Eh if it keeps going up I don't have to feed as much into my vanguard taxable retirement account every month, so I can use that for more expensive gas. Plus some easy changes in spending habits, which apparently is impossible for most people somehow, and once things stabilize it'l basically be like a bonus. But I have a bad habit of being able to live within my means, even if it fluctuates here and there.

Middle class here, with this market pushing me into upper middle class, probably upper class in the next 5-10 years. Pay towards savings before it even gets to my checking account every month for the last 15 years and you can be sitting pretty after a little discipline and sacrifice. I don't mind paying more for gas right now if I can retire earlier and have a lot more money to use after I stop working.

A short amount of tightening in exchange for decades of comfort down the line sooner than otherwise is actually a blessing.

TresPuertas said:

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if the Republicans try to run on a high stock market they will get slaughtered.

this doesn't matter much to the middle class. what people see is soaring prices, a job market in flux, and extreme gas prices, and it being harder and harder to pay for an every day existence. Right now the stock market may be high but to the middle class the economy is breathtakingly ****ed.

And i say this as a die hard right wing conservative.

---

Two things people notice. Grocery prices and Gas prices. Get them down significantly by end of 2027 and the R will cruise to victory. Easily win the presidency

Stock market helps as well but not a whole lot. I'm guessing upper middle class and people that are into that stuff

Rs best hope is for gas prices to fall to $3 or below before midterms to have a shot at house, not much you can do about groceries in 5 months. Things would have to be very bad to lose senate, I don't see Rs losing senate, I see 52~54 for Rs

Republicans have a lot of cash, which obviously will help them

Idk what's going on with redistricting, Rs could have flipped at least 3 more seats. South Carolina screwed us and Alabama held up in court. So looks like only one more right now in Louisiana

Kaiser von Wilhelm said:

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Eh if it keeps going up I don't have to feed as much into my vanguard taxable retirement account every month, so I can use that for more expensive gas. Plus some easy changes in spending habits, which apparently is impossible for most people somehow, and once things stabilize it'l basically be like a bonus. But I have a bad habit of being able to live within my means, even if it fluctuates here and there.

Middle class here, with this market pushing me into upper middle class, probably upper class in the next 5-10 years. Pay towards savings before it even gets to my checking account every month for the last 15 years and you can be sitting pretty after a little discipline and sacrifice. I don't mind paying more for gas right now if I can retire earlier and have a lot more money to use after I stop working.

A short amount of tightening in exchange for decades of comfort down the line sooner than otherwise is actually a blessing.

---

Well aren't you a model of how things should be done. A great majority of people or living paycheck to paycheck and /or up to their eyeballs in debt. The stock market going up has zero impact on those people.

TresPuertas said:

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if the Republicans try to run on a high stock market they will get slaughtered.

this doesn't matter much to the middle class. what people see is soaring prices, a job market in flux, and extreme gas prices, and it being harder and harder to pay for an every day existence. Right now the stock market may be high but to the middle class the economy is breathtakingly ****ed.

And i say this as a die hard right wing conservative.

---

so now you are claiming people in the middle class no longer have corporate 401Ks or investments in the stock market!?!?

Manufacturing PMI was released today :

Chicago PMI (MNI Chicago Business Barometer) May 2026 Released: May 29, 2026

Actual
62.7

Forecast
50.6

Previous (April)
49.2

the highest manufacturing numbers in a decade

we are reaching peak stupidity in this country.

Several recent posts reinforce the dichotomy that I highlighted earlier.

People with significant investable assets are doing well and enjoying the hell out of this bull market. Their spending is keeping the economy from tanking. At least for now.

Those not in that category -- which is a majority of the population -- aren't feeling it, and many are struggling.

There are many in the former category who are oblivious to the others. Not out of spite, greed, or ill-will... simply their world is rocking, and they assume it must be for others.

I try to pay attention to things going on around me, and this contrast is the sharpest I can ever recall in my 61 years.

MemphisAg1 said:

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Exactly. Well said. People shouldn't bang their drum over the stock market as if no other factors exist.

Do you think the current economy is the greatest in history?

Seamaster said:

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Great for Wall Street!

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great for me. My NW is up $750,000 and I didn't lift a finger.

