Courtenay Brown

Washington, D.C., United States

Senior Economics Reporter at Axios

senior economics reporter @axios. covers the Federal Reserve and the global economy

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Articles

The data the White House wants you to see

1 week ago | axios.com | Neil Irwin |Courtenay Brown

Credit: U.S. Treasury DepartmentThe Trump administration has a new favorite talking point on the economy: That blue-collar wages are rising the most, in inflation-adjusted terms, at the start of a presidential administration in modern history. The big picture: The data reflect solid wage growth paired with low inflation through the first five months of 2025. Fears of a tariff-driven inflation surge cutting into rank-and-file workers paychecks have not materialized thus far.
Fed's Waller: Rate cut should be on the table for July

1 week ago | axios.com | Neil Irwin |Courtenay Brown

Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller seen last year. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesFederal Reserve governor Christopher Waller told CNBC this morning that the central bank should cut rates "as early as July."Why it matters: Waller is the most influential Fed official yet to advocate for cuts that financial markets largely expect to come in the fall, if not later.
Fed leaves rates steady, forecasts higher inflation

1 week ago | axios.com | Neil Irwin |Courtenay Brown

The Federal Reserve building in Washington, DC. Photo: Kevin Carter/Getty ImagesThe Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged for the fourth straight meeting, as its leaders projected weaker growth and higher inflation this year than they envisioned three months ago — but they continue to expect two rate cuts later this year.
Trump tariffs, deportations are making the housing market slump worse

1 week ago | axios.com | Courtenay Brown

A townhouse under construction in the Licton Springs neighborhood of Seattle last month. Photo: M. Scott Brauer/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesA longtime slump in the new housing sector is getting worse, according to new indicators. Why it matters: The broader economy held up during a "rolling recession" that hit the housing industry in recent years. That might not be the case this time if other sectors slow concurrently.
Exclusive: Trump trade uncertainty sinks CEO economic outlook to five-year low

1 week ago | axios.com | Courtenay Brown |Neil Irwin

Data: Business Roundtable; Chart: Axios VisualsEconomic sentiment among America's top CEOs plunged to the lowest level since 2020, according to a new survey by the Business Roundtable, first seen by Axios. Why it matters: Chief executives have not been this sour on the economy since the once-in-a-century pandemic, with significant downgrading expectations for hiring, investment and sales growth.
Top Trump official: America's workers don't trust their employers with AI

1 week ago | axios.com | Courtenay Brown

U.S. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling speaks during an event hosted by the Business Roundtable on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesEmployee mistrust is holding back AI implementation across U.S. workforces, the Labor Department's second-in-command said on Tuesday. Why it matters: AI is the considered the next big economic promise, which proponents argue will turbo-charge productivity in the years ahead.
Dimon: CEOs can't expect "everything to be constantly easy"

1 week ago | axios.com | Courtenay Brown

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesJPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said on Tuesday that chief executives should maintain key investments — including workforce initiatives — as businesses grapple with historic policy uncertainty. Why it matters: White House trade policy and up-in the-air tax legislation has muddled the economic outlook for small and large businesses, with many hesitant to make investment decisions in this environment.
Consumers spending drops in May as tariffs fuel anxiety

1 week ago | axios.com | Courtenay Brown

Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAmerican shoppers slowed spending in May, as retail sales fell 0.9% last month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Why it matters: The worse-than-expected figures come after consumers splurged on autos and other goods in recent months to beat tariff-related price increases.
The economic risks of Israel's Iran attack

2 weeks ago | axios.com | Neil Irwin |Courtenay Brown

Damage in Tehran following Israeli strikes. Photo: Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty ImagesIsrael's strikes against Iranian military leadership and nuclear facilities open up a new wave of risks for an already precarious global economy. The big picture: Global financial markets Friday morning displayed classic flight-to-safety, risk-off moves — with some wrinkles that suggest the onset of new conflict in the Middle East could act as a stagflationary force for the rest of the world.
Consumer sentiment swings higher in June as tariff anxiety recedes

2 weeks ago | axios.com | Courtenay Brown

A worker inside a Gap store in New York earlier this month. Photo: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesConsumer sentiment rebounded in early June as tariff anxiety subsided, according to preliminary results from the University of Michigan. Why it matters: It was the first improvement in six months, with a more upbeat economic outlook evident across all demographics and political groups.