You’re in, then you’re out, you’re up, then you’re down – Individual stocks are making unusually large moves, even as the broader market appears relatively calm. Nearly 30% of S&P 500 Index companies rose or fell by at least 20% over a three‑month period, about double the historical norm. (Source: Barron’s)

Confusing, but okay … – Despite strong GDP growth, rising stock markets, and continued consumer spending, many Americans feel financially worse off—a disconnect economists are calling a “boomcession.” The term describes an economy that looks healthy on paper but feels strained in practice, as inflation hits essentials like housing and groceries hardest, hiring slows, and gains flow disproportionately to higher‑income households. (Source: CNBC)

Slow your roll – Even as China’s AI-driven stock market surges, Beijing is quietly hitting the brakes. State-linked investors are selling shares to cool speculation, aiming for a controlled “slow bull” rather than a runaway boom. In the past year, the CSI 300 Index has risen more than 20%—outpacing even the S&P 500 Index—and trading volume across mainland China hit a record high in January. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

Who’s got the life preservers?? – More than 1 million homeowners were underwater on their mortgages (owing more on their homes than they’re worth) at the end of 2025, the highest level since 2018 and nearly 60% above early year levels. First-time buyers and military veterans were most affected, potentially tightening already constrained housing. (Source: MarketWatch)

Started with meme stocks and now we’re here – As homeownership grows less attainable, young people are increasingly turning to the stock market to build wealth. The share of people ages 25 to 39 making annual transfers to investment accounts more than tripled between 2013 and 2023, reaching 14.4% and outpacing growth among older age groups. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

Why yes, I will be waiting until the last minute – In its first week of the 2025 filing season, the IRS received about 5% fewer individual tax returns than the year before, though refunds so far are up almost 11% vs. last year. Processing is down about 12%, however, and since taxpayers with the simplest returns tend to file early, it may point to slower returns for the year. (Source: Forbes)

Now how will I get them their performance reviews?! – After nearly 90 years, Gallup is ending its presidential approval ratings, stepping away from a metric that helped define how Americans tracked leadership performance over time. While the move reflects a strategic shift toward issue-based polling, it also comes as the polling landscape grows more crowded and fragmented, making it harder for any single measure to stand apart. (Source: The New York Times) 

So long, spicy grocery store covers – Though physical books still make up about 75% of all book sales, e-books and deluxe hardcovers have started pushing the old classic mass-market paperback toward extinction. The tiny formats, which used to be ubiquitous at airports and drugstores, only accounted for about 18 million sales in 2025 vs. 103 million in sales in 2006, the year before the first Kindle was released. (Source: The New York Times)

Eat my shorts, time – The Simpsons reached a historic milestone with its 800th episode, reinforcing its legacy as the longest‑running animated series in television history. The episode, titled “Irrational Treasure,” features a Philadelphia‑set adventure and a roster of notable guest voices, including Quinta Brunson, Kevin Bacon, and Questlove, along with a surprise crossover cameo from The Pitt. (Source: USA Today)

I guess you can pay more when you’ve only got one guy – Singapore sits at the top of the payout rankings for the 2026 Winter Games, offering $792,000 for an individual gold medal. Yet that generous reward comes with a notably small delegation—just one athlete. Meanwhile, the US, with a 232-athlete team, offers $38,000 to its gold medalists. (Source: CNBC and US Olympic and Paralympic Committee)