Robust retail sales, fueling concerns over interest rates and increasing risks of further bank downgrades, suggest that market volatility will persist in the foreseeable future. Given this backdrop, investing in Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VYM) could serve as a buffer against market instability while ensuring a consistent income stream.
The July consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.2% year-over-year, accelerating from June's 3% annual increase. Additionally, the PPI, measuring wholesale prices, escalated 0.8% annually, surpassing the projected 0.7% rise and outpacing June’s upwardly revised increase of 0.2%. Also, monthly wages swelled 0.4%, culminating in a 4.4% year-over-year rise, beating the forecasts.
