News and Trends
U.S. consumer sentiment falls to record low on inflation- Financial Post--4.24.26
Consumer sentiment fell in April from a month earlier to a record low, reflecting worries about the economic fallout from the Iran war. Consumers expect prices to rise at an annual rate of 4.7% over the next year. This was the biggest one-month increase since President Trump announced sweeping tariffs last year. 
Americans cut spending due to higher gas prices and see no relief in sight, CNBC survey finds - CNBC--4.23.26
Americans are feeling the pinch of higher gas prices, according to one CNBC survey. They are spending less on entertainment, travel and even essential items as fuel prices have surged thanks to the U.S. war against Iran. Nearly 80% have changed their spending habits in response to the pain at the pump.
Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March, as energy prices spiked due to Iran conflict - CNBC--4.10.26
Consumer prices spiked in March as the Iran war sent energy costs soaring and took the Federal Reserve further from its inflation target, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report Friday. Underlying inflation, however, was relatively tame.
Gap between high-income households' wage growth and everyone else is at its widest since 2015--4.9.26
After-tax wage growth is accelerating faster among higher-income households as lower- and middle-income households trail behind, a new Bank of America Institute report shows.
As Iran war heightens affordability issues, don’t expect the Fed to ‘ride in and save the day,’ analyst says - CNBC--3.12.26
Amid a war in Iran, inflation pressures, a weakening job market and an uncertain outlook for tariff policy, Fed officials will meet next week and announce a decision on interest rates. For now, experts think the central bank will stay on hold. For consumers caught in the crosshairs, that means there will be little relief to come.
Back to the 1970s? Investors brace for a return of stagflation- Reuters--3.9.26
Investors are now seriously considering the possibility that war in the Middle East could create a stagflationary shock. The epicenter of stagflation fears is the surge of oil prices, and the biggest question for world markets now is how long those prices will remain elevated.
U.S. payrolls unexpectedly fell by 92,000 in February; unemployment rate rises to 4.4% - CNBC--3.6.26
The U.S. economy lost jobs in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 for the month, marking the third time in the past five months that payrolls declined.
The stock market bubble will burst in 2027, and the current rotation is a ‘warning of trouble ahead,’ Capital Economics says - Yahoo! Finance --2.23.26
Capital Economics is warning that the powerful shift underway in U.S. equities could signal that a long‑running stock market bubble will burst in 2027, ushering in years of upheaval in leadership across major indexes.
Dow drops 800 points as S&P 500, Nasdaq slide on Trump tariff fears, AI 'scare trade' - Yahoo! Finance --2.23.26
US stocks retreated on Monday as investors grappled with the fallout from the Supreme Court's rebuff of President Trump's most sweeping tariffs, while AI disruption fears gripped markets once again.
Here's the inflation breakdown for January 2026 — in one chart -CNBC --2.13.26
Inflation decelerated in January as price pressures eased across a range of consumer staples such as food and gasoline, though they remain elevated for certain categories, including electricity and home heating, economists said.
Boomers are staying in the job market as Gen Z struggles to break through - MSN--1.14.26
Fresh research is shedding light on the factors marking it harder for applicants to find jobs, chiefly, an aging population and more people working in their 60s and 70s, coupled with a labor market in which companies are culling roles and seeking more experienced candidates when they do hire.
Federal Prosecutors Open Investigation Into Fed Chair Powell - The New York Times--1.11.26
The U.S. attorney's office in the District of Columbia has opened a criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, the Fed chair, over the central bank's renovation of its Washington headquarters and whether Mr. Powell lied to Congress about the scope of the project, according to officials briefed on the situation.
Job openings in November fall to 7.1 million, missing forecasts, as hiring slows- Yahoo! Finance--1.7.26
The number of jobs open fell in November while the number of separations held steady, reflecting a U.S. labor market stuck in a "no-hire, no-fire" status, according to government data released Wednesday.
Dollar Set for Worst Year Since 2017 With Fed Drama Center Stage - Yahoo! Finance--12.31.25
The dollar is poised for its sharpest annual retreat in eight years and investors say more declines are coming if the next Fed chief opts for deeper interest-rate cuts as expected. "With at least two rate reductions priced in for next year, the US’s policy path diverges from some of its developed peers, further dimming the dollar’s appeal."
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