Not sure why everyone is complaining in this thread. College educated and moaning about markets at ATH. You should be making a killing.

it's the K-shaped economy

been that way for a while

Seamaster said:

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Texas12&0 said:

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TresPuertas said:

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if the Republicans try to run on a high stock market they will get slaughtered.

this doesn't matter much to the middle class. what people see is soaring prices, a job market in flux, and extreme gas prices, and it being harder and harder to pay for an every day existence. Right now the stock market may be high but to the middle class the economy is breathtakingly ****ed.

And i say this as a die hard right wing conservative.

---

Roughly 62% of US citizens have an investment in the stock market, so I believe you are wrong here.

---

The average American has a little locked into long term retirement accounts.

Day to day and here and now it's honestly pretty meaningless. Not nearly as meaningful as $4 per gallon gasoline when it was $2.50 this time last year.

---

I love how people just make up their own FACTS AND REALITY to suit their own ideology.

Guess what?

there actually WAS an election in 2022 with VERY HIGH GAS PRICES and 9% inflation.

and the democrats kept the Senate and nearly kept the House.

but tell us again how 3% inflation is the end of the world.

LMCane said:

---

Seamaster said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

TresPuertas said:

---

if the Republicans try to run on a high stock market they will get slaughtered.

this doesn't matter much to the middle class. what people see is soaring prices, a job market in flux, and extreme gas prices, and it being harder and harder to pay for an every day existence. Right now the stock market may be high but to the middle class the economy is breathtakingly ****ed.

And i say this as a die hard right wing conservative.

---

Roughly 62% of US citizens have an investment in the stock market, so I believe you are wrong here.

---

The average American has a little locked into long term retirement accounts.

Day to day and here and now it's honestly pretty meaningless. Not nearly as meaningful as $4 per gallon gasoline when it was $2.50 this time last year.

---

I love how people just make up their own FACTS AND REALITY to suit their own ideology.

Guess what?

there actually WAS an election in 2022 with VERY HIGH GAS PRICES and 9% inflation.

and the democrats kept the Senate and nearly kept the House.

but tell us again how 3% inflation is the end of the world.

---

How much was gas before this pointless war?

Seamaster said:

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LMCane said:

---

Seamaster said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

TresPuertas said:

---

if the Republicans try to run on a high stock market they will get slaughtered.

this doesn't matter much to the middle class. what people see is soaring prices, a job market in flux, and extreme gas prices, and it being harder and harder to pay for an every day existence. Right now the stock market may be high but to the middle class the economy is breathtakingly ****ed.

And i say this as a die hard right wing conservative.

---

Roughly 62% of US citizens have an investment in the stock market, so I believe you are wrong here.

---

The average American has a little locked into long term retirement accounts.

Day to day and here and now it's honestly pretty meaningless. Not nearly as meaningful as $4 per gallon gasoline when it was $2.50 this time last year.

---

I love how people just make up their own FACTS AND REALITY to suit their own ideology.

Guess what?

there actually WAS an election in 2022 with VERY HIGH GAS PRICES and 9% inflation.

and the democrats kept the Senate and nearly kept the House.

but tell us again how 3% inflation is the end of the world.

---

How much was gas before this pointless war?

---

And LOL at believing inflation is just 3%.

Still glad Trump won over Kneepads, but come on .... the economy, while not in shambles, is far from great. Hopefully, we gain more seats and last through to 28 and a conservative can win. That's the only hope.

LegalDrugPusher said:

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Stock market is killing it. Thanks to a 47 that is getting business to invest and the American business spirit can't be broken by the media lies. https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/live/dow-nasdaq-sp-gain-stock-market-today-friday-may-29-222720284.html

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Yessir!! Bet those libs are enjoying their 401k's while protesting how awful Trump is.

LegalDrugPusher said:

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The last thing the Democrats want as we embark on the Summer is for oil prices to start going down, which means gas prices and a lot of other good economic situations to happen.

They are hoping that all this can stay together throughout the summer and hurt the Republicans chances at the midterms and they don't want it to get resolved too early to make people start feeling good again

---

You know what that mean, grab your ass, **** is about to hit the fan. They gonna go all George Floyd on us this summer.

TresPuertas said:

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if the Republicans try to run on a high stock market they will get slaughtered.

this doesn't matter much to the middle class. what people see is soaring prices, a job market in flux, and extreme gas prices, and it being harder and harder to pay for an every day existence. Right now the stock market may be high but to the middle class the economy is breathtakingly ****ed.

