Part 2/8:
Recent data from the Census Bureau revealed that consumer spending fell by nearly 1% in January, marking the worst decline in a year and a half. This significant drop raises alarms about the overall health of the economy and has been largely overlooked by mainstream media. During the same period, major corporations have begun massive layoffs, including Southwest Airlines, Chevron, and Meta, indicating a worrisome trend predominantly affecting white-collar workers. As these layoffs unfold, they not only impact those individuals but also ripple through local economies by influencing housing demand and consumer confidence.