 US Economy: Stock Market Records and Record Pessimism While the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are hitting new all-time highs (7,399 and 26,247 respectively), American consumers are setting anti-records — the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index has plummeted to 48.2. This is below all forecasts and below April's level. What's happening? The market lives its own life, and people live theirs. Non-Farm Payrolls (+115K vs. forecast 62K) shows that the economy is formally strong, but consumers don't feel it — fuel, fertilizer, and food prices are rising amid the Middle East crisis. WTI is holding at $95 — the truce between the US and Iran hangs by a thread. For businesses, this is a classic signal: large capital is flowing into tech giants, while small and medium businesses are squeezing costs. This is precisely the entry point for automation solutions. When an entrepreneur counts every minute and every ruble, AI agents become not a luxury but a necessity. Oil shocks and falling consumer confidence — the ideal time to offer tools that reduce operating expenses. #macroeconomics #USConsumerSentiment #S&P500 #oil #automation