The Fed continues to describe inflation as transient but said this week it is prepared to raise interest rates if proven wrong. Several business leaders are certain it is a larger problem than just being transient. Both have compelling narratives, but which is correct? Farmers are complaining about the rising cost of inputs, but they should benefit from elevated commodity prices, assuming the value of the dollar does not work against them. A larger problem would be to have spent on inputs and then have drought wipe out any profits from production. But that is a reason to carry federally subsidized insurance. The current bent towards drought may not be a passing fancy. NOAA’s recent models place a 51 percent chance of a return o...
Key Market Insights Macros: Inflation isn’t cooling — it’s moving higher again. March PCE inflation (Personal Consumption Expenditures index — the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation) rose 0.7 percent month-over-month, pushing the annual rate to 3.5 percent, the h...
An amendment to the U.S. House farm bill, aiming to remove the Save Our Bacon Act language in Section 12006 that would have stripped language to prohibit California’s Proposition 12, Massachusetts’ Question 3, and up to 500 state agricultural laws across the country, was blocked by...
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.