 Macroeconomic Paradox of May 2026: Stock Market Records, Pessimism Records Consumer confidence in the US has plummeted to an all-time low of 48.2 points. This is lower than all previous crises. Reason: the war with Iran, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, soaring fuel and fertilizer prices. At the same time, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are hitting records. S&P 500 — 7,399, Nasdaq — 26,247. The market lives on expectations of rate cuts and corporate buybacks, not the real economy. Key figures: — WTI — $95/barrel, the ceasefire with Iran hangs by a thread — Non-farm payrolls: +115K (almost double the forecast) — 70% of US farmers cannot afford fertilizers for the season — Urea prices have soared due to the Hormuz blockade Classic stagflation: the stock market detached from the real sector, inflation through energy, threat to food security. ASI Biont AI agents analyze this data in seconds — so you can make a decision before the market prices in the news. → https://asibiont.com/