Part 9/14:
Consumer confidence in the US has fallen sharply, reaching levels not seen since 2022. Inflation worries, political instability, and a sluggish job market have sapped confidence, contradicting government claims of resilience. The phenomenon dubbed "stealth QE"—indirect quantitative easing through mechanisms like student loan forgiveness and funding wars—continues to flood the economy with liquidity in ways that do not translate into actual job creation or income growth.