Markets have spent much of the last few months trading on possibilities of what could happen with the economy. But what actually ends up happening will be the true decider of market direction.

To analyze what’s going on — and where things might be headed — we’ll focus on the labor market, residential construction, and consumer credit through the lens of a traffic light. Are signs looking good (green), cautionary (yellow), or bad (red)?

Labor Caution

On the surface, the U.S. labor market has mostly been a source of stability for the economy. The official unemployment rate has remained between 4.0% to 4.2% over the last 12 months, a condition that aligns well with the idea that the economy is at or near full employment. But underneath this top-line stability, some concerning signs are developing.

For one, while the headlines suggest unemployment hasn’t moved much over the last year, it had actually been drifting higher for much of 2025 before June data surprised to the downside. The official headline figure, because it is rounded to one decimal place, had been 4.2% for March, April, and May before falling to 4.1% in June. But a more granular calculation reveals 4.15%, 4.19%, 4.24%, and 4.12%, respectively.

Beyond that, the pace of job creation has cooled noticeably with 147,000 jobs added in June — below the average monthly gain of the prior 12 months. Also telling is the recent pattern of significant downward revisions to prior months, which lowered 2025 figures by 203,000 jobs. Historically, downward revisions tend to cluster around downturns (the reasons are complicated but center around the availability of data on businesses being started and closing).

Job Growth Slowing

All in all, the labor market has clearly lost some of its forward momentum. The combination of decelerating job growth, downward revisions to past data, and a slowly rising unemployment rate (prior to the big drop last month) suggest that the labor market may be transitioning from an engine of growth to an idling motor. Things aren’t outright bad, however, since less hiring activity is being offset by a low layoff rate.

Overall, the labor market is flashing yellow.

Halting Construction

As many people know all too well, the U.S. is dealing with a major home affordability crisis. Home prices are at historic highs, while mortgage rates have remained stubbornly elevated — even though the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates late last year by 100 basis points. With the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.8% as of July 1, the cost of financing a home is prohibitive for a large swath of the American public.

This has pushed housing affordability to multi-decade lows, effectively freezing activity in what is normally a critical sector of the economy. Potential buyers are sidelined, and existing homeowners are locked in by low rates on their current mortgages, contributing to a stagnant market.

The hard data shows this affordability crisis has translated into a sharp and broad-based downturn in construction activity. In May, privately-owned housing starts plummeted by 9.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.256 million units, the weakest level since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. And while there’s still a backlog of units currently under construction (a byproduct of the building boom and supply chain shortages from a few years ago), that has rapidly been declining.

Construction Activity Rapidly Slowing

On the transaction and listing side, the latest data shows new home sales declined by 13.7% m/m, while the inventory of unsold new homes climbed to an elevated 9.8 months’ worth of supply.

The construction market isn’t just slowing down, but actively contracting and starting to weigh on economic growth. Confirming the pessimism gripping the industry, the latest National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index reading fell to a reading of 32, well below the neutral value of 50. It seems like the industry is reaching a tipping point, where an inventory glut and lack of interest rate relief may conspire to finally push home prices lower.

For investors, the residential construction light is clearly red.

Careful Credit

While less visible to the public than jobs or housing data, the flow of credit is the lifeblood of a modern economy. The willingness of banks to lend, and the appetite of businesses and households to borrow, are indicators of underlying economic health. When credit flows freely, it fuels business investment, home purchases, and consumer spending. When it tightens, it can weigh on economic activity. At the moment, both lenders and borrowers have been somewhat cautious.

The most compelling evidence for this caution comes from the Federal Reserve’s quarterly Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS). The latest survey, from April 2025, showed that a significant share of banks maintained tight lending standards for most loan categories. For commercial and industrial (C&I) loans, banks reported tightening terms due to a less favorable economic outlook and a reduced tolerance for risk. Households also saw credit card standards tighten and requirements for most mortgages remain restrictive.

Percent of Banks Tightening Credit Standards for C&I Loans

Generally speaking, the survey showed that demand for loans was iffy across the board. Given all the economic and trade policy uncertainty, businesses pulled back on capital expenditures and consumers hesitated on big-ticket purchases. But iffy demand doesn’t mean nonexistent demand, and consumer credit data has been mostly steady over the last year or so (though lower than pre-pandemic levels and 2021-22).

All in all, credit gets a flashing yellow as well.

Facing the Light

With two yellow lights and one red, the economy is in a bit of a predicament. Just as it’s important for a driver to slow down when they see a traffic light flashing yellow, the same goes for investors. With stocks at record highs despite slowing economic conditions and major ongoing uncertainty, it could be prudent to ease off the accelerator.

Want more insights from SoFi’s Investment Strategy team? The Important Part: Investing With Liz Thomas, a podcast from SoFi, takes listeners through today’s top-of-mind themes in investing and breaks them down into digestible and actionable pieces.

SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance, and past performance is no indication of future success. This information isn’t financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on specific financial needs, goals and risk appetite.

