Let's bring in Axio senior political reporter Alex Eisenstat. So, Alex, you've got some new reporting about the president's travel blitz to tout his economy, but what do you expect he will say Tuesday in Pennsylvania. Because Jake set that up and you kind of have to wonder how he's going to approach this.>> Yeah, look, he's going to have to address headon the fact that a lot of Americans are feeling like the price of goods is just way too expensive. The issue is for Donald Trump that he doesn't like to admi ...

Group 1 - Rising healthcare costs are a significant concern for retirees, as they tend to increase at a faster rate than general inflation, necessitating careful financial planning for medical expenses [3][4] - Contributing to a health savings account (HSA) during working years can be beneficial, as funds can grow tax-free and be used for medical expenses in retirement [4] - Choosing Medicare coverage wisely each year is crucial, as health needs change and exploring different plans can lead to better coverage and cost savings [5] Group 2 - Taxes will impact retirees' income, and future tax rates are uncertain, making it important to consider saving in a Roth account for tax-free gains and withdrawals [6] - Municipal bonds are highlighted as a tax-friendly investment option for generating retirement income, as their interest is exempt from federal taxes and potentially state and local taxes [8]

Core Viewpoint - The bond market's unusual reaction to the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cuts indicates a significant disconnect, with Treasury yields rising despite rate reductions, a phenomenon not observed since the 1990s [1][2]. Group 1: Market Reactions - The bond market is not aligning with President Trump's belief that faster rate cuts will lead to lower bond yields and subsequently lower rates on loans [3]. - Key Treasury yields have increased, with ten-year yields rising nearly 0.5 percentage points to 4.1% and 30-year yields up over 0.8 percentage points since the Fed began easing policy [6]. Group 2: Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve has reduced its benchmark rate by 1.5 percentage points since September 2024, bringing it to a range of 3.75% to 4%, with expectations for further cuts [5]. - Historically, long-term bond yields tend to follow short-term policy rate changes, but this trend has not been observed in the current easing cycle [7]. Group 3: Political Influence - There are concerns that political pressure could lead the Fed to ease policy more aggressively, potentially undermining its credibility and exacerbating inflation, which could further increase yields [4]. - The potential appointment of a political figure to the Fed by Trump raises doubts about the effectiveness of achieving lower long-term yields [4].

Core Viewpoint - Cathie Wood remains optimistic about the U.S. economy despite persistent inflation concerns, emphasizing that real growth and productivity improvements will help reduce price pressures rather than relying on interest rate hikes [1][2][3]. Inflation Insights - Wood acknowledges that inflation has been stable in the range of 2.5% to 3% for some time, with the U.S. headline CPI at approximately 3.0% year-over-year as of September 2025, slightly above the Federal Reserve's 2% target [2]. - The Fed's preferred PCE gauge is reported to be between 2.6% and 2.8% [2]. Economic Growth and Productivity - Wood argues that stronger real growth and productivity, particularly driven by technological advancements, will lead to lower inflation, countering the common belief that growth inherently leads to inflation [3][5]. - Historical data from the past 45 years indicates that when real growth increases, inflation tends to decrease, primarily due to productivity gains [3]. Comparison of Bitcoin and Gold - In the ongoing debate between Bitcoin and gold, Wood highlights that the current ratio of gold to the money supply (M2) is at historically high levels, comparable only to the Great Depression [4]. - She suggests that many gold investors are still anticipating inflation due to the liquidity surge from the COVID-19 pandemic, but historical trends indicate that gold prices can decline sharply once inflation fears subside [6].

And we're going to be giving back refunds out of the tariffs because we've taken in literally trillions of dollars and we're going to be giving uh a nice uh dividend to the people in addition to reducing debt. You won't even have income tax to pay because the money we're taking in is so great. The word affordability is a conj job by the Democrats.>> He said we stopped inflation in its tracks. Well, that's not really true. He inherited inflation at 3%.As I said, it had come way, way down. It did go down a bi ...

