Group 1 - Investors are assessing the US economic conditions under moderate inflation and recent trade agreements, leading to a slight increase in US Treasury prices and a decline in yields [1] - The 2-year Treasury yield decreased by 0.6 basis points to 4.011%, the 10-year yield fell by 2.4 basis points to 4.475%, and the 30-year yield dropped by 2.5 basis points to 4.918% [1] - Mortgage demand in the US has risen for the second consecutive week, indicating that potential buyers are attracted by the increased supply of homes for sale [3] Group 2 - The average contract rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage increased from 6.84% to 6.86%, which is 22 basis points higher than the same period last year [3] - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April rose by 2.3% year-on-year, which is below economists' expectations of 2.4% and reflects the lowest level since February 2021 [3] - Housing costs were the main driver of inflation in April, despite a decrease in gasoline prices [3] Group 3 - Economists are looking for early signs of tariffs affecting US households, as tariffs are expected to increase consumer prices [4] - Deutsche Bank analysts noted that the impact of tariffs on inflation data is still not fully reflected and may become apparent by June [4] - The UK central bank's chief economist expressed concerns that inflation in the UK may be stronger than expected, potentially requiring higher interest rates than investors anticipate [5] Group 4 - The US Treasury is set to issue a $60 billion 17-week short-term debt on May 14, with additional bonds totaling $160 billion to be issued on May 15 [7]

Core Insights - A majority of small businesses in the U.S. are pessimistic about the current economic conditions, with only 30% rating the economy as excellent or good [1] - Concerns over trade policies and tariffs are prevalent, with 51% of small business owners expecting negative impacts on their operations in the next 12 months [1] - Financial pressure is significant among small business owners, with 60% feeling some level of stress regarding their financial situation [1] Economic Sentiment - 70% of small business owners perceive the current economic situation as average or poor [1] - Only 30% of small business owners believe the economy is in excellent or good condition [1] Trade Policy Impact - 66% of small business owners have already felt or anticipate being affected by tariff policies [1] - 51% expect changes in trade policies to negatively impact their businesses within the next year [1] Financial Pressure - 60% of small business owners report feeling significant or some financial pressure recently [1] - 63% express that they feel significant or some pressure regarding their financial situation [1] - Inflation and tariffs are identified as the primary factors contributing to this financial stress [1]