David Foster Graphics

An encouraging inflation report won’t satisfy anybody The inflation rate is almost back to normal, but President Trump has done almost nothing to bring costs down.

Trump says the latest inflation report amounts to "more winning"

Anybody agree?

For the last five years:

Rent up 28%

Food prices up 27%

Transportation up 30%

Utilities up 41%

It's all at The Pinpoint Press + great charts by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

The Better-Off Index rises in February The economy is slightly better off than it was a year ago, but that's not good enough for many voters.

Are you better off than you were one year ago?

If you own stocks, for sure

If you don't own stocks, you probably don't feel much improvement

That's according to the Pinpoint Press Better-Off Index for February

Terrific charts by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

The “sell America” trade is looking pretty good American investors should check out the eye-popping returns elsewhere in the world.

America's financial press talks mainly about what's happening in US markets

So you might be surprised to know US stocks are seriously underperforming

Latest from The Pinpoint Press

Terrific charts by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

Jobs headlines almost always focus on what the one month change was

Important to look at long-term trend

It's pretty bad

Economy created more jobs than expected in January but the job market is still weakening

Charts by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

We have a K-shaped job market, too A solid jobs report masks a lot of problems that workers see up close

Trump thinks the latest job numbers "shattered expectations"

But job growth declined in six of 11 sectors during the last year

And job growth is sharply weaker under Trump than before

Latest from The Pinpoint Press

Charts by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

The gold rally has an ominous message for investors A lot of people seem to be betting that a period of turmoil is coming.

There's a dark side to the massive gold rally

Investors are worried about chronic inflation, a global debt crisis and Trump's recklessness

What could be coming?

Find out 👇

Latest from The Pinpoint Press

With charts by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

What mattered this week: The Federal Reserve survives Trump Plus, Congress could force ICE to demask and Trump's warmongering hits consumer confidence

Need to know what mattered this week?

I've got the top 5 in money and politics ~

The Fed stays normal, ICE on the hot seat, and more

Latest from The Pinpoint Press

Charts by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

Why Americans say they’re worse off under Trump It's not a "vibecession." Our exclusive Better-Off Index shows that most Americans are not getting ahead under Trump.

A recent @nytimes survey found only 32% of American feel they're getting ahead

49% falling behind

Our Better-Off Index explains why

Latest from The Pinpoint Press

With great artwork by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

What mattered this week: Stocks are still calling the shots Trump's warmongering simmers down, except in Minnesota

Trump's warmongering is simmering down--except in Minnesota

What mattered this week

Latest from The Pinpoint Press

Charts by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

Trump's first year was an economic bummer Our exclusive rankings show the Trump economy is underperforming Biden, Obama and other presidents.

Trump says the economy just had "the greatest first year in history."

Nope

Here's the data: How the Trump economy ranks compared with Biden, Obama and others

With terrific graphics from @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

You won't find this anywhere else

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

Let’s grade Trump’s affordability plans His highest grade is a B. His lowest grade is an F. See if you agree.

The Pinpoint Press graded Trump's affordability plans on energy, health care, housing, credit and autos

Our grades range from B to F

See if you agree (and issue your own grades if you don't)

With graphics by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

You’re only better off under Trump if you own stocks The new Pinpoint Press Better-Off Index shows who's winning and losing in the K-shaped economy.

Trump says there's an economic boom 🙄

But the only ones getting ahead under Trump are people who own stocks

The new Pinpoint Press Better-Off Index shows why

With terrific visuals by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

Introducing the Better-Off Index Our data shows whether ordinary people are better off—or worse off—than than they were one year ago.

Want to understand the K-shaped economy?

Then check out the new Pinpoint Press Better-Off Index

Are you better off than one year ago? We have the answer

Latest from The Pinpoint Press

With terrific graphics by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

Job growth cratered in 2025 There's been a sharp slowdown in hiring since Trump started imposing tariffs in the spring.

50,000 new jobs in December may sound okayish, but don't miss the big picture: Job growth cratered in 2025

Latest from The Pinpoint Press

With graphics by @dfostergraphics.bsky.social

www.thepinpointpress.com/p/job-growth...

The Better-Off Barometer Do you feel like you're getting ahead or falling behind? See if our data backs you up.

Are we better off than we were 1 year ago? 4 years ago?

I created the Better-off-Barometer as a quick way to find out

With great artwork by David Foster

You’ll see this data in a lot of upcoming Rick Report stories

ricknewmanreport.substack.com/p/the-better...

The job news stinks, even without the official government numbers Workers don't need a government news release to know jobs are getting hard to find.

The shutdown delayed today’s #jobs report

But we still know what’s happening

It’s not good

Latest from The Rick Report

open.substack.com/pub/ricknewm...

IT IS A COUP This is what should be on every front page in 150 point banner headlines. All I have is this Substack but I lay it beneath your feet and pray to a higher power that I'm wrong.

open.substack.com/pub/broligar...