Economic Signals Are Mixed… Here’s What Matters | COT 142

The economy is sending mixed signals right now… Inflation is still hitting key areas like food and services. Oil prices are rising due to geopolitical tensions. And new risks are building in places most people aren’t paying attention to. In this episode of Cents of Things, Jeff Kikel and Ron Lang break down what’s really happening: • Where inflation is hitting the hardest (and why it’s not going away) • How geopolitical conflicts could impact oil and markets • The growing risk inside private credit and shadow banking • What leading economic indicators are actually telling us • Why job numbers look stable — but the story isn’t that simple • How AI and automation are reshaping the workforce This episode connects the dots between macro trends and real-world impact — so you can better understand what’s coming next. Chapters / Timecodes 0:00 Introduction and market outlook 1:00 Geopolitical risks and market direction 3:00 This Week in History 8:00 Inflation by product category 10:00 Food prices and supply challenges 12:00 Geopolitical risks and oil impact 14:00 Private credit risks explained 17:00 Shadow banking concerns 19:00 Leading Economic Indicators breakdown 22:00 Job market trends (JOLTS data) 25:00 AI and automation impact on jobs 28:00 Final thoughts and outlook #Economy #Inflation #Investing #MarketTrends #Finance #EconomicOutlook #Jobs #AI #OilPrices #FinancialEducation To Follow Jeff Kikel: www.Linkedin.com/in/JeffKikel www.x.com/jeffkikel www.FreedomDayWealth.com To Follow Ron Lang: www.Linkedin.com/in/RonLangWealthBuilder www.AtlasBuildsWealth.com