Economic Data Catch-Up

In this episode of Motley Fool Money, Emily Flippen, along with analysts Jeff Santoro and Jason Hall, discuss the recent dump of economic data and its implications for investors heading into 2026. They address the challenges in interpreting economic reports due to the government shutdown and discrepancies in data. The team also explores the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rate cuts, consumer spending trends, and the reliability of economic surveys. They further examine potential distortions in economic data, alternative indicators for investors to monitor, and stocks that may perform well in a softening economy, while also making reckless predictions for the economy in 2026, touching on topics like stagflation and the AI backlash.