Well, tax cuts likely to provide a boost to growth in the new year. On the other hand, inflation and labor market risks are still hanging around. Joining us now on what we can expect for the economy in 2026.Daniel Horning, he's former deputy director of the National Economic Council under President Biden and Doug Holtz Eeken. He is American Action Forum president. Welcome to you both.Um so, so Doug, let's start with that setup. I mean, we have some tailwinds for demand both on the consumer side through the ...

Core Insights - The discussion centers around the impact of AI on productivity and economic growth, with a focus on the expectations for 2026 and the implications for corporate earnings and stock prices [1][2][3] Group 1: AI and Productivity - AI is seen as a key driver of productivity, allowing for economic growth without significant inflationary pressures, which is favorable for central bankers [1][2] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell has acknowledged that AI usage is likely increasing productivity, with GDP growth expectations for 2026 raised to 2.3% from 1.8% [2] - The Fed has also lowered its inflation expectations for next year to 2.4% from 2.6%, indicating a belief that productivity gains from AI can coexist with moderate inflation [2] Group 2: Corporate Earnings and Stock Market - The estimated earnings per share for the S&P 500 in 2024 is projected to be $3922, which would set a new record [1][3] - Concerns about high valuations in the stock market are countered by the expectation of record corporate profits, suggesting that high stock prices may be justified [3][4] - Companies are focusing on increasing revenue per employee rather than hiring more staff, which could lead to significant outperformance for those that can effectively leverage AI [2][3] Group 3: Micron Technology - Micron has seen its stock price triple this year, driven by demand for its DRAM products, particularly for AI data centers [2][3] - The company has announced it will no longer produce memory chips for the consumer segment due to high demand from AI applications, indicating a shift in focus [2] - Micron's stock is considered vulnerable to price fluctuations based on memory chip prices, which could impact its future performance [3]

Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha, iTunes, Spotify.Getty Images Good morning. Here's the latest in trending:Proxy fight: Pressure is building on Lululemon's (LULU) board to make major changes to the athleisure company, with its founder now joining the campaign.Profit taking: Silver prices were slammed in their biggest one-day drop since 2021, while gold fell as well (before both rebounded). U.S. stocks also ended lower to start the Ne ...

Deposit account rates are on the decline — but the good news is you can lock in a competitive return on a certificate of deposit (CD) today and preserve your earning power. In fact, the best CDs still pay rates above 4%. Read on for a snapshot of CD rates today and where to find the best offers. Where are the best CD rates today? CDs today typically offer rates significantly higher than traditional savings accounts. Currently, the best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) generally offer rates around 4% to ...

Economic Crisis in Iran - Iran's rial has depreciated over 40% since the conflict with Israel began in June 2025, with a drop from 32,000 per dollar in 2015 to over 1.4 million, indicating a nearly 44-fold depreciation in ten years [2] - Inflation in Iran reached 42.2% in December, a rise from the previous year and an increase of 1.8% compared to November, severely impacting Iranian families [3] - Food prices surged by 72% in December 2025 compared to the previous year, while medical goods increased by 50% [3] Protests and Unrest - Protests erupted across major cities in Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad, marking the largest demonstrations since 2022 [4] - Shops in Tehran's Grand Bazaar closed in protest against the economic situation [4] - The crisis is exacerbated by falling oil revenue due to US sanctions, issues in the banking sector, political chaos, and structural corruption, leading to the resignation of the Central Bank Governor [4] Government Response - The Iranian government has implemented measures such as food vouchers and subsidies to alleviate public frustration, but these efforts have provided limited relief amid ongoing inflation [5] - Traditional safe havens like gold have seen significant price increases, with gold coins reaching 1.7 billion rials each by December 28, more than double their value in June [5] Bitcoin as a Safe Haven - Bitcoin is being considered as a potential alternative safe haven asset alongside gold, with Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley suggesting its role in providing protection against financial turmoil [1][6]

In Kotak Mutual Fund's annual market outlook for 2026, Shah said the global economy is entering a phase where fiscal policy is taking the lead, while monetary support is gradually easing. Rate cuts are underway, but the environment that fuelled strong market rallies earlier is no longer in place. "Global growth will remain positive but may slow down a little in CY26 over CY25," Shah said.Also read | Smart investment: How can you get Rs 1 lakh monthly passive incomeGlobal risks for investorsShah outlined sev ...

Core Insights - The Primerica Household Budget Index (HBI) is estimated at 100.7% in November, reflecting a slight increase of 0.2% from the previous year [1] - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded an inflation rate of 2.7% in November compared to the same month last year [1] Economic Metrics - The HBI measures the impact of inflation and wage trends on middle-income families' ability to afford everyday necessities [1] - The increase in the HBI indicates a slight improvement in the financial situation of middle-income families over the past year [1] - The CPI serves as a comprehensive measure of inflation for all U.S. households, indicating broader economic trends [1]

Tax refunds could be so big next year, they'll be like pandemic stimulus checks -- and that isn't necessarily a good thing.As most people remember, the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it an unprecedented lockdown and a substantial amount of government support to help people survive it. During the pandemic, a total of three separate stimulus checks were paid out, which helped boost many people's savings rates and may have arguably contributed to the massive inflation that has been occurring more recently.Now, ...

You know, there there's a lot of there's a lot of drama with the Fed and usually it's just, you know, will they raise interest rates. Will they cut interest rates. Will they hold interest rates.But now it's like we don't even know what the makeup of the committee or who the chair is going to be. What What do you think is the biggest wild card at this point into 2026 on the Fed. >> I think there are two or three wild cards.One is just the state of the economy. The data coming in has been uh mixed, shall we s ...

The next time you look at your paycheck, multiply it by two. The figure you arrive at could be what your paycheck looks like in 2050 if income trends follow the same pattern as the past 25 years — at least if you belong to the middle class. Nominal wages (the actual dollar amount) have more than doubled since 2000 for middle-income Americans. Real wages adjusted for inflation have risen as well, though not nearly as much. How does middle class income in 2025 compare to 2000? Here’s a closer look. Middl ...