Why Economic Data Matters
Stock prices don't move in a vacuum. Interest rates, inflation, unemployment, and GDP growth all affect how stocks perform. The Economic Outlook section on your dashboard brings these big-picture numbers right to your home screen.
You don't need to visit a separate page or search for government reports. TickerTrust pulls the latest data from the Federal Reserve (FRED) and shows it in easy-to-read cards and charts.
What You'll See
The Economic Outlook section is a collapsible panel on the dashboard. Click the header to expand or collapse it. Inside, you'll find:
- •Treasury Rates: Current yields on 2-year, 10-year, and 30-year government bonds. These influence mortgage rates, corporate borrowing, and stock valuations.
- •Inflation (CPI): The rate at which prices are rising. High inflation can hurt stocks because the Fed may raise interest rates to cool things down.
- •Unemployment Rate: A low rate means the economy is strong. A rising rate can signal slowdown ahead.
- •GDP Growth: How fast the overall economy is growing or shrinking.
- •Fed Funds Rate: The benchmark interest rate set by the Federal Reserve. This drives nearly everything else.
Historical Charts
Click on any indicator to see a time-series chart showing how it has changed over the past 12 months (or more). This context matters — a 4% unemployment rate means one thing if it's been falling for a year and something very different if it's been rising.
You can adjust the time range to see 3, 6, or 12 months of history. The chart makes trends and turning points easy to spot.
How to Use This for Investing
Here are a few simple rules of thumb:
- •Rising interest rates tend to hurt growth stocks (tech) more than value stocks (banks, utilities).
- •Falling unemployment and rising GDP are good for stocks overall.
- •When inflation is high and rising, consider companies with pricing power — they can pass costs to customers.
- •An inverted yield curve (short-term rates higher than long-term) has historically preceded recessions.