Economy Grows but Inflation and Layoffs Cast Shadow in 2023

Inflation remains above the Fed's 2% target at 3.2%, keeping pressure on interest rates and housing affordability.

The economy continues to grow steadily, avoiding recession so far, though layoffs especially in tech have sparked pessimism.

Major stock indexes hit new highs in Q1 despite rate hikes, thanks to hype around AI and tech giants.

The strong job market overall masks struggles in some industries, a skills mismatch, and declining quit rates.

Gold hit an all-time high, driven by factors like Chinese investors seeking shelter from a real estate crisis.