or the noise) explaining a more fundamental tension.
Read and subscribe via Substack:
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
Is an entire group of would-be American workers being overlooked? My take via Substack; thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/willing-to...
Willing to Work, But Invisible
Are more people willing to work than official numbers count?
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
September 6, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Is an entire group of would-be American workers being overlooked? My take via Substack; thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/willing-to...
The Hamrick Brief
Economic news and analysis explained in plain English by Mark Hamrick
www.hamrickbrief.com
August 22, 2026 at 9:41 PM
The economy can look solid in the aggregate while millions of Americans experience something very different.
The latest Hamrick American Prosperity Index (HAPI) has slipped.
Via Substack; My latest in The Hamrick Brief: thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-hapi-s...
The latest Hamrick American Prosperity Index (HAPI) has slipped.
Via Substack; My latest in The Hamrick Brief: thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-hapi-s...
The HAPI Slips, Underscoring How Unevenly America’s Prosperity Is Shared
The Hamrick American Prosperity Index declined July. What's really happening with wealth distribution in the U.S.?
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
August 19, 2026 at 12:58 PM
The economy can look solid in the aggregate while millions of Americans experience something very different.
The latest Hamrick American Prosperity Index (HAPI) has slipped.
Via Substack; My latest in The Hamrick Brief: thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-hapi-s...
The latest Hamrick American Prosperity Index (HAPI) has slipped.
Via Substack; My latest in The Hamrick Brief: thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-hapi-s...
Visiting General Washington’s mansion. My fifth-great-grandfather, Benjamin Hamrick, served under General George Washington, including at Valley Forge, in the Revolutionary War, making my appreciation for Washington deeply personal.
August 16, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Visiting General Washington’s mansion. My fifth-great-grandfather, Benjamin Hamrick, served under General George Washington, including at Valley Forge, in the Revolutionary War, making my appreciation for Washington deeply personal.
This IBM PC debuted 45 years ago this month for $1,565, nearly $6,000 in today's dollars. Now, far more computing power fits in your pocket for less.
“Then & Now” is a regular feature in my weekly newsletter, The Hamrick Brief.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/i/210504249/...
“Then & Now” is a regular feature in my weekly newsletter, The Hamrick Brief.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/i/210504249/...
August 15, 2026 at 5:41 PM
This IBM PC debuted 45 years ago this month for $1,565, nearly $6,000 in today's dollars. Now, far more computing power fits in your pocket for less.
“Then & Now” is a regular feature in my weekly newsletter, The Hamrick Brief.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/i/210504249/...
“Then & Now” is a regular feature in my weekly newsletter, The Hamrick Brief.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/i/210504249/...
On the air with a new sign for The Hamrick Brief, which you can find on Substack.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
August 14, 2026 at 7:19 PM
On the air with a new sign for The Hamrick Brief, which you can find on Substack.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
The economy can look okay on paper and still feel lousy in real life.
That makes it a good time now to look at the Misery Index. It's a simple measure combining inflation and unemployment.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/misery-ind...
That makes it a good time now to look at the Misery Index. It's a simple measure combining inflation and unemployment.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/misery-ind...
August 14, 2026 at 12:23 PM
The economy can look okay on paper and still feel lousy in real life.
That makes it a good time now to look at the Misery Index. It's a simple measure combining inflation and unemployment.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/misery-ind...
That makes it a good time now to look at the Misery Index. It's a simple measure combining inflation and unemployment.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/misery-ind...
Chat is now open on The Hamrick Brief via Substack, a direct line to talk about the money, the economy, and markets- no editor or algorithm in between. Free and paid subscribers can jump in and comment.
Subscribing is free. thehamrickbrief.substack.com
Subscribing is free. thehamrickbrief.substack.com
The Hamrick Brief | Substack
Connecting the dots between economic data and everyday life — analysis, context, and clarity on what the economy means for you. Click to read The Hamrick Brief, by Mark Hamrick, a Substack publication...
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
July 30, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Chat is now open on The Hamrick Brief via Substack, a direct line to talk about the money, the economy, and markets- no editor or algorithm in between. Free and paid subscribers can jump in and comment.
