Inside the Economy: Housing and Population, Markets, and Water
Wed Feb 04 2026
This week on Inside the Economy, we discuss the housing market, population trends, financial markets, and global freshwater withdrawal rates. Housing prices have declined year over year, while demand continues to vary by region. We explore whether prices might be showing signs of stabilizing, or if further declines may be possible. U.S. natural population growth has slowed in recent years, and tighter immigration policies have further weighed on overall population growth. Could the U.S. face negative population growth in the years ahead and could that dynamic influence housing prices? In the financial markets, U.S. IT investment has returned to all-time highs, matching levels last seen during the 2001 dot-com boom. The focus now shifts to whether earnings growth appears sufficient to support this investment surge, and what evidence could confirm its durability. European investors have played a meaningful role in supporting U.S. equity markets. How substantial is their exposure today, and what does the outlook suggest moving forward? When it comes to water, global freshwater withdrawals have increased severalfold over the past century as population growth, agriculture, and industrialization continue to strain limited resources. The question now is how sustainable this path might be. Tune in to learn more!
Key Takeaways:
• Unemployment rate held steady at 4.4%
• Durable Goods increased 5.3%
• ISM Manufacturing Survey registered 52.6
More
This week on Inside the Economy, we discuss the housing market, population trends, financial markets, and global freshwater withdrawal rates. Housing prices have declined year over year, while demand continues to vary by region. We explore whether prices might be showing signs of stabilizing, or if further declines may be possible. U.S. natural population growth has slowed in recent years, and tighter immigration policies have further weighed on overall population growth. Could the U.S. face negative population growth in the years ahead and could that dynamic influence housing prices? In the financial markets, U.S. IT investment has returned to all-time highs, matching levels last seen during the 2001 dot-com boom. The focus now shifts to whether earnings growth appears sufficient to support this investment surge, and what evidence could confirm its durability. European investors have played a meaningful role in supporting U.S. equity markets. How substantial is their exposure today, and what does the outlook suggest moving forward? When it comes to water, global freshwater withdrawals have increased severalfold over the past century as population growth, agriculture, and industrialization continue to strain limited resources. The question now is how sustainable this path might be. Tune in to learn more! Key Takeaways: • Unemployment rate held steady at 4.4% • Durable Goods increased 5.3% • ISM Manufacturing Survey registered 52.6