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What We Are Following in the News

Third-Quarter GDP Growth Estimate Decreased. On December 5, the GDPNow model estimate for real GDP growth in the third quarter of 2025 is 3.5 percent, down from 3.8 percent on December 4.

The market for US Treasury securities surpassed $30 Trillion for the first time, having more than doubled in size since 2018 as the pandemic-era borrowing surge takes its toll.

Even with holiday shopping off to a robust start, consumers—especially those from less-affluent households—are pulling back on routine purchases as they give priority to gifts and holiday meals. https://buff.ly/Z2WkjJI

Say it with us, the market is not the economy. But... US stocks set for double-digit gains in 2026, say Wall Street banks. Bullish forecasts come despite recent investor jitters over tech spending and potential bubble in AI sector. https://buff.ly/FqNAg9f

In the 40-odd years since its inception, Microsoft’s Excel economy has ballooned to include hundreds of millions of workers both reliant to its conveniences and irritated by its iron grip. Are all those billions of dollars just the price of Stockholm syndrome, or is it secretly the greatest piece of software ever written? https://buff.ly/Lwiu6dm

Growth in federal tax withholding has slowed in the past three months, and that’s a bad sign for November US payrolls, according to Bloomberg Economics, which used data compiled by Booth Financial Consulting. https://buff.ly/TjPa0fv