And i say this as a die hard right wing conservative.

---

That's a good point, and I get it, but it's still a great sign for the GOP. It matters to a lot of people who actually get out and vote.

This is akin to celebrating the victory of a pro team.

Quote:

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Not sure why everyone is complaining in this thread. College educated and moaning about markets at ATH.

---

Well, I read just a little history in college. And I hear the 1719 talking to 1924 in the background. When the French agree with the Germans about anything substantive, I am nervous about the odds that I can hold onto my market gains.

GDP per capita in the US now stands at ~$91,000. Europe as a whole sits at about $64,000 while the UK is at $61,000 and France at $52,000. It means as an American, you can live frugally, save and invest and the magic of compound interest with accumulating savings will help you weather life's storms better. In Europe, your 45-70% tax rate dooms your future ability to build generational wealth and prosperity.

W said:

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it's the K-shaped economy

been that way for a while

---

Eh. The "K-shaped economy" is just a canard by the liberal press to explain away Trump's success (or any Republican president's).

techno-ag said:

---

W said:

---

e it's the K-shaped economy

been that way for a while

---

Eh. The "K-shaped economy" is just a canard by the liberal press to explain away Trump's success (or any Republican president's).

---

That doesn't align with reality on the ground. From Google below. Delinquency rates are up for credit cards, student loans, and auto loans.

Mortgage debt remains in good shape, as many people refinanced during the historic lows pre-2022.

The K economy is real. Republicans don't have to get all Negative Nancy about it, but they would be wise not to dismiss it either.

Quote:

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• Credit Cards: Serious delinquency rates have been rising significantly, hitting some of their highest levels in 16 years at roughly 13.1%. [1]
• Student Loans: Serious delinquency rates have seen a dramatic, sharp spike (climbing past 10% and reaching much higher on non-deferred loans). This is a direct result of credit bureaus resuming the formal reporting of missed federal student loan payments. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Auto Loans: Auto loan delinquencies (90+ days past due) have climbed steadily, sitting at around 5.2%, which is notably higher than the historical average. [1]
• Mortgages: Mortgages continue to perform the best out of all categories, with serious delinquencies staying low at around 1.4% to 1.5%, though they have started creeping up for lower-income tiers. [1, 2, 3, 4]

---

MemphisAg1 said:

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techno-ag said:

---

W said:

---

e it's the K-shaped economy

been that way for a while

---

Eh. The "K-shaped economy" is just a canard by the liberal press to explain away Trump's success (or any Republican president's).

---

That doesn't align with reality on the ground. From Google below. Delinquency rates are up for credit cards, student loans, and auto loans.

Mortgage debt remains in good shape, as many people refinanced during the historic lows pre-2022.

The K economy is real. Republicans don't have to get all Negative Nancy about it, but they would be wise not to dismiss it either.

Quote:

---

• Credit Cards: Serious delinquency rates have been rising significantly, hitting some of their highest levels in 16 years at roughly 13.1%. [1]
• Student Loans: Serious delinquency rates have seen a dramatic, sharp spike (climbing past 10% and reaching much higher on non-deferred loans). This is a direct result of credit bureaus resuming the formal reporting of missed federal student loan payments. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Auto Loans: Auto loan delinquencies (90+ days past due) have climbed steadily, sitting at around 5.2%, which is notably higher than the historical average. [1]
• Mortgages: Mortgages continue to perform the best out of all categories, with serious delinquencies staying low at around 1.4% to 1.5%, though they have started creeping up for lower-income tiers. [1, 2, 3, 4]

---

---

The thing is, there have been struggling poor among us since time immemorial. Jesus said, "The poor will always be with you."

The K-shaped economy is discussed during Republican presidents, but somehow the poor are never mentioned during Democrat regimes.

6 years ago (not that long in the grand scheme of things) I could get a whole prime brisket at Costco for $3.50 per pound. Now I don't see prices lower than $6 per pound hardly at all. And I live in Houston, can't imagine how bad it is for anyone a significant drive away from the beef capital of America.

My private health insurance costs me, in premiums, $500 per 2 week paycheck for a family of 3.

I had to move to take a job that I could support a family on and lost my cushy 3% mortgage. I now have a 7.35% loan and am paying $2,800 per month on a house (including property taxes and insurance) where I used to be paying $1,700 per month. We bought for nearly exactly the same price we sold at.

