Is the U.S. economy re‑accelerating into 2026?

Latest Cents of Security pod, Senior Economist Jose Torres breaks down three pivotal indicators:

• Labor pulse: Challenger Gray & Christmas showed December job cuts at multi‑year lows alongside firmer hiring intentions—dampening slowdown worries.
• Productivity pop: One of the strongest readings in the last decade, helping wage growth coexist with tamer inflation by lifting output per worker.
• Trade picture: The deficit narrowed to its lowest since 2009—with caveats around front‑loaded pharma imports and ongoing onshoring dynamics.
• Market leadership: Rotation days where Dow/Russell outpace S&P/Nasdaq, and why small caps can benefit from faster growth + rate cuts.
• Policy watch: How upcoming tariff decisions could sway rates, the fiscal backdrop, and near‑term margins without materially changing the broader inflation trend.