06/16/2026
Econ Market Minute Video:
Consumer Spending Nuances: Plans Were Delayed, Not Canceled
Dr. Jeffrey Roach, Chief Economist for LPL Financial analyzes central banks’ continued shift towards gold, recent developments regarding C&I loans, and the nuances of consumer buying patterns.
Foreign central banks hold more gold: Foreign central banks have been tilting the reserves away from U.S. treasuries and toward gold. Gold doesn't carry counterparty risk and can't be sanctioned or frozen in the same way financial assets can. This isn't a wholesale abandonment of the dollar system, but more of a diversification story.
Demand for CNI loans are solid: The pickup in commercial and industrial loan demand over the past several quarters is happening even as banks have been tightening credit conditions. At the same time, inflation has raised nominal borrowing needs. It's a bit of a push-pull Dynamic. Credit is harder to get, but the need for it hasn't gone away.
Consumer confidence is resilient: Consumers feel the employment situation will improve by the end of the year. Many who said they're currently delaying the purchases of discretionary items plan to buy them in the next six months. So GDP growth will likely dip as consumers are temporarily cautious, but we could expect a rebounded growth later this year if the geopolitical situation improves.
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Analyze the shift in central bank reserves toward gold, resilient C&I loan demand, and consumer spending trends to guide your clients' portfolios.