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By Kristin Myers, Editor-in-Chief

What's Happening Today

Good morning! It's Kristin with your daily morning digest.

The U.S. and allies are considering new sanctions against Russia, as attacks on Ukraine continue. Oil prices, which have been on a roller coaster ride throughout the conflict, have been creeping upward again, suggesting that additional relief at the pump for drivers who have to spend more on gas may be further away than expected. Other International Energy Agency member countries are expected to join the U.S. in releasing oil from their strategic reserves, but will it be enough to take the sting off higher prices? Some experts say it depends on the trajectory of the war in Ukraine.

And in an annual letter to shareholders published this morning, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned that although the U.S. economy is still strong, the war in Ukraine could "dramatically increase the risks ahead," and pointed to the "conflicting forces" of rising inflation and COVID-19 fueled stimulus. The letter is widely read by investors and the business community for Dimon's thoughts on the economy, and risks to business.

The bond market also flashed another warning signal as the yield on the two-year Treasury note at 2.46% pulled ahead of the benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield at 2.43%, creating an inverted yield curve, often considered an indicator of a coming recession. The yield curve inverted before both the 2001 and 2008 recessions.

- Kristin

Editors' Picks

With Inflation Not Letting Up, Shoppers Cut Back on Staples (The Wall Street Journal)

Jamie Dimon: The War in Ukraine Will Slow the Economy and it Could 'Easily Get Worse' (CNN Business)

In a World Full of Risk, Stocks Look Like the Least-Bad Option (Bloomberg)

Senate Republicans Push for Package of New Laws to Aid Small Business, Retail Investors (CNBC)

Can You Use Your Roth IRA To Start a Business? (The Balance)

What To Know Before Lending Money to Employees (The Balance)

Pros and Cons of Fannie Mae Loans (The Balance)

Off the Charts

U.S. workers are back on the job in more ways than one. Not only has the economy recovered most of the jobs it lost when the pandemic hit, but more people are joining the workforce. The labor force participation rate—that is, how many people 16 and older are either working or actively looking for it—edged up to 62.4% in March from 62.3% in February, and has been steadily improving for several months, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Number of the Day

4 - That's how few months it may be before the U.S. has regained all 22 million jobs it lost in the pandemic, if the current pace of growth continues.

April is Financial Literacy Month, and The Balance is going on IG live in a series dedicated to your personal finance journey. Join The Balance Editor-in-Chief Kristin Myers with special guests throughout the month of April. Our first IG live event is on April 5 at 3 p.m. EST with Berna Anat, producer, speaker and fin-fluencer. Follow us on Instagram to get updates on The Balance's live events this month!

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