As has been the case lately (and is arguably always the case... though that's a discussion for another day), available data has been telling a conflicted story about the state of the economy.
On the one hand, ADP reported that we added 132,000 new jobs in the private sector in the past month, but on the other, mortgage applications are still dropping. Consumer confidence might have risen for the first time in four months, but the S&P 500 is down over 5 percent. Sure, the White House is pushing forward with a $500 billion program for students laboring under heavy student loan debt, but flooding in Jackson, Mississippi and a massive heatwave in California could signal major economic complications.
In other words: it's a mess, and it's up for interpretation how the combination of these factors could influence the economy overall. If you're looking for a little relief from those mental acrobatics or guidance on navigating the climate, these articles might provide just that.
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