Bryan Mena
Bryan Mena is a U.S. economy writer for CNN Business, covering the Federal Reserve and macroeconomic data. His coverage of the economy includes inflation, the labor market, and regional economic trends. Mena began his career as an economics reporter at The Wall Street Journal, where he covered economic indicators and wrote about regional economies. He wrote about the strong labor markets of major cities such as Raleigh, N.C. and Birmingham, Ala., and he did a story about the economic effects of pandemic-era travel restrictions on the U.S.-Mexico border. He also covered tragedies like the collapse of a condominium building in Surfside, Fla., in 2021 and a mass shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake, Va., in 2022. As a student journalist, Mena won an award from the College Media Association for a story he wrote about femicide in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, in 2019. He was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, along the U.S.-Mexico border and graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a bachelor's degree in political science. He also has an associate degree in accounting, business, and economics from El Paso Community College.
Biography:
https://www.cnn.com/profiles/bryan-mena
70%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
95%
Examples:
- The author also tends to include context and explanations for economic terms and actions, which can help readers better understand the complexities of the economy.
- The author has a strong focus on reporting the facts and data related to the economy, without inserting personal opinions or interpretations.
- There is a slight lean towards including information that may paint certain situations in a negative light for the Federal Reserve (e.g. failing to meet expectations, being slow to react).
Conflicts of Interest
50%
Examples:
- However, these conflicts are not a major focus of the reporting and do not appear to significantly influence the author's opinions or analysis.
- There are occasional mentions of potential conflicts of interest (e.g. Jamie Dimon's ties to Jerome Powell, possible legal issues related to home purchases).
Contradictions
85%
Examples:
- However, these contradictions do not significantly detract from the overall accuracy and reliability of the reporting.
- The author also reports on the potential impact of external factors (e.g. lawsuits, global economic conditions) on the economy.
- There are instances where the author reports conflicting data or information related to the economy (e.g. contradictory trends in retail sales, inflation rates, and consumer sentiment).
Deceptions
60%
Examples:
- However, these instances are relatively rare and do not appear to be a deliberate attempt to deceive readers.
- There are some instances where the author may oversimplify or misrepresent certain aspects of the economy (e.g. claiming that Boeing's problems could lead to more expensive airfares, implying that inflation has been consistently below target levels).
Recent Articles
Former President Trump Considering Jamie Dimon for Treasury Role Amid Past Criticism
Broke On: Wednesday, 17 July 2024Former President Trump considers Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, for Treasury role despite past criticism. Trump may keep Powell as Fed Chair if re-elected but has indicated he won't reappoint him. Both men have expressed conflicting views in the past. 
US Retail Sales Surprise with 0.8% Increase in June Amid Challenges
Broke On: Tuesday, 16 July 2024US retail sales defied expectations with a 0.8% increase in June, excluding auto and gas, despite declines in gas station sales and vehicle purchases due to cyberattacks. Home improvement stores and online sales saw growth. 
Record-Breaking Home Prices: May 2024 Median at $419,300 - NAR Report
Broke On: Friday, 21 June 2024In May 2024, US home prices reached a record high of $419,300, up 5.8% YoY according to NAR. Despite this increase, sales of previously owned homes remained relatively stable and inventory saw a significant rise. The Federal Reserve is expected to adjust interest rates later this year which may ease affordability for homebuyers. 
Retail Sales Decline: American Consumers Cut Back Amid Rising Inflation and Interest Rates
Broke On: Tuesday, 18 June 2024Retail sales growth slowed in May, with several categories experiencing declines, as American consumers grapple with rising inflation and interest rates. The economic strain is affecting both lower-income and middle-income households, leading to concerns about the health of consumer spending. Despite these challenges, the stock market held steady last week. 
21% of Consumers Struggled to Pay Bills in Summer 2023: PYMNTS Intelligence Report
Broke On: Friday, 07 June 2024In the summer of 2023, over one in five consumers struggled to meet their financial obligations, with low-income individuals experiencing a significant increase. According to PYMNTS Intelligence, 34% of low-income consumers faced bill payment challenges compared to 31% the previous year. Even high-income consumers saw an uptick in struggles, with 13% reporting difficulties compared to 9% in 2022. 
Consumer Confidence Rebounds in May Amidst Economic Uncertainty: Inflation Concerns and Job Market Bolster Optimism
Broke On: Tuesday, 28 May 2024Consumer confidence in the US rebounded in May, with both the Conference Board and University of Michigan indexes reporting increases. Consumers felt better about business conditions and their personal finances, but remained concerned about inflation. Unemployment remained low and wages grew at a solid pace, while CEOs expressed caution about economic growth. 
Federal Reserve's Inflation Concerns Trigger Stock Market Decline: May 2024 Minutes Reveal Uncertainty and Wary Attitudes Towards Interest Rates
Broke On: Wednesday, 22 May 2024Federal Reserve's inflation concerns led to a stock market decline on May 22, 2024. Minutes from the Fed's May meeting revealed officials' uncertainty about current interest rates and lack of progress on inflation, causing all three major indexes to drop. 
U.S. Dollar Surges Ahead in 2024: Fed's Restrictive Monetary Policy and Strong Economic Data Bolster Greenback
Broke On: Thursday, 18 April 2024In 2024, the U.S. dollar has unexpectedly strengthened due to economic growth and persistent inflation, with Federal Reserve officials indicating no urgency to cut interest rates. Strong manufacturing data supports this trend, but potential intervention from other central banks remains a concern. 
March Home Sales Decline: Rising Mortgage Rates Pause Buyer Activity, Inventory Improves Slightly
Broke On: Thursday, 18 April 2024Home sales declined by 4.3% in March due to rising mortgage rates, resulting in a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 4.19 million units. Median home prices hit a new record high at $393,500, while inventory slightly improved with a 4.7% increase to 1.11 million homes for sale. First-time homebuyers accounted for 32% of sales and all-cash purchases decreased slightly, but mortgage rates are expected to rise further this month. 
Unchanged Consumer Sentiment in the US for Four Months, Inflation Expectations Rise
Broke On: Friday, 12 April 2024The University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers showed that consumer sentiment in the US has remained stable for four months, despite a slight increase in inflation expectations. The survey also revealed higher retail price expectations and rising gold prices as a safe-haven bid. However, some analysts argue that inflation expectations are not alarming and reflect recent volatility in economic data.