July 17th, 2026 | META's Stock: Hidden Risks, Spring Home Sales Disappoint, AI's Steel Demand, Inflation Isn't Finished, Consumers Ignore Higher Gas, Social Security Changes Ahead & More

META's stock surged last week, but investors shouldn't ignore the risks.Meta shares climbed last week as Wall Street became increasingly optimistic about the company's AI strategy. The stock was up about15% for the week and erased the year-to-date losses. Investors are betting that Meta's enormous spending on AI infrastructure, custom chips, top engineering talent, and next-generation models will lead to faster revenue growth, stronger advertising tools, and new revenue streams over the next several years. The market clearly believes Meta has positioned itself as one of the leaders in the AI race.But while investors were celebrating, Europe reminded everyone that…The spring home sales season disappointed in JuneThe spring home-selling season ended on a disappointing note. Through May, existing home sales had been showing signs of improvement, and many real estate professionals were becoming more optimistic about the housing market. However, June's data told a different story.The conflict involving Iran contributed to…Another Hidden Cost of AI: SteelMost people know that the AI buildout has driven up demand for advanced computer chips, contributing to higher prices for smartphones, laptops, and other electronics. They also know that AI data centers require enormous amounts of electricity, putting upward pressure on utility rates as more power is diverted to support AI infrastructure.But there's another cost that receives far less attention…Inflation Is Cooling... But Don't Pop the Champagne YetThe latest CPI report was another encouraging sign that inflation is moving in the right direction. Headline CPI declined 0.4% in June, marking the largest monthly drop since 2020, while the annual inflation rate slowed to 3.5% from 4.2% in May. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, was flat on the month and eased to 2.6% year over year. Much of the improvement was driven by…Higher Gas Prices Aren’t Stopping the American ConsumerIf you were looking for evidence that higher gas prices are slowing down the American consumer, the latest retail sales report doesn’t provide much support.The headline number was relatively modest, with retail and food services sales increasing 0.2% from May. But the year-over-year numbers tell a much stronger story.Total retail and food services sales were…Financial Planning: What’s Next for Social SecurityThe Social Security Trustees’ most recent solvency report highlights the need for Congress to address the program’s long-term funding shortfall. Under current projections, the retirement trust fund is expected to be depleted in 2032, at which point ongoing payroll tax revenue would be sufficient to pay only about 78% of scheduled benefits unless legislative changes are made. Importantly, this does not mean Social Security will become insolvent or stop paying benefits, it means…Companies Discussed: Nike, Inc. (Ticker: NKE)Read the complete article at SmartInvesting2000.com in our latest Smart Investing Newsletter.