The Trend Is Your Friend

The old Wall Street saying, “The trend is your friend,” has played out beautifully over the past few months—at least in the stock market.

However, on Main Street, consumers are starting to show signs of tapping out. And as they do, the trend on Wall Street could reverse suddenly.

One source of alternative data showing consumer stress? Google search trends:

Turn Your Images On

Search words and phrases reveal a surge in consumer anxiety over basic needs. (Source: Google)

These are the folks who have taken a hit in recent years, thanks to the massive income inequality that, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Federal Reserve exacerbates.

Consumers who never bought assets like stocks, houses, or gold are lucky to hold steady in good times – but they risk losing it all in a recession.

With the Federal Reserve making big changes in the monetary system and starting to cut rates again, asset owners like shareholders and homeowners will benefit.

Cash-strapped, debt-addled consumers? They’ll be the first to take the hit from an economic slowdown and the next wave of inflation.

~ Addison

P.S.Yesterday’s Grey Swan Live! with Mark Jeftovic was a powerhouse. We covered the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and the #1 forecast we made for 2025: the aggressive rise in political violence.

Then we got down to business, turning to Trump’s Shadow Fed and political pressure to cut rates into inflation.

Portfolio Director Andrew Packer showed attendees how the Grey Swan model portfolio is uniquely positioned for interest rate cuts and why income-generating stocks could see big returns as interest rates on bonds decline.

Mark Jeftovic took us on a deep dive into the crypto market, showcasing a number of cryptocurrency projects that have real-world use cases and could see a big move in the months ahead as the Fed kicks off interest rate cuts. Paid-up readers can access the replay here.

If you’re not a paid member of the Grey Swan Investment Fraternity, you can review the benefits of becoming one here.

If you have any questions for us about the market, send them our way now to: feedback@greyswanfraternity.com.

The old Wall Street saying, “The trend is your friend,” has played out beautifully over the past few months—at least in the stock market.

However, on Main Street, consumers are starting to show signs of tapping out. And as they do, the trend on Wall Street could reverse suddenly.

One source of alternative data showing consumer stress? Google search trends:

Turn Your Images On

Search words and phrases reveal a surge in consumer anxiety over basic needs. (Source: Google)

These are the folks who have taken a hit in recent years, thanks to the massive income inequality that, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Federal Reserve exacerbates.

Consumers who never bought assets like stocks, houses, or gold are lucky to hold steady in good times – but they risk losing it all in a recession.

With the Federal Reserve making big changes in the monetary system and starting to cut rates again, asset owners like shareholders and homeowners will benefit.

Cash-strapped, debt-addled consumers? They’ll be the first to take the hit from an economic slowdown and the next wave of inflation.

~ Addison

Then we got down to business, turning to Trump’s Shadow Fed and political pressure to cut rates into inflation.

If you’re not a paid member of the Grey Swan Investment Fraternity, you can review the benefits of becoming one here.

If you have any questions for us about the market, send them our way now to: feedback@greyswanfraternity.com.

Sunday night, Powell addressed the probe head-on in a video post — a rarity. He accused the White House of using cost overruns in the Fed’s HQ renovation as a pretext for political interference.

The White House denied involvement. But few in Washington believed it.

What followed was bipartisan condemnation of the investigation. Greenspan, Bernanke, and Yellen co-signed a blistering rebuke, warning the U.S. was starting to resemble “emerging markets with weak institutions.”

Estimates now indicate that the average consumer will default on a minimum payment at about a 15% rate – the highest level since a spike during the pandemic lockdown of the economy.

President Trump’s proposal over the weekend to cap credit card interest at 10% for a year won’t arrive in time to help consumers who are already missing minimum payments.

Not to fret, the other 85% of borrowers continue to spend on borrowed time. Total U.S. household debt, including mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards, reached record highs in late 2025, exceeding $18.5 trillion. This surge was driven partly by rising credit card balances, which neared their own all-time peaks due to inflation and higher interest rates.

There’s an old Wall Street maxim: “Don’t fight the Fed.”

This year, you could add a Trump corollary.

A wise capital allocator doesn’t fight that storm. He doesn’t argue with it. He respects it the way sailors respect the sea: with preparation, with humility, and with a sharp eye for what breaks first.

In 2026, the things that break first are the stories. The narratives. The comfortable assumptions.

Total municipal, state and federal debt service costs soared to nearly $1.5 trillion in the third quarter of 2025. Debt’s easy to accumulate when rates are low. Trouble is, you are obligated to refinance them even after rates go up.

It’s also a key reason why the Trump administration is demanding lower interest rates – even if it means reigniting inflation.