This Week in ESG and Impact Investing

  When health care enters the political conversation, the debate often extends beyond the scope of hospitals, insurance plans, and public health. It becomes a conversation about the economy, public trust in systems, and the decisions voters make at the ballot box. That intersection of health care, economics, and policy was the focus of Axios Live: Health Care’s Emerging Battlefield event on June 24, where researchers, policymakers, and advocates joined in discussion about the future of health care access and affordability, and how the public views these issues. Continuing my focus on public health policy this summer, I attended the event hosted by Axios and sponsored by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund . The event featured KFF’s Ashley Kirzinger , Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), and Planned Parenthood Action Fund President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson.  I experienced the greatest insight from Axios’ first guest, KFF’s Director of Survey Meth...

The June 2026 Employment Situation Report presents a familiar challenge for policymakers and investors: a lower unemployment rate that masks a weakening labor market. While the official unemployment rate declined to 4.2% , the underlying data point to slowing employment growth, declining labor force participation, and persistent racial disparities that continue to place Black workers and minority-owned businesses at elevated risk. Our analysis of the May report argued that headline numbers were overstating labor-market strength. The June data reinforce that conclusion. A Lower Unemployment Rate for the Wrong Reason On its face, the June report appears encouraging. Unemployment declined from May, suggesting continued resilience. A closer examination tells a different story. Payroll employment slowed significantly. Previous months were revised downward. Most importantly, labor force participation declined, meaning part of the reduction in unemployment occurred because workers stopped...

Creative Investment Research is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a Supporting Organization for the 5th Annual General Counsel Summit US , presented by Economist Events. The summit will bring together more than 500 general counsel, chief legal officers, senior legal executives, and leading law firms in New York on September 15, 2026, to discuss the rapidly changing legal and regulatory environment. While many organizations simply attend conferences, being recognized as a Supporting Organization reflects a deeper level of engagement with the legal, regulatory, and corporate governance community. Creative Investment Research joins a select group of organizations associated with the event, alongside leading legal technology companies, major law firms, and professional organizations. Economics and Law Are Becoming Increasingly Interconnected Today's legal challenges rarely exist in isolation. Antitrust investigations, securities enforcement, banking regulation, ar...

The Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Cook is more than a procedural ruling about one Federal Reserve governor. It is a warning about the fragility of central bank integrity and a reminder that the Federal Reserve Act means what it says. The Court denied the government’s request to let President Trump remove Governor Lisa Cook while litigation continues. In so doing, it rejected the claim that the president’s determination of “cause” is operationally unreviewable, that any alleged concern about a central bank governor’s conduct is enough, and that courts cannot preserve a governor’s status. That matters for every bank, investor, borrower and regulator in the country. The Federal Reserve is the central institution responsible for monetary policy, bank supervision and the stability of the U.S. financial system. Its independence is not a courtesy extended by presidents. It is essential for market confidence. The Court understood this. It emphasized that Federal Reserve governors serve...

  The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation sent a clear message in May: inflation remains stubbornly high. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index increased 0.4 percent in May and 4.1 percent over the past year , the highest annual inflation rate in roughly three years. Core PCE—which excludes the volatile food and energy categories—rose 3.4 percent from a year earlier. While the three-month annualized pace of core inflation has moderated from 4.4 percent in February to 3.5 percent in May , inflation remains well above the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target. Consumer spending and personal income both increased 0.7 percent , demonstrating that demand remains resilient despite higher prices. For Black- and minority-owned businesses (MBEs), these data present both immediate challenges and longer-term strategic implications. Inflation Is Not Neutral Inflation does not affect every business equally. Minority-owned firms are disproportionately concentra...

On June 10th, Charlotte Griffin and I had the opportunity to attend the Politico Energy Summit. After hours of hearing from politicians and government officials, we heard from Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta. Kaplan offered a different perspective, moving away from the policy and government processes. Instead, he spoke to the inner workings of Meta’s artificial intelligence data centers. Specifically, he shared how Meta is helping to uplift the communities surrounding the new data center sites.  Richland Parish in Louisiana is one of the new technology sites. Residents of Richland are being “uplifted” through Meta investments in local schools, Community Action Grants, no-cost digital skills training, and employment opportunities at AI facilities. Residents in Richland and beyond are encouraged to join America’s Workforce Pathway, a skills-based education initiative supported by funding from Meta and other corporations around the nation. Kaplan described the devel...

Last Thursday, June 11, 2026, during my first week interning at Creative Investment Research, I had the distinct privilege to attend the Washington Post’s Building America Summit. The full-day event took place at the Post’s main offices in DC and served as the kickoff of the news outlet’s multi-media Building America initiative. During his introductory remarks, Matt Murray, executive editor of the Washington Post, remarked that the central question to be answered was “How America builds for the future that’s in front of us?” Those invited to tackle this question were leaders from both the public and private sectors, in the areas of defense, energy, manufacturing, education, and more.  Across these various conversations, I noticed several core throughlines that came up time and time again. The most prolific of these topics was artificial intelligence and how to respond to our rapidly accelerating digital age. In all areas, these professionals were hyperaware of the importance o...