Subscribing is free. thehamrickbrief.substack.com
Subscribing is free. thehamrickbrief.substack.com
Americans are finding jobs, but aren't getting ahead as easily. The Hamrick American Prosperity Index, or HAPI, ticked up to 59.1 in June, after three straight months of decline, and real wage growth is barely above flat. More in this week's Hamrick Brief: thehamrickbrief.substack.com
The Hamrick Brief | Substack
Connecting the dots between economic data and everyday life — analysis, context, and clarity on what the economy means for you. Click to read The Hamrick Brief, by Mark Hamrick, a Substack publication...
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
July 20, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Americans are finding jobs, but aren't getting ahead as easily. The Hamrick American Prosperity Index, or HAPI, ticked up to 59.1 in June, after three straight months of decline, and real wage growth is barely above flat. More in this week's Hamrick Brief: thehamrickbrief.substack.com
Reposted by Mark Hamrick
Authorities say ICE shot and killed a person this morning in Maine. www.wmtw.com/article/signific...
Person killed in shooting involving ICE in Biddeford, official says
Police closed part of busy Pool Street in Biddeford on Monday morning and there was a significant police presence.
www.wmtw.com
July 13, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Authorities say ICE shot and killed a person this morning in Maine. www.wmtw.com/article/signific...
In 1970, Alvin Toffler warned that the pace of change would overwhelm us. He was right. Toffler called it Future Shock. In this week's Hamrick Brief: four forces reshaping our world, and the one that matters most for survival.
Read more via Substack:
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-surviv...
Read more via Substack:
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-surviv...
July 13, 2026 at 1:34 PM
In 1970, Alvin Toffler warned that the pace of change would overwhelm us. He was right. Toffler called it Future Shock. In this week's Hamrick Brief: four forces reshaping our world, and the one that matters most for survival.
Read more via Substack:
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-surviv...
Read more via Substack:
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/the-surviv...
Status report: The reception to The Hamrick Brief has been truly encouraging as I continue my economic analysis and media interviews. Stepping into independent journalism feels incredibly fitting as we celebrate Independence Day! 🇺🇸📈
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
The Hamrick Brief | Substack
Connecting the dots between economic data and everyday life — analysis, context, and clarity on what the economy means for you. Click to read The Hamrick Brief, by Mark Hamrick, a Substack publication...
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
July 3, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Status report: The reception to The Hamrick Brief has been truly encouraging as I continue my economic analysis and media interviews. Stepping into independent journalism feels incredibly fitting as we celebrate Independence Day! 🇺🇸📈
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
Challenger’s June job-cut report points to a labor market that’s still holding up better than many had feared. Announced job cuts fell 53% from May to 45,849—the lowest monthly total since December—but AI was cited as the leading reason for workforce reductions for the fourth straight month.
July 1, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Challenger’s June job-cut report points to a labor market that’s still holding up better than many had feared. Announced job cuts fell 53% from May to 45,849—the lowest monthly total since December—but AI was cited as the leading reason for workforce reductions for the fourth straight month.
The job market's status will be front and center among scheduled economic releases this week. What to know:
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
The Week Ahead: Has the Labor Market Found a Stronger Footing?
The holiday-shortened week ahead culminates Thursday morning with the June employment report, the final major piece of U.S. economic… | ...
The Week Ahead: Has the Labor Market Found a Stronger Footing?
The holiday-shortened week ahead culminates Thursday morning with the June employment report, the final major piece of U.S. economic dat...
www.linkedin.com
June 28, 2026 at 6:35 PM
The job market's status will be front and center among scheduled economic releases this week. What to know:
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
Ask Americans what worries them, and one answer now sits above the rest. In Gallup’s latest reading, 61% say they worry a great deal about the availability and affordability of healthcare, more than for any of the other 15 domestic issues tested.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/healthcare...
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/healthcare...
Healthcare: The Worry That Won't Go Away
This nagging key issue tops the nation's worry list, and yet we've been debating it for decades
thehamrickbrief.substack.com
June 22, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Ask Americans what worries them, and one answer now sits above the rest. In Gallup’s latest reading, 61% say they worry a great deal about the availability and affordability of healthcare, more than for any of the other 15 domestic issues tested.
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/healthcare...
thehamrickbrief.substack.com/p/healthcare...
What to watch with the economy this week.
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
Before we talk about where the economy may be headed, it helps to review what we've just learned.
The biggest scheduled economic event of the past week wasn't a government report. It was the ...
Before we talk about where the economy may be headed, it helps to review what we've just learned.
