A Dual Mandate

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

August 4, 2025

Interest rates and what to do with them is a hot topic in economic news.

Consumer spending, which makes up two-thirds of the U.S. economy, is slowing. At the same time, the housing market is weakening and expected to continue dragging down growth through the end of 2025, according to Goldman Sachs. With both of these factors in play, a rate cut might seem likely. However, a weak jobs report adds to the uncertainty.

“The unemployment rate for July was unchanged at 4.2%, but more people left the labor force,” according to Friday’s reports, and the revisions from earlier in the year are troublesome.

The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate: maximum employment and stable prices. Clearly, the weaknesses make a case for cutting, but inflation and product shortages might be a sign that inflationary pressures could bounce rates back up again. For businesses planning to borrow, this presents a real challenge.

News You Can Use

June factory orders are the first economic data point of the week, followed by Tuesday’s announcement of the U.S. trade deficit for June. Thursday brings us an early look at jobless claims, June wholesale inventories, and consumer credit results from June too.

Palantir Technologies, BioNTech, CNA Financial, Freshpet, Tyson Foods, B&G Foods, Simon Properties, and Tanger Factory are among the long list of companies with earnings calls today. Tomorrow’s calls include ADM, Aramark, Ball Corp., DuPont, Edgewell Personal Care, Marriott, Sealed Air, Yum Brands, Amgen, Chemours, and others. Iron Mountain, NRG Energy, Walt Disney, Lyft, MetLife, and Uber are among a long list of calls scheduled for Wednesday. Constellation Energy, Eli Lilly, U.S. Foods, Chesapeake Utilities, and Wendy’s are among a long list that rounds out the week.

Michael J. Quaranta

President

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

Uniquely Delaware

Get Ready for EDGE 2.0

Delaware’s signature small business funding competition is back—revamped, reimagined, and more flexible than ever. EDGE 2.0 features the same two competitive tracks, Entrepreneur and STEM, with up to 10 and 8 finalists, respectively. But now, there are no preset prize amounts or fixed winners.

The application period runs August 8 through September 5 at 4:00 pm, so now’s the time to prepare. Mark your calendar for a informational webinar this Wednesday, August 6 at 10:00 am, to get tips on filling out your EDGE 2.0 application and proposal templates—and hear what judges are really looking for. Learn more at de.gov/edge.

Chemours is a leading global provider of performance chemicals that are key inputs in end-products and processes across various industries. Their world-class product portfolio and unmatched expertise in chemistry bring everyday convenience to virtually everything people touch in their daily lives.

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