As a summer Intern at Creative Investment Research, I recently attended Georgetown University’s webinar, Magnifica Humanitas: AI, Human Dignity, and the Common Good. Leaders in Catholic theology examined Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical on artificial intelligence. The discussion proposed a challenge to listeners to look beyond AI capabilities to judge the morality of how it should be used. One theme from the event stuck with me: the choice between building Babel or building Jerusalem. It expanded the lens with which I view both professional pursuits and healthcare discrepancies.  Babel or Jerusalem?  When asked for her biggest takeaway from Magnifica Humanitas, Argentine Catholic Theologian Emilce Cuda highlighted the call for humanity’s choice in the age of artificial intelligence. We will choose to either build a new Tower of Babel or build the walls of Jerusalem.  The metaphor comparing the formation of Babel to Jerusalem provides a framework for understanding the imple...

The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that inflationary pressures are accelerating throughout the economy, with potentially serious consequences for Black-owned and minority-owned businesses. The PPI for final demand rose 1.1 percent in May , following increases of 1.1 percent in April and 0.7 percent in March . On a year-over-year basis, producer prices increased 6.5 percent , the largest annual increase since November 2022. For minority business enterprises (MBEs), the key question is whether minority firms have sufficient pricing power, access to capital, and supply-chain leverage to survive another round of cost increases. Energy Costs Drive the Increase Gasoline prices surged more than 23 percent during the month, reflecting disruptions in global energy markets associated with conflict in the Middle East. This matters because minority-owned firms are concentrated in sectors where fuel costs are a significant operating expen...

On June 10, 2026, the World Bank Group cut its 2026 global growth forecast to 2.5%  — the weakest rate since the Covid-19 pandemic — as soaring energy prices from the Middle East war fuel a new round of inflation. The bank warned growth could fall as low as 1.3% if energy disruptions intensify and financial markets come under stress. The bank's 2026 inflation projection is now 4% — almost a full percentage point above last year's rate.  In the US, the Producer Price Index PPI for final demand rose 1.1 percent in May, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand increased 6.5 percent for the 12 months ended in May, the largest 12-month rise since moving up 7.4 percent in November 2022.

The May 2026 Consumer Price Index report delivers a clear warning for Black and minority-owned businesses: inflation is accelerating again, and the burden is falling disproportionately on firms least able to absorb it. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices increased 0.5 percent in May and are now up 4.2 percent over the past year. This follows increases of 0.6 percent in April and 0.9 percent in March, suggesting inflationary pressures remain firmly embedded in the economy. The most significant development is the continued surge in energy prices, which rose 3.9 percent in May and are now up 23.5 percent over the past year. Gasoline prices alone have increased 40.5 percent during the last twelve months. Energy accounted for more than 60 percent of the monthly increase in the overall CPI. For minority-owned firms, these numbers matter because inflation is not distributed evenly across industries. Black and minority-owned businesses are heavily concentrated in ...

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the May 2026 Employment Situation Report on June 5, 2026. The report arrives at a critical moment for the U.S. economy as policymakers, businesses, and investors assess whether labor market conditions remain resilient or are beginning to weaken under the combined pressures of slower economic growth, federal workforce reductions, elevated interest rates, and ongoing structural changes driven by artificial intelligence. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 172,000 in May, 2026. The unemployment rate was 4.3 percent.  While headline employment figures typically receive the most attention, the most important question for minority-owned businesses remains: Who is participating in economic growth, and who is being left behind? Unemployment Rates by Demographic Group Among major demographic groups, unemployment rates in May were: Implications for Minority-Owned Businesses For minority business enterprises (MBEs), labor market condition...

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its second estimate of first-quarter 2026 Gross Domestic Product (GDP), showing that the U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 1.6% , down from the advance estimate of 2.0%. While growth remains positive, the revision reflects softer consumer spending and weaker investment than initially reported. At the same time, corporate profits continued to rise, highlighting a widening gap between large firms and smaller businesses. For Black- and minority-owned businesses, the latest GDP data paints a mixed picture. Economic growth continues, but the benefits remain unevenly distributed. Slower GDP Growth Means Slower Revenue Growth The downward revision in GDP was driven largely by weaker consumer spending and reduced inventory investment. Consumer spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, making it the most important source of revenue for many minority-owned firms. This is particularly important because minority-own...

Key insight: Traditional thinking that Community Reinvestment Act investments involve high risk and low returns is giving way to an approach focused on low-risk, high-impact projects. Supporting data: Banks deploy more than $100 billion annually in CRA investments. Expert quote: "I think you're going to see more of this — alternative investment opportunities for banks to support housing in a tactical way in high-need communities." — Hugh Allen, head of commercial real estate at TD Bank William Cunningham, CEO of Creative Investment Research in Washington D.C., and a longtime authority on impact investing, said banks are giving more weight to investments' social returns, which has made them more open to alternative investment strategies.   A Maine-based fund manager is seeking to raise as much as $45 million from banks to support long-term affordable housing in distressed neighborhoods in South Dallas. The fund, which will invest in transit-oriented projects in the T...

The April 2026 Producer Price Index (PPI) report signals a significant escalation in upstream inflation pressures that are likely to further strain Black- and minority-owned firms over the coming months. The PPI for final demand increased 1.4% in April following gains of 0.7% in March and 0.6% in February. On a year-over-year basis, producer prices are now up 6.0%, the largest annual increase since December 2022. The report is particularly concerning because inflation pressures are broadening beyond volatile categories. Prices for final demand services rose 1.2%, accounting for nearly 60% of the monthly increase, while prices for final demand goods increased 2.0%. The “core” measure of producer inflation — final demand less foods, energy, and trade services — increased 0.6% in April and 4.4% over the past year, the largest increase since early 2023. The PPI report reinforces and deepens concerns raised by yesterday’s CPI release. CPI showed consumer inflation accelerating to 3.8% year-...