“If the U.S. economy is headed for trouble, no one told the junk-bond market.”

"If the U.S. economy is headed for trouble, no one told the junk-bond market."@Vlajournaliste pic.twitter.com/s3WVZCToIH

— Daily Chartbook (@dailychartbook) May 23, 2024

Pay attention.

It's begun! pic.twitter.com/ozFRa1xB6y

— The Great Martis (@great_martis) May 23, 2024

👀 👇
For the first time in the history of the United States, interest payments will likely overtake defense spending in 2024 pic.twitter.com/7OAbQm7yis

— Win Smart, CFA (@WinfieldSmart) May 22, 2024

The market pulls back 1%

Twitter is dead.. how much leverage do you all have lmao t.co/2iGMh4gHlI

— 🅰🅻🅴🆂🆂🅸🅾 (@AlessioUrban) May 23, 2024

SNAP Benefits Shows 1 in 8 Americans are on Food Stamps

The recent deal to raise the federal debt limit includes additional work requirements for some SNAP (food stamp) recipients. Despite misconceptions, SNAP, a major federal welfare program, has been in place for nearly 60 years. In April 2023, 41.9 million people (12.5% of the U.S. population) in 22.2 million households received SNAP benefits. The program operates nationwide and in select U.S. territories, with an average of 41.2 million recipients monthly in the 2022 fiscal year. Since its establishment in 1964, the program’s reach has significantly expanded.

Inflation Erodes Trust in Major Consumer Brands

Public dissatisfaction with inflation is impacting the reputation of major consumer brands like Walmart, McDonald’s, and Amazon. Despite price increases slowing, their effects linger, causing declines in trust scores for various industries, including clothing, quick-service restaurants, and grocers, as reported by the Axios Harris Poll 100. The phenomena of sticker price hikes and “shrinkflation” have fueled political debate, but consumer buying habits remain largely unchanged, even as companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo pass on higher costs with minimal backlash.