The Lowry Letter®

Week of 9/7/2023

We hope you enjoyed the Labor Day weekend. We thought this chart showing annual working hours per worker was very interesting. American workers still labor more than most, but much less than we used to.

Still wondering about where all that inflation came from? During the 2008 panic, the Fed moved from a “scare reserve” system to an “abundant reserved system” which grew the fed balance sheet. During the next decade, this system proved to not increase inflation. So, during COVID, the Fed doubled down with more quantitative easing… but this time it resulted in inflation at 40-year highs.

Is it possible that building materials like concrete may eventually become useful for energy storage and delivery? It’s not impossible.

The Dominican Republic is on an exciting economic development path. It may become Latin America’s most exciting success story.

Do you know what happens to the e-commerce returns once received by the sellers? An entire industry has grown to manage returns, “reverse logistics,” and it has become an important part of many retailers’ operations.

The number of Airbnb and other short-term rentals has exploded in recent years. The increase in supply has made it harder for hosts.

Q: Have you come across any interesting information recently?

A: Yes- we recently wrote about the strength of U.S. home prices. It is especially notable because July saw the 20^th straight month of year-over-year declines in home sales (National Association of Realtors). Even with fewer homes changing hands, prices have remained resilient. A sharply reduced supply in sellers, along with years of undersupply in new home construction, contribute to this as well.

Advisory Services offered through Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Securities and additional advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services offered through Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc, are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth. Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc. is located at 12921 SW 1st Rd, Suite 215, Tioga, FL 32669. 352-333-7990

Lowry Financial Advisors is the only advisory firm that helps its clients reach their goals through The Achieving Simplicity® Experience™, providing clarity and confidence in their personal and financial lives.