The Markets (as of market close September 11, 2026)

Despite strong returns last Friday, it was not enough to offset losses accumulated earlier in the week. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed the holiday-shortened week in the red as investors tried to reconcile rising energy prices, increasing inflation, climbing Treasury yields, and the increasing likelihood of an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Among the market sectors, only energy and communication services saw gains. Health care stocks fell more than 3.5%. Ten-year Treasury yields closed near 5.0%, reaching their highest levels in nearly three years. Crude oil prices surged to levels not seen in several months amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Stock Market Indexes

Market/Index	2025 Close	Prior Week	As of 9/11	Weekly Change	YTD Change
DJIA	48,063.29	53,414.25	52,573.29	-1.57%	9.38%
NASDAQ	23,241.99	26,506.99	26,333.04	-0.66%	13.30%
S&P 500	6,845.50	7,718.60	7,656.98	-0.80%	11.85%
Russell 2000	2,481.91	2,975.65	2,903.94	-2.41%	17.00%
Global Dow	6,169.34	7,104.09	7,037.84	-0.93%	14.08%
fed. funds target rate	3.50%-3.75%	3.50%-3.75%	3.50%-3.75%	0 bps	0 bps
10-year Treasuries	4.16%	4.78%	4.97%	19 bps	81 bps
US Dollar-DXY	98.26	99.16	99.12	-0.04%	0.88%
Crude Oil-CL=F	$57.46	$91.33	$100.35	9.88%	74.64%
Gold-GC=F	$4,323.90	$4,477.40	$4,391.30	-1.92%	1.56%

Chart reflects price changes, not total return. Because it does not include dividends or splits, it should not be used to benchmark performance of specific investments.

Last Week’s Economic News

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.4% in August after rising 0.1% in July. Over the last 12 months, the CPI increased 3.4%. Prices for gasoline rose 3.9% in August, accounting for over one-third of the monthly CPI increase. Overall energy prices rose 2.1% last month. Shelter prices advanced 0.3% in August after rising 0.1% in July. Food prices increased 0.1%. The CPI less food and energy rose 0.3% in August after increasing 0.2% in July. Prices less food and energy rose 2.4% over the year, following a 2.5% increase over the 12 months ended in July.
• Prices at the producer level rose in August. The Producer Price Index increased 0.4% last month, following a 0.1% rise in July. Producer prices have risen 5.4% since August 2025. Last month, producer prices for goods advanced 1.1%, and prices for services inched up 0.1%. August saw prices for energy increase 4.2%, accounting for over three-fourths of the overall increase in goods prices. Producer prices less foods, energy, and trade services rose 0.3% in August after moving up 0.4% in July. For the 12 months ended in August, prices less foods, energy, and trade services advanced 4.7%.
• Sales of existing homes declined 2.0% in August and 1.2% over the last 12 months. Inventory of existing homes for sale in August sat at a 4.9-month supply, marginally up from 4.6 months in July. The median existing-homes sales price in August was $429,100, down from July’s price of $436,400 but higher than the August 2025 estimate of $422,400. Sales of existing single-family homes fell 1.9% last month and 1.1% from a year earlier. The median price for existing single-family homes in August was $434,800, down from $442,500 in July but up from the August 2025 price of $427,700.
• The government monthly deficit was $167 billion in August. Receipts totaled $360 billion, while outlays were $527 billion. Through 11 months of fiscal year 2026, the deficit sat at $1,966 billion. Receipts were $4,845 billion, while outlays were $6,811 billion.
• For the week ended September 5, there were 206,000 new claims for unemployment insurance, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised up by 1,000. According to the Department of Labor, the advance rate for insured unemployment claims for the week ended August 29 was 1.2%, unchanged from the prior week’s rate. The advance number of those receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the week ended August 29 was 1,774,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised down by 4,000. States and territories with the highest insured unemployment rates for the week ended August 22 were New Jersey (2.6%), Puerto Rico (2.6%), Rhode Island (2.2%), Massachusetts (2.1%), Minnesota (1.9%), Oregon (1.9%), Washington (1.9%), California (1.8%), Connecticut (1.7%), Nevada (1.7%), and New York (1.7%). The largest increases in initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended August 29 were in New York (+4,338), Hawaii (+475), Arkansas (+287), Florida (+253), and Rhode Island (+231), while the largest decreases were in New Jersey (-814), Ohio (-545), Pennsylvania (-510), Michigan (-472), and Illinois (-401).
• The national average retail price for regular gasoline was $4.157 per gallon on September 7, $0.086 per gallon above the prior week’s price and $0.965 per gallon higher than a year ago. Also, as of September 7, the East Coast price increased $0.094 to $4.031 per gallon; the Midwest price rose $0.047 to $3.894 per gallon; the Gulf Coast price increased $0.067 to $3.685 per gallon; the Rocky Mountain price advanced $0.048 to $4.314 per gallon; and the West Coast price increased $0.156 to $5.362 per gallon.

Eye on the Week Ahead

The Federal Open Market Committee meets for the first time since July. Since that time, inflation has steadied somewhat, while job gains rose to unexpected levels. The Fed may take these signs as an indication that monetary policy may be ready for tightening, which may prompt a rate increase.