Daily Rundown

March 31, 2026

Chart of the Day

Number of the Day

-3.3 - The spread between the Dallas Fed's company outlook index and its general business conditions index, the largest negative gap in nearly four years

Quote of the Day

"Inflation expectations do appear to be well anchored beyond the short term, but nonetheless, it's something we will eventually maybe face the question of what to do here." - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

Monday's Highlight

The Dallas Fed manufacturing index (March) slipped to -0.2 from a prior 0.2. New orders, production, and shipments grew while employment contracted.

Quick Commentary

The Dallas Fed numbers weren't quite as solid as this month's other regional surveys, which suggested on balance that the economy held up well in recent weeks despite the spike in energy costs. This report did jibe with other signs of late pointing to a jump in uncertainty, however, adding to the evidence that the risks are still rising even as the economy in real time remains resilient.

Today's Highlights

Consumer confidence

Job openings

Case-Shiller home prices

Daily Trivia

Which state is known as the "Silicon Prairie" for its legacy telecommunications firms as well as its newer digital marketplace companies?

(Monday's Question: Which state leads the U.S. in the number of insurance professionals per capita, with the industry cementing its reputation after a major fire in a nearby city in 1835? Answer: Connecticut (The Great Fire of New York))