A new car today costs $50k for a worse product than was being made 20 years ago. A truck is closer to $75k and the decline is even worse. When I upgraded my wife's car, I paid more for it last year on an SUV with 80k miles than I did on my sedan with 40k miles.

In what way am I not getting ****ed?

techno-ag said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

That doesn't align with reality on the ground. From Google below. Delinquency rates are up for credit cards, student loans, and auto loans.

Mortgage debt remains in good shape, as many people refinanced during the historic lows pre-2022.

The K economy is real. Republicans don't have to get all Negative Nancy about it, but they would be wise not to dismiss it either.

Quote:

---

• Credit Cards: Serious delinquency rates have been rising significantly, hitting some of their highest levels in 16 years at roughly 13.1%. [1]
• Student Loans: Serious delinquency rates have seen a dramatic, sharp spike (climbing past 10% and reaching much higher on non-deferred loans). This is a direct result of credit bureaus resuming the formal reporting of missed federal student loan payments. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Auto Loans: Auto loan delinquencies (90+ days past due) have climbed steadily, sitting at around 5.2%, which is notably higher than the historical average. [1]
• Mortgages: Mortgages continue to perform the best out of all categories, with serious delinquencies staying low at around 1.4% to 1.5%, though they have started creeping up for lower-income tiers. [1, 2, 3, 4]

---

---

The thing is, there have been struggling poor among us since time immemorial. Jesus said, "The poor will always be with you."

The K-shaped economy is discussed during Republican presidents, but somehow the poor are never mentioned during Democrat regimes.

---

I understand the point about the liberal media favoring Dems over R's. That's also been with us for quite a while.

The point I'm making, and the economic statistics I shared confirm it, is the segment of Americans that is struggling is growing, not shrinking, no matter how big the headlines of Dow 51,000 might suggest.

It's a bifurcated economy. From a political standpoint, the R's would be fools to dismiss it. Nothing will piss somebody off more than to be struggling and feel like the politicians are talking down to them or ignoring them. Gottta find a way to acknowledge it without getting all negative about it, and point to what they are doing to improve it and how Dem policies just make it worse. Pointing to the Dow and saying "scoreboard" doesn't do it.

Seamaster said:

---

LMCane said:

---

Seamaster said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

TresPuertas said:

---

if the Republicans try to run on a high stock market they will get slaughtered.

this doesn't matter much to the middle class. what people see is soaring prices, a job market in flux, and extreme gas prices, and it being harder and harder to pay for an every day existence. Right now the stock market may be high but to the middle class the economy is breathtakingly ****ed.

And i say this as a die hard right wing conservative.

---

Roughly 62% of US citizens have an investment in the stock market, so I believe you are wrong here.

---

The average American has a little locked into long term retirement accounts.

Day to day and here and now it's honestly pretty meaningless. Not nearly as meaningful as $4 per gallon gasoline when it was $2.50 this time last year.

---

I love how people just make up their own FACTS AND REALITY to suit their own ideology.

Guess what?

there actually WAS an election in 2022 with VERY HIGH GAS PRICES and 9% inflation.

and the democrats kept the Senate and nearly kept the House.

but tell us again how 3% inflation is the end of the world.

---

How much was gas before this pointless war?

---

First, it is not a pointless war. Let's forget the nukes for a moment. I was listening to some congressional testimony a couple of days ago. I forget the exact details, but something like the 350 days before the war or 35 months….Iran was striking our facilities and interests, on average every 3 days, resulting in the death of 4 Americans. To me, that's enough to give them a serious spanking and to dismantle their war machine.

As for gas spiking up. That's a small price to pay by every American to prevent further American deaths and to secure a safer world for our kids and grandkids. Gas will go back to $2.00 soon enough.

It is well to remember that inflation produces political pressure more quickly than unemployment produces political pressure. The impact of unemployment is confined to the unemployed, but grumpiness from inflation seems to spread like chlamydia.

Rapier108 said:

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This is not the victory you think it is.

Gas prices are still way too high.

Inflation is at least doubt what it should be.

Layoffs continue to accelerate.

This is Trump cheerleader and nothing more.

---

all trump does is win

Quote:

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Gas will go back to $2.00 soon enough.

---

If you look at a 20-year chart of M2, you may reconsider that statement.

