How’s the Economy?

Ask ten people, “How’s the economy?” and you’ll get ten different answers—none of them great. Beneath the reports of job gains and inflation rates, the American experience tells a darker story: higher costs, stagnant wages, and growing mistrust in the system. The economy, in real terms, has become a rift between narratives and lived reality.

Consumer Confidence or Controlled Delusion?

While headlines cheer modest inflation improvements, consumer confidence remains shaky. The truth is, groceries still cost more, gas prices spike on geopolitical whim, and many families are one missed paycheck from crisis. “Recovery” has become a word of convenience—just ask the 60% living paycheck to paycheck.

Spending Our Way Into the Abyss

Federal spending hit new heights post-pandemic, but the bill is coming due. Interest payments now rival defense budgets, yet Congress debates budgets like it’s political theater. For many, the economy feels less like a system and more like a game—where rules don’t apply to the powerful.

Where’s the Wage Growth?

Despite record corporate profits, real wages remain flat. Productivity has climbed, but workers haven’t reaped the benefits. The gig economy promised freedom but often delivered instability. It’s not just a pay gap—it’s a growing canyon between value and valuation.

What Happens When Trust Vanishes?

Markets run on confidence, but the public’s trust in economic stewards is eroding. What happens when the public stops asking “How’s the economy?” and starts asking, “Does it even serve me anymore?” Watch what happens in Foreign Policy.