Core Insights - Kroger has experienced a slight decrease in consumer demand due to economic uncertainty and increased competition, with identical sales (excluding fuel) rising by 2.6% year over year in Q3 [1] - The grocery market share for Kroger has decreased to 8.5% in the latest quarter from 8.8% in the same period in 2024 [2] - Walmart remains the leading grocery retailer by dollar share, with Kroger in second place, while Costco has increased its market share to 8.2% from 8% year over year [3] Financial Performance - Kroger reported a loss of $1.3 billion in Q3, attributed to a 44% increase in general, operating, and administrative expenses [4] - The company is facing challenges in attracting price-sensitive customers amid rising competition [5] Consumer Behavior - The interim CEO of Kroger, Ronald Sargent, indicated that consumer sentiment has declined due to inflation and a slowing job market, leading to reduced spending, particularly on discretionary items [5][6] - Consumers are managing their budgets more carefully, making smaller shopping trips, and focusing on value, especially among middle-income shoppers [6] - Sales slowed in the latter half of Q3 due to a pause in SNAP benefits, which resumed after the government shutdown [6] Market Sentiment - Consumer sentiment dropped nearly 5% in November compared to October, with a 10% decrease in perceptions of personal finances and buying conditions for durable goods [8] - Year-ahead inflation expectations slightly decreased from 4.6% in October to 4.5% in November [8]

Economic Outlook & Monetary Policy - The Fed's shift towards easier monetary policy, including ending quantitative tightening and leaning towards lower interest rates, is expected to inject liquidity into markets, potentially driving up asset prices [1] - The current GDP growth of approximately 4% is considered strong, comparable to Asian economies, while job weakness is attributed to foreign-born workers returning home, with American worker numbers remaining solid [1] - The Fed's actions are often perceived as benefiting Wall Street, creating a reverse Robin Hood effect where economic crises benefit the wealthy who own assets [3] - The Fed aims for a 2-3% inflation rate to avoid upsetting voters and facing potential congressional intervention, limiting its ability to print excessive amounts of money [2] AI & Technology - AI is currently in a bubble phase, similar to the dot-com era, with potential for further growth due to easy money funding new technologies [1] - AI is not primarily impacting blue-collar jobs but rather white-collar cubicle workers in IT, customer service, accounting, and HR [6] - The AI bubble is still in its early stages, focusing on semiconductor companies like Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor, with the "stupidity" phase of malinvestments yet to come [5] Immigration & Labor Market - Mass deportations historically lead to 5 to 10 times more people leaving than are actually deported [4] - Immigration does not necessarily solve labor shortages but rearranges wages, potentially crashing wages for low-skilled Americans while raising demand for skilled workers [4] - Removing immigrants can raise wages for low-income individuals and lower wages for high-skilled individuals, with an unclear overall impact on inflation but a reduction in headline GDP [4] Investment Strategies & Asset Bubbles - The big trade right now is AI, which is considered to be in a bubble, but it may have a few years left to run [5] - Gold and silver are driven by liquidity and the debasement trade, betting on a future crisis due to a lack of structural reforms on budget deficits [5] - Bitcoin's momentum is being affected by AI, as speculators are shifting their focus, but its debasement argument remains strong [5] Social & Political Commentary - Communism resonates most with elite kids who are losing status, driven by factors like deportations and the impact of AI on white-collar jobs [6] - Government interference often leads to negative consequences, and the battle between freedom and socialism is a constant one [13][14] - UBI may disincentivize work and reinforce poverty, potentially becoming politically appealing during the next recession due to AI-related job losses [7][8][9][10][11][12]

With inflation still squeezing household budgets and interest rates staying high for most of the year, national consumer debt continues to climb across borrowing categories — from mortgages and credit cards to auto loans and HELOCs — compared to last year. Read More: 3 Signs You’ve ‘Made It’ Financially, According to Financial Influencer Genesis Hinckley Find Out: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too In June 2025, Americans collectively owed $18.33 trillion in ...

Core Insights - Investors received strong earnings reports from Dollar Tree and Five Below, with both companies exceeding revenue and adjusted EPS expectations in Q3 [3] - The performance of these stocks mirrors patterns observed in 2022, indicating a potential shift in consumer behavior towards value-oriented shopping amid inflation concerns [3][5] Five Below Performance - Five Below reported double-digit revenue growth, a 14.3% increase in comparable sales, and an EPS beat, driven by increased store traffic and higher sales tickets [4] - The company opened 49 net new stores in the quarter and raised its full-year guidance, reflecting confidence in consumer interest for affordable discretionary goods [5] - Five Below's strategy of offering trend-right goods at low prices has proven effective, capturing consumers who seek affordable luxuries [6] Market Context - Dollar Tree also exceeded earnings expectations but faced margin pressure and declining consolidated revenue after divesting Family Dollar, indicating a shift towards essential goods [5] - The current market environment suggests that inflation concerns are reshaping consumer spending rather than diminishing demand, with a trend towards value-driven shopping behavior [7]

Jerome Powell is expected to push through another quarter-point rate cut this week despite growing unease among fellow Fed policymakers that inflation remains too high https://t.co/0OjGHlmPaz ...