Kimberly Adams

So they're going to spend less today.

And as a result of that, a lower amount of spending typically translates into lower inflation in the macroeconomy.

Another factor that's been holding back inflation is that many businesses are trying to avoid raising prices, so they're spending less on research, marketing, and employees.

Ed Gresser is director for trade and global markets with the Progressive Policy Institute.

But if the labor market keeps weakening, the economy could get stuck in a vicious circle.

Megan Schoenberger at KPMG says people who are concerned about their jobs look at a product that's getting hit with a tariff and decide it's just not worth it.

And if that's the case, sure, tariffs have brought down inflation, but the economy would have much bigger problems.

I'm Justin Ho for Marketplace.

But first, the numbers.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 289.6% to close at 47,417.

The Nasdaq picked up 19 points, 0.1%, to finish at 22,716.

And the S&P 500 lost 5 points, 0.1%, to end at 6775.

Nova was just talking about the rise in natural gas prices in the U.S., which happened even before the war with Iran.

Major U.S.

producers of natural gas did well on the market today.

ExxonMobil Corporation rose 2.3%.

Chevron increased 3%.

ConocoPhillips added 2.5%.

The International Energy Agency said its members would release a record 400 million barrels of oil from its stockpile.

Brent Crude settled at about $92 a barrel.