Home prices have doubled in the U.S. between 2010 and 2021, the median square footage of the average single-family home has doubled in size (from 1048 SF in 1920 to 2,491 SF in 2020), but the median household income required ($124,000) to purchase a median sized home for sale is 57% higher than the current median household income ($79,000). –This Week in Charts, March 25, 2025
Confirmed through pedigree research reported by the Louisville Courier Journal, every horse that competed in the 2025 Kentucky Derby is a descendant of the legendary racehorse Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown in 1973, more than five decades ago. –CBS Sports, May 3, 2025
U.S. Core CPI (inflation) is back below 3% for the first time in 4 years (falling to 2.8% this past month), primarily resulting from lower gasoline prices and airfare, which increases the odds for a potential Fed rate cut in the not-too-distant future. –Reuters, April 10, 2025
In 1973, Secretariat set a Kentucky Derby record of 1:59.40 – a time that remains unbeaten over 50 years later. His exceptionally large heart, estimated at 22-pounds, was credited to this remarkable feat, and was said to be the reason for his impressive stamina and acceleration. –Derby Museum, May 2018
Volatility isn’t unusual – it’s the cost of admission. On average, the S&P 500 sees seven -3% dips, three-and-a-half -5% pullbacks, and one -10% correction per year, plus a -15% drop about every 18 months. Said another way, if you have a $1 million retirement portfolio, that’s the equivalent of losing (and recovering) -$30,000 multiple times a year, -$50,000 a few more, -$100,000 once annually, and -$150,000 every year-and-a-half. In other words, this is what “normal” looks like, having nothing to do with bear markets. –Ryan Detrick, March 4,2025
The S&P500 just experienced its own “Death Cross” after its 50-day moving average crossed below its 200-day moving average. While this indicator has triggered some well-timed market signals (such as in March ’22, December ’18, December ’07, and October ’00), there have been no shortage of “late” signals (such as late-March of 2020). In fact, the data shows that the stock market has averaged a 6.3% gain in the 12-months following a death cross, with 72% of these instances resulting in positive returns. –Adam Turnquist, April 14, 2025
College tuition has increased 899% since 1983. The overall inflation rate during this period was 225%, but annual tuition and fees to attend a four-year private school, since peaking at $44,120 in 2020, have fallen 5.8% to $41,540 in 2024. College costs are down even more at four-year public schools: from $12,490 in 2020 to $11,260 in 2024 (-9.8%). –CNBC, April 16, 2025
The US dollar represents 54% of global export invoicing, 57% of official foreign exchange reserves, and is used in 88% of foreign exchange transactions. 46% of global GDP is anchored to the US dollar by way of currency peg, more than double the next closest competitor (the euro).” –Ilzetzki, Reinhart, and Rogoff
The US is the largest economy in the world by a sizeable margin, and growing. The US has the world’s largest bond market, largest stock market, and largest real estate market. –International Monetary Fund, April 2025
“When things go badly, people become cautious. Then, their caution causes things to go well, and when things go well, they become incautious. I think that’s a forever cycle.” ~ Howard Marks
