Anna Helhoski

A few things are happening. Consumer sentiment is down on a month-over-month basis for the first time in nearly two years. And then forecasts of GDP for the first quarter of the year, that's gross domestic product, which represents economic growth, are negative, which would be the first time that GDP declined since the first half of 2022.

A few things are happening. Consumer sentiment is down on a month-over-month basis for the first time in nearly two years. And then forecasts of GDP for the first quarter of the year, that's gross domestic product, which represents economic growth, are negative, which would be the first time that GDP declined since the first half of 2022.

A few things are happening. Consumer sentiment is down on a month-over-month basis for the first time in nearly two years. And then forecasts of GDP for the first quarter of the year, that's gross domestic product, which represents economic growth, are negative, which would be the first time that GDP declined since the first half of 2022.

Inflation is certainly down from where it was, but prices are still elevated, especially for rent and everyday goods like eggs, which we've talked about before. Now, these are just early signs, but even if the data doesn't fully signal, yes, we are headed toward a downturn, the mood has already shifted that direction. Consumer sentiment has taken a dive since the start of the year.

Inflation is certainly down from where it was, but prices are still elevated, especially for rent and everyday goods like eggs, which we've talked about before. Now, these are just early signs, but even if the data doesn't fully signal, yes, we are headed toward a downturn, the mood has already shifted that direction. Consumer sentiment has taken a dive since the start of the year.

Inflation is certainly down from where it was, but prices are still elevated, especially for rent and everyday goods like eggs, which we've talked about before. Now, these are just early signs, but even if the data doesn't fully signal, yes, we are headed toward a downturn, the mood has already shifted that direction. Consumer sentiment has taken a dive since the start of the year.

Surveys that feed the major indexes show that the majority of concern is around price increases due to tariffs, as well as other uncertainty surrounding mass layoffs of federal workers. And Trump's policies are also influencing markets. Earlier this month, stocks sank to the lowest levels of the year, erasing all of the gains the markets had made since Trump's election to office.

Surveys that feed the major indexes show that the majority of concern is around price increases due to tariffs, as well as other uncertainty surrounding mass layoffs of federal workers. And Trump's policies are also influencing markets. Earlier this month, stocks sank to the lowest levels of the year, erasing all of the gains the markets had made since Trump's election to office.

Surveys that feed the major indexes show that the majority of concern is around price increases due to tariffs, as well as other uncertainty surrounding mass layoffs of federal workers. And Trump's policies are also influencing markets. Earlier this month, stocks sank to the lowest levels of the year, erasing all of the gains the markets had made since Trump's election to office.

But on Monday, when Trump walked back some of his tariff plans, the markets rebounded. So there's a lot of volatility there.

But on Monday, when Trump walked back some of his tariff plans, the markets rebounded. So there's a lot of volatility there.

But on Monday, when Trump walked back some of his tariff plans, the markets rebounded. So there's a lot of volatility there.

Yeah, that's a good question. So let's start with interest rates. The Federal Reserve often lowers interest rates to stimulate the economy. The federal funds rate impacts interest rates for things like mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. One thing that we also see affected by rates are treasury bonds.

Yeah, that's a good question. So let's start with interest rates. The Federal Reserve often lowers interest rates to stimulate the economy. The federal funds rate impacts interest rates for things like mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. One thing that we also see affected by rates are treasury bonds.

Yeah, that's a good question. So let's start with interest rates. The Federal Reserve often lowers interest rates to stimulate the economy. The federal funds rate impacts interest rates for things like mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. One thing that we also see affected by rates are treasury bonds.

Now, during a recession, if interest rates drop, bond prices increase while bond yields decrease, which makes bonds less attractive for investors to purchase. As for prices, home prices generally go down during a recession since people aren't making a big purchase like that. But historically speaking, that also doesn't always happen.

Now, during a recession, if interest rates drop, bond prices increase while bond yields decrease, which makes bonds less attractive for investors to purchase. As for prices, home prices generally go down during a recession since people aren't making a big purchase like that. But historically speaking, that also doesn't always happen.

Now, during a recession, if interest rates drop, bond prices increase while bond yields decrease, which makes bonds less attractive for investors to purchase. As for prices, home prices generally go down during a recession since people aren't making a big purchase like that. But historically speaking, that also doesn't always happen.

And things like food prices are volatile, and there are a lot of factors that influence prices, so it's not clear what would happen during a recession. Is there anything people can do to prepare for a recession, and should they? Like death and taxes, there will always be another recession coming. It's inevitable. What we don't know is when the next one will hit.

And things like food prices are volatile, and there are a lot of factors that influence prices, so it's not clear what would happen during a recession. Is there anything people can do to prepare for a recession, and should they? Like death and taxes, there will always be another recession coming. It's inevitable. What we don't know is when the next one will hit.