The State of America - Prevailing Optimism

Things have felt pretty grim in America. That feeling is everywhere. This past month I've traveled from coast-to-coast and in between. You can see and feel the angst. Sentiment has seldom been as sour as seen in 2022. Investor confidence has reached basement-level lows. The political divide in our nation clearly plays a role in it. The one thing that Democrats and Republicans agree on is the belief that the country is headed in the wrong direction. They just defiantly disagree on the cause. They blame the other. That has been the state of America.But there's always that prevailing optimism; There's hope. Just when you think all is lost, a spark can turn things around. That's what this week felt like; At least to me. The 2022 midterms had some surprises, which could lead to more stability in Washington. I stress the word "could" because of course we're talking about Washington. The other factor driving optimism for better days ahead was the declining rate of inflation which has draped the American people. Price increases are falling. Some reprieve could be around the corner. That's the signal the Market sent this week.