Leaders at the Bell with Steve Moore, Unleash Property, March 24, 2026

Steve Moore, economist and cofounder of Unleash Prosperity, joined Leaders At the Bell on March 24, 2026, to discuss the turbulent economic landscape facing the United States amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. Moore addressed the immediate pressures on markets from rising oil prices, which had nearly doubled from under $60 per barrel to over $110 at their peak, creating ripple effects across consumer prices and equity markets. He expressed confidence that oil prices would return to the $60-70 range within three to six months if tensions with Iran resolve, positioning the second half of 2026 for a potential economic boom. Moore acknowledged stagflationary concerns reflected in the ten-year Treasury yield hovering around 4.35 percent and upcoming employment data, but emphasized that energy costs remain the master variable determining near-term economic trajectory.

The conversation explored structural shifts in the labor market driven by artificial intelligence and automation, with Moore taking an optimistic view of productivity gains. Drawing on his board experience with companies using robotics in construction, he argued that AI could reduce costs across sectors while freeing workers from menial tasks, ultimately creating deflationary pressure that helps control inflation. Moore also addressed political headwinds facing the Trump administration ahead of November midterm elections, noting that Republican losses could constrain the president's policy agenda in his final two years. Despite short-term volatility, Moore maintained a bullish long-term outlook for US equities and economic growth, citing recent tax cuts and deregulation as positive catalysts for business expansion.