US: The atmosphere is being influenced by declining employment

Exploring the Disconnect Between Economic Data and Consumer Perceptions

Just a few weeks ago, on January 23, 2026, we devoted part of our weekly commentary to examining the gap between the nation’s economic performance and the way Americans perceive it. We noted that indicators such as consumer confidence and sentiment did not reflect the robust economic activity being reported. During that discussion, we also introduced the concept of the “remain invested couple-household” (RIC-H), describing couples who retired roughly a decade ago and analyzing their current financial well-being. If you didn’t catch that commentary or wish to review our analysis, you can find it by following the link below.

In this update, we offer a fresh perspective on the topic...