Imperia Wealth Management

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

September is College Savings Month, and it's a good time to think about what you want your child's future to look like. Every family's situation is different. If you have questions about what college savings options might make sense for your household, reach out. That's exactly what we're here for. ✏️🏫💰💵🏦

08/31/2026

Market Week: August 31, 2026 📊

Markets closed August on solid footing. S&P 500 up 0.49% on the week, now 12.65% YTD. NASDAQ gained 0.85%, now 13.60% YTD. Russell 2000 pulled back slightly but remains up 19.76% YTD.

Warsh spoke at Jackson Hole — hawkish tone, no surprises. I still believe the next Fed move is a cut, not a hike. The data will force their hand.

PCE came in at 3.7% year over year — unchanged from prior month. Inflation is stabilizing. Core PCE at 3.3% and holding. Personal income rose 0.4%. The consumer remains resilient.

Crude oil pulled back to $83.43 as Strait of Hormuz transport improved. My year-end call remains intact.

August employment data drops this week.

The latest issue of Market Week is available.

08/26/2026

Back-to-school season is bringing higher costs for many families.

A new analysis found that a typical basket of school items, including notebooks, lunch boxes, and index cards, is up nearly 8% compared with last year.

School lunches are also more expensive, with the cost of a typical packed lunch up 11%.

The analysis estimates families may spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, including about $175 on school items and $3,800 on packed lunches.

Some items have seen especially sharp increases. Lunch boxes are up 27%, one-subject notebooks are up 23%, and index cards are up 22%.

Higher tariffs, imported school supplies, food prices, and energy costs are all contributing to the increase.

For families, back-to-school shopping is a reminder that seasonal expenses can add up quickly, especially when everyday costs are already stretching household budgets.


Source:

U.S. households will spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, a new analysis found.

08/25/2026

Back-to-school season is bringing higher costs for many families.

A new analysis found that a typical basket of school items, including notebooks, lunch boxes, and index cards, is up nearly 8% compared with last year.

School lunches are also more expensive, with the cost of a typical packed lunch up 11%.

The analysis estimates families may spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, including about $175 on school items and $3,800 on packed lunches.

Some items have seen especially sharp increases. Lunch boxes are up 27%, one-subject notebooks are up 23%, and index cards are up 22%.

Higher tariffs, imported school supplies, food prices, and energy costs are all contributing to the increase.

For families, back-to-school shopping is a reminder that seasonal expenses can add up quickly, especially when everyday costs are already stretching household budgets.

Planning

Source:

U.S. households will spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, a new analysis found.

08/24/2026

Market Week: August 24, 2026 📊

A down week — but context matters. S&P 500 fell 1.43%, still up 12.11% YTD. Russell 2000 pulled back 1.65%, still up 21.59% YTD. NASDAQ down 2.05%.

The culprits were familiar — elevated Treasury yields, rising crude oil, and weakness in mega-cap tech. Nothing fundamentally new. Nothing that changes the bigger picture.

Crude oil ticked back up to $86.78. Middle East tensions remain the driver. My year-end call on oil remains intact.

Jobless claims: 206,000 — still near historically low levels. Labor market remains stable.

This week brings GDP and PCE inflation data. I expect both to continue telling the story the headlines keep missing.

Stay tuned.

The latest issue of Market Week is available.