The biggest scheduled economic event of the past week wasn't a government report. It was the Federal ...
www.linkedin.com
June 21, 2026 at 5:13 PM
What to watch with the economy this week.
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
After a consequential week, where the U.S economy stands, and what you need to know. Read more via The Hamrick Brief on Substack: thehamrickbrief.substack.com
June 19, 2026 at 6:55 PM
After a consequential week, where the U.S economy stands, and what you need to know. Read more via The Hamrick Brief on Substack: thehamrickbrief.substack.com
This week marked the end of my time with Bankrate after 13 years.
I’ve been fortunate to work with extraordinary colleagues and to spend a career helping people understand the economy and their financial lives.
I’m building The Hamrick Brief on Substack and looking forward to what’s next.
I’ve been fortunate to work with extraordinary colleagues and to spend a career helping people understand the economy and their financial lives.
I’m building The Hamrick Brief on Substack and looking forward to what’s next.
June 18, 2026 at 4:38 PM
This week marked the end of my time with Bankrate after 13 years.
I’ve been fortunate to work with extraordinary colleagues and to spend a career helping people understand the economy and their financial lives.
I’m building The Hamrick Brief on Substack and looking forward to what’s next.
I’ve been fortunate to work with extraordinary colleagues and to spend a career helping people understand the economy and their financial lives.
I’m building The Hamrick Brief on Substack and looking forward to what’s next.
Reposted by Mark Hamrick
Significant ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had not appeared to resume as of Tuesday morning, two days after the U.S. and Iran signed a preliminary deal aimed at ending their war. Follow live updates.
Iran War Live Updates: Shipping Companies Remain Cautious Over Strait
Ship traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz was extremely limited two days after the United States and Iran signed a preliminary deal aimed at ending their war.
nyti.ms
June 16, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Significant ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had not appeared to resume as of Tuesday morning, two days after the U.S. and Iran signed a preliminary deal aimed at ending their war. Follow live updates.
Inflation isn't getting any better. And any increase at this point is just piling on after the post-COVID surge of 30%.
The Consumer Price Index: up 4.2% over the past year, paced by surging costs of energy, shelter, and food. Check out The Hamrick Brief on Substack. thehamrickbrief.substack.com
The Consumer Price Index: up 4.2% over the past year, paced by surging costs of energy, shelter, and food. Check out The Hamrick Brief on Substack. thehamrickbrief.substack.com
June 10, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Inflation isn't getting any better. And any increase at this point is just piling on after the post-COVID surge of 30%.
The Consumer Price Index: up 4.2% over the past year, paced by surging costs of energy, shelter, and food. Check out The Hamrick Brief on Substack. thehamrickbrief.substack.com
The Consumer Price Index: up 4.2% over the past year, paced by surging costs of energy, shelter, and food. Check out The Hamrick Brief on Substack. thehamrickbrief.substack.com
The federal debt has hit a new milestone. But elected officials are not talking about it. Guess who pays the bill. It's what I write about in this week's edition of The Hamrick Brief on Substack.
May 20, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The federal debt has hit a new milestone. But elected officials are not talking about it. Guess who pays the bill. It's what I write about in this week's edition of The Hamrick Brief on Substack.
Mortgage rates are not just following the 10-year Treasury. A historically wide “spread” is acting like a volatility tax on housing, keeping affordability under pressure even when yields ease. Here's more on this:
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
Navigating Housing Affordability And A Rising Recession Risk: Top Economists’ Takes On A Gummed-up Economy | Mark Hamrick
The "Volatility Tax" on Housing and What the Spread Means to the Market
If you’ve been tracking the housing market, you’ve likely noticed a sometimes frustrating fact: even when the 10-year Treasury ...
www.linkedin.com
April 22, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Mortgage rates are not just following the 10-year Treasury. A historically wide “spread” is acting like a volatility tax on housing, keeping affordability under pressure even when yields ease. Here's more on this:
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
www.linkedin.com/posts/markha...
Bifurcation is the word of the day in the new Beige Book. While high-end spending holds up, the pressure on low-to-moderate income households is clear. Add in rising energy, insurance and tariff costs and the Fed has a tricky needle to thread on April 29. No rate change is expected.
April 15, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Bifurcation is the word of the day in the new Beige Book. While high-end spending holds up, the pressure on low-to-moderate income households is clear. Add in rising energy, insurance and tariff costs and the Fed has a tricky needle to thread on April 29. No rate change is expected.