Consumer Spending
As the 2025 holiday season reaches its fever pitch, the American consumer is performing a remarkable, if precarious, balancing act. On one hand, total holiday spending is projected to surpass the $1 trillion mark for the first time in history, driven by a record-breaking Thanksgiving weekend where over 202 million
Consumer Spending
As the 2025 holiday shopping season reaches its final stretch, a complex picture of the American consumer is emerging. Recent spending reports indicate a record-breaking performance in nominal terms, yet beneath the surface, a "K-shaped" recovery is creating a stark divide in the retail sector. While total holiday
Retail Sales
Recent retail sales data for October 2025 has unveiled a picture of stagnation, with overall figures remaining flat compared to the previous month. This unexpected plateau, falling short of economists' modest expectations for a slight increase, has sent a ripple of uncertainty through financial markets. While the headline number
Gasoline Prices
Washington D.C., December 16, 2025 – American consumers are enjoying a significant and sustained drop in gasoline prices, with both national averages and futures contracts plummeting towards multi-year lows. The national average for regular gasoline now hovers around $2.907 per gallon, marking a notable decrease from figures seen earlier
JPMorgan
In a significant move poised to reshape investor perceptions within the retail sector, investment banking giant JPMorgan announced today, December 15, 2025, an upgrade of Dollar General (NYSE: DG) stock from a "Neutral" rating to "Overweight." This decisive re-rating, accompanied by a substantial increase in its
Consumer Spending
The retail sector in late 2025 finds itself at a critical juncture, navigating a complex economic environment marked by persistent inflation, elevated interest rates, and a softening labor market. While consumer spending remains a cornerstone of economic activity, current trends paint a nuanced picture of resilience in certain segments alongside
Earnings Season
The third-quarter 2025 earnings season, largely drawing to a close in November, painted a complex picture of corporate America's health. While a significant majority of S&P 500 companies managed to surpass analyst expectations, the market's response was notably more discerning than in previous periods.
Q3 2025 Earnings
The third quarter of 2025 earnings season has largely concluded, revealing a financial landscape marked by robust corporate performance, predominantly propelled by the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence. Despite a complex macroeconomic backdrop characterized by persistent inflation, a softening labor market, and evolving monetary policy, U.S. corporations demonstrated remarkable
Inflation
As December 2025 draws to a close, the global economy continues its intricate dance with inflation. While the fervent price surges of earlier years have largely moderated, persistent inflationary pressures, particularly in the United States, are reshaping market dynamics and consumer behavior. Central banks, notably the Federal Reserve, find themselves
Interest Rates
As the festive season approaches, the anticipated "Christmas bonus" of widespread interest rate cuts remains largely off the table, leaving consumers and commodity markets in a state of cautious anticipation. Central banks globally, from the U.S. Federal Reserve to the European Central Bank and the Reserve Bank
US Economy
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's latest "Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit," released in early November 2025, paints a stark picture of escalating financial distress among U.S. households. With total household debt soaring to a record $18.59 trillion and delinquency rates
Wall Street
Wall Street has recently concluded a tumultuous yet ultimately resilient period, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all managing to edge higher in late November and early December 2025. This cautious comeback signals a complex market sentiment, where investors are meticulously weighing the