Infrastructure, energy and the affordability challenge

Affordability pressures, alongside rapid investment, are reshaping the US economic story in 2026 — and the impact is being felt far beyond headline growth. In this episode of In The Know, Rebecca Hiscock-Croft, Investment Director for the Magellan Global Listed Infrastructure team, chats with Brett Loper, Executive Vice President for Policy at the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and Executive Director of the Peterson Solutions Fund, about what’s really driving the conversation on the ground — from the rising cost of housing and energy to the growing strain on household budgets. They explore how surging demand from AI and data centres is adding new demands on power systems and infrastructure and why utilities and energy are becoming an increasingly important, if less visible part of the conversation. With infrastructure and affordability now tightly linked, this discussion explores the forces set to define the next phase of the US economy.