Your Money

After defining a few economic terms around inflation last week, we report on those readings this week. All figures the Labor Department reported were a little hotter than expected. The consumer-price index rose 0.6% in August from the prior month and 3.7% from the prior year. The 0.6% print remains mild enough to keep the Federal Reserve on track to hold interest rates steady at their meeting this week.

In their favor, the rate of change over the last three months is decelerating much faster than the 12-month rate. This suggests a pause (or wait-and-see approach) would allow the impact from the heavy rate lift in 2022 to work its way through the economy.

At PWM, we believe this means the interest rate environment will be higher for longer and position portfolios accordingly. In contrast, we avoid strategies built around the need for interest rates to fall.

U.S. Inflation Accelerated in August as Gasoline Prices Jumped
by Amara Omeokwe and Nick Timiraos

Your Life

Many changes happen as we age. This is the normal progression of life. However, there are things that we can do to slow down and even prevent the more negative sides of aging. For now, let’s focus on the nervous system. The brain and nervous system are your body’s central control center. They control your body’s movements, senses, and thoughts & memories. They also help control the organs, such as your heart and digestive system. As you age, your brain and nervous system go through natural changes. Your brain and spinal cord lose nerve cells and weight (atrophy). Nerve cells may begin to pass messages more slowly than in the past. Waste products or other chemicals such as beta-amyloid can collect in the brain tissue as nerve cells break down. This can cause abnormal changes in the brain called plaques and tangles to form. A fatty brown pigment (lipofuscin) can also build up in nerve tissue.

Breakdown of nerves can affect your senses. You might have reduced or lost reflexes or sensations. This leads to problems with movement and safety and makes it more likely to suffer falls.

Slowing thought, memory, and thinking is normal for aging. These changes are different for everyone. Some people have many changes in their nerves and brain tissue. Others have few changes. These changes are only sometimes related to the effects on your ability to think.

Mental and physical exercise can help your brain stay sharp. A change in thinking, memory, or behavior is important if it differs from your normal patterns or affects your lifestyle. Seek medical help to ensure it is not a more significant problem and to catch issues immediately for a better chance of effective treatment.

Aging changes in the nervous system
source: National Library of Medicine

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