Core Insights - Affordability has emerged as a significant issue in the U.S., impacting political dynamics and public sentiment, particularly in the context of the upcoming midterm elections [2][4][5] Economic Conditions - Inflation has decreased to 3.0% as of September, down from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022, yet food prices have surged by 18.2% since January 2022 [5][6] - The food insecurity rate in the U.S. stands at 14.2% as of November, indicating a growing concern over access to affordable food [5] Household Financial Strain - A survey revealed that 43% of six-figure earners skip social events to avoid costs, and 40% utilize buy now pay later (BNPL) services for purchases under $100 [3] - Nearly half (48%) of high earners over $200,000 have pretended their payment apps were malfunctioning to avoid payments, highlighting the pressure to maintain an appearance of financial stability [4] Housing Market Challenges - Homeownership has become increasingly unaffordable, with urban homeowners needing an annual income of $118,300, an increase of 87.5% from pre-pandemic levels [6] - Rural areas have seen an even larger increase of 105.8% in the income required to afford a typical home [6] Rising Costs of Living - The average monthly energy bill has increased by 35%, from $196 to $265, from March 2022 to June 2025, contributing to financial strain for many households [8] - The cost of raising a child has reached an annual average of $29,419, with infant care costs exceeding rent in many metropolitan areas [9] Health Care Expenses - Workers are expected to see health coverage paycheck deductions rise by 6% to 7% in 2026, alongside increased out-of-pocket expenses due to higher deductibles and copays [11] Consumer Behavior - Many Americans are adjusting their spending habits, with 64% of respondents indicating that a six-figure income is now viewed as "survival mode" rather than a sign of wealth [4] - The financial reality for many families is leading to difficult decisions regarding childcare and family planning, as seen in anecdotal accounts from individuals earning over $100,000 [10]

America's worst public speaker struggled mightily reading a teleprompter full of lies tonight. His speech, if we can call it that. In it, Donald Trump said that when he took office, quote, "Inflation was the worst in the history of our country." That is a lie.A typical Trump lie. Inflation was at 3% when Donald Trump took office. Inflation is at 3% right now.Donald Trump said that when he took office, we had quote transgender for everybody. That would mean that Donald Trump is transgender. That would mean t ...

Couple nights ago, Donald Trump delivered a very loud prime time address to America in which he hurled lies and falsehoods to gaslight us all into believing the strength of the US economy that he has created. Tonight, Donald Trump decided to run it back at a rally in North Carolina. >> We're here tonight to celebrate 11 incredible months.It's been the most successful first year of any president in the history of our country. Yesterday it was announced that inflation is far lower than anybody expected. I tol ...

Geopolitics added a constant background hum. Tensions in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and fragile US-China relations – namely on the trade front – regularly unsettled markets.Inflation became the second recurring fault line. Headline pressures eased, but progress was uneven, particularly in services. Every upside surprise reopened the debate about how restrictive policy really needed to be, and each time the result looked familiar: a firmer Dollar and a reminder that the disinflation process was not ...

RT Binance Research (@BinanceResearch)Macro data shows a synchronized slowdown: inflation Consumer, PMI falling, and unemployment rising.Raising the question of whether markets will shift from “bad news is good news” to pricing in recession risk.Find out more ⬇️https://t.co/AsP05IInmM ...

The grocery store sector is feeling the effects of inflation, as food prices in August rose faster than the all-items Consumer Price Index, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. That means food prices were rising higher than the rate of inflation, which was 3% in September, but we don't know for sure because of the October government shutdown. Grocery stores have no data to consider after August, as the government shutdown halted the USDA's Food Price Outlook publica ...

AI & Technology - Bernie Sanders calls for AI datacenter moratorium, addressing AI's negative perception [1] - Discussion on whether anti-AI sentiment is manufactured by special interests [1] - China's AI breakthrough in lithography and its impact on the AI race [1] - Examination of China's efforts to build its own "Manhattan Project" to rival the West in AI chips [1] Economy & Labor Market - Analysis of unemployment, jobs, and inflation, questioning whether the economy is primed for a "Golden Age" [1] Geopolitics & Trade - The Trump administration pressed the Dutch hard to cancel a chip equipment sale to China [1]

Welcome to this week’s edition of Top Stock Highlights.This week brought positive developments across Singapore’s economy and property market. Economists sharply upgraded the city-state’s 2025 GDP growth outlook, while Keppel DC REIT moved to consolidate ownership of two data centres. Meanwhile, a CapitaLand-UOL consortium emerged as the top bidder for a landmark Hougang Central mixed-use site.MAS December 2025 Economic Survey Economists have sharply raised Singapore’s 2025 GDP growth forecast to 4.1%, up f ...

Market Performance - The S&P 500 rose 0.88% to 6,834.50, the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.31% to 23,307.62, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.38% to 48,134.89, all influenced by volatile quad-witching flows [1] - AI-linked and broader tech names led market gains, with Oracle and Micron Technology boosting prices, while consumer stocks like Nike and Lamb Weston lagged due to disappointing earnings and guidance [2] Economic Indicators - Reports of cooling inflation and a softer labor market have strengthened expectations for a potential Federal Reserve rate cut early next year [4] - The University of Michigan revised its December consumer sentiment expectations downwards, citing high prices and weak hiring as contributing factors [5] Sector Challenges - Mixed results from Nike and Lamb Weston highlight ongoing challenges in consumer-facing sectors, with Nike beating analyst estimates but experiencing a stock decline due to concerns over profits and sales in China [5] - Apollo Global Management has warned of stagflation risks next year, particularly if AI does not meet expectations [4]

“I think the president will take this as good news. The investors will think that interest rates will get cut more, so it was positive news — there’s no other way to spin it.”“I was surprised. It was a better number than anyone was expecting,” he said (4). “People were expecting it to be above 3% — it was well below 3%.”“I have not looked at the internals — I’ll look at them now — but it suggests that the internals are good as well,” he said. “Let's see. ... Seasonally adjusted index for all items, less foo ...