Retail sales were unexpectedly flat in December as consumers pulled back, raising questions about a broader economic slowdown.

“The consumer divide is about to get deeper,” BofA senior U.S. economist Aditya Bhave wrote on Wednesday.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicts Americans will benefit in 2026 as strong growth and record stock market highs point to broader economic prosperity.

Despite GDP growth and stock market gains, the majority of Americans continue to feel the other side of the "polarized" economy.

Gary Cohn, a former chief economic adviser to Trump, said Americans at the top are seeing "massive wealth" while those at the bottom are "suffering."

Restaurants have raised prices to offset rising labour and ingredient costs, leading low-income customers to visit less often

An objective look at available data supports realistic expectations for a surging economy, if not an economic boom going forward.

The quality and availability of economic data is declining. That could end up with a lot of unemployed Americans and increase the chance of recession.

The U.S. economy is on a tear. So why is the American job market limping behind? The Labor Department is expected to report Wednesday that companies, government agencies and nonprofits added 75,000 jobs last month,