Kaiser von Wilhelm said:

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Eh if it keeps going up I don't have to feed as much into my vanguard taxable retirement account every month, so I can use that for more expensive gas. Plus some easy changes in spending habits, which apparently is impossible for most people somehow, and once things stabilize it'l basically be like a bonus. But I have a bad habit of being able to live within my means, even if it fluctuates here and there.

Middle class here, with this market pushing me into upper middle class, probably upper class in the next 5-10 years. Pay towards savings before it even gets to my checking account every month for the last 15 years and you can be sitting pretty after a little discipline and sacrifice. I don't mind paying more for gas right now if I can retire earlier and have a lot more money to use after I stop working.

A short amount of tightening in exchange for decades of comfort down the line sooner than otherwise is actually a blessing.

---

Selling yourself short man. The real middle class are paying electric bills or filling gas tanks with credit cards. They are eating hot dogs twice a week because they don't get food stamps and ground beef keeps going up. They have no money to put in any saving account. The prices of the homes they owned have sky rocketed but it doesn't matter because if you sale you cant afford the house note on the next one.

Getting killed on health insurance because in the end someone has to pay the bill for the illegals getting health care. Loosing on car insurance because someone has to pay for all the illegals that drive a 1000 car with no insurance. 20,000 cars a year stolen in Harris County a year to be chopped or sent south. Someone has to pay for it. Not to even mentioned the overwhelming groups of people who get lawyers for fenders benders the 100k payouts add up quickly.

Middle class is still getting hurt by the illegals school taxes food stamps Healthcare insurance that's why Trump was elected everyone wanted the mass deportations looks like we are going a different route. The middle class needed some breathing room some extra to catch up we thought Trump would give us that it hasn't happened.
Stock market matters very little to the middle class at this point.

When you blame poor people for the cost of their social welfare benefits, you neglect the fact that the fish rots from the head. The problem is not the poor people. The problem is the welfare state.

We all have to remember:

Good stock market under Dems: socialism is working and the common man will soon be uplifted thanks to it

Good stock market under Republicans: it's only helping his rich cronies and not the average American

The market is being propped up by the ai bubble. If that goes boom. Watch out. Until that, keep riding the wave.

Maroon Dawn said:

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We all have to remember:

Good stock market under Dems: socialism is working and the common man will soon be uplifted thanks to it

Good stock market under Republicans: it's only helping his rich cronies and not the average American

---

This is a very good point. The economic narrative in discussion boards and the mainstream media is always (D)ifferent depending on who is in the White House.

AxelFoley85 said:

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The market is being propped up by the ai bubble. If that goes boom. Watch out. Until that, keep riding the wave.

---

The market is being propped up by artificial interest rates. The fed keeps rates low at the expense of the average citizen so that cheap money can feed the beast. Everything from government pensions to our national security is dependent on the market. It's a shell game.

Interest rates should probably be 30% to bring us back to a sound monetary policy and restore the dollar. But even a .50% increase in rates risks panic on wallstreet.

They'll make us all serfs and erode all of our wealth to keep this clown show going. And fools will cheer the Dow. We are at end stage capitalism due to cronyism, the welfare state, and corruption.

But they'll just distract us with porn, drugs/pharmaceuticals, sports, UFOs, and aliens.

And before you get your Trump panties in a wad, I'm talking about all of them.

Queso1 said:

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AxelFoley85 said:

---

The market is being propped up by the ai bubble. If that goes boom. Watch out. Until that, keep riding the wave.

---

The market is being propped up by artificial interest rates. The fed keeps rates low at the expense of the average citizen so that cheap money can feed the beast. Everything from government pensions to our national security is dependent on the market. It's a shell game.

Interest rates should probably be 30% to bring us back to a sound monetary policy and restore the dollar. But even a .50% increase in rates risks panic on wallstreet.

They'll make us all serfs and erode all of our wealth to keep this clown show going. And fools will cheer the Dow. We are at end stage capitalism due to cronyism, the welfare state, and corruption.

But they'll just distract us with porn, drugs/pharmaceuticals, sports, UFOs, and aliens.

And before you get your Trump panties in a wad, I'm talking about all of them.

---

Bingo Bango Bongo. They won't let it slowly correct because they know that this time the house of cards will fully collapse before rebounding and they also know the population has nowhere near the stomach it would require. Scary stuff!