The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain current interest rates through the first half of 2025 before implementing two rate cuts beginning in September, according to a Bloomberg News survey of economists. President Trump’s trade policies have created uncertainty, causing economists to lower growth forecasts while raising inflation projections. New tariffs on major trading partners like China, Canada, and Mexico have unsettled financial markets and raised concerns about potential stagflation—a combination of slowing economic growth and persistent inflation.

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Americans Are Struggling and Markets Are Noticing
After weeks of data blackout, the picture isn’t pretty. Jobless claims show a cooling labor market while consumer sentiment crashes to near-record lows. Credit card delinquencies just hit 15-year highs with Americans carrying $1.2 trillion in debt. The S&P 500 faces its longest losing streak since August. Meanwhile, wealthy investors are leasing out gold bars for yield. Today’s Nuggets explore the cracks in the consumer economy and how smart money is responding.