Communication of SoFi Wealth LLC an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Mario Ismailanji is a Registered Representative of SoFi Securities and Investment Advisor Representative of SoFi Wealth. Form ADV 2A is available at www.sofi.com/legal/adv.

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As President Trump imposes broad-based tariffs, U.S. companies that rely on imported products have three choices: a) take the hit to profits, b) stop buying imported goods, or c) raise prices to recoup their costs.

The question is: Which option are they choosing?

First, a basic example: A company sells $10 scarves from China for $20 in the U.S. A 30% tariff on Chinese imports means the scarf suddenly costs the company $13. The choices are:

a) The company pays the $13 and continues charging $20, making $7 in profit instead of $10.

b) To avoid tariffs, the company buys scarves from a U.S. manufacturer (perhaps at a higher price.)

c) The company pays the $13, but passes the extra $3 on to customers, selling its scarves for $23 instead of $20.

So what’s actually happening?

Economists at the New York Federal Reserve surveyed businesses in the New York-Northern New Jersey area in May. About three-quarters of those facing tariff-related cost increases offloaded at least some to consumers. And nearly a third of manufacturers and 45% of companies in service sectors said they fully passed on all tariff-related cost increases by hiking prices.

They didn’t dilly-dally, either: Over half of both manufacturers and service firms said they raised prices within a month of getting hit by tariff cost increases.

Keep in mind that the survey was conducted before tariffs on China were slashed from 145% to 30% and before a trade court ruled that many of Trump’s tariffs were illegal. (Those are still in effect pending an appeal by the Trump administration.)

That’s not to say businesses weren’t anticipating plenty of uncertainty about tariffs, and for good reason. The president has rolled back or temporarily suspended many of the tariffs pending negotiations with the countries in question (a July 9 deadline is looming). And the different types of tariffs — reciprocal, universal, country-specific, import-specific — can be difficult to make sense of.

Case-in-point: Many companies surveyed by the Fed economists couldn’t tell which tariffs they were paying and admitted to not being sure what to do in response.

Of course, some big companies are more easily able to absorb the extra cost of tariffs. And others have more leverage to raise prices based on demand for the thing they’re selling.

In fact, the Atlanta Fed surveyed companies in the Southeast in April about a hypothetical cost increase of 10% or 25% and found that most didn’t think they would be able to pass on all of it to their customers without reducing demand. On average, they anticipated they’d realistically be able to pass on about half of those price increases.

So what? Tariff-related price hikes haven’t really shown up in U.S. inflation data — at least not yet. But if tariffs continue and companies opt to pass them on, you don’t want to be unprepared.

They may not be what inflation-weary Americans were hoping for next, but building up your emergency savings, scrutinizing non-essential spending, and creating a back-up financial plan can help you weather whatever comes next.

Related Reading

The Trump Tariffs Aren’t Causing U.S. Prices to Spike. Here’s Why. (CBS News)

Trump Tariff Tracker (Atlantic Council)

Why Walmart Decided to Say It Would Raise Prices — and Risk Trump’s Fury (CNBC)

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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Most of us learned it early on: The first rule about money is we don’t talk about money. (Fight Club, anyone?)

It could be construed as rude if you’re telegraphing how much your shoes cost or asking someone how much they make, as Miss Manners herself will tell you.

But experts note that brushing all manner of money-talk under the rug can lead to financial issues and shame.

For example, shying away from talking about finances with your spouse or partner (think: spending habits, debt) could lead to resentment and household budgeting problems — and even contribute to breakups. And when parents don’t teach their kids about money management, they could grow up to make subpar financial decisions.

A Pew Research survey from last year suggests that talking about money significantly contributes to financial literacy: Among American adults who said they are knowledgeable about personal finances, nearly half said they learned a great deal or a fair amount about it from family and friends.

The good news: Attitudes around money-talk are changing as parents embrace financial education, more states adopt pay transparency laws, and social media influencers make it feel normal to share financial details.

Money Talks Are on the Rise

“Money used to be very taboo. But I have noticed young people these days being more open about it, which I actually see as a really good thing,” said Dr. Ashley LeBaron-Black, an Assistant Professor of Family Life at Brigham Young University.

LeBaron-Black said that childrens’ financial literacy improves when parents are open about money. The benefits extend to romantic relationships, too: “Lots of research has shown that the most high quality marriages are when spouses are fully transparent with each other about money.”

Each successive generation is more likely than the last to report discussing money with their friends, according to a January survey by MarketWatch Guides: 64% of Gen Z respondents said they talk about finances with their friends, compared to only 16% of Silent Generation respondents.

Two-thirds of parent respondents in a Fidelity Investments survey from last year said they are discussing finances with their kids. That might not have been the case for previous generations: Over half of adults said they never discussed family finances with their parents while growing up, though 82% wished they had.

“Parents being open about money with their kids is really helpful for children’s financial learning,” said LeBaron-Black.

Another factor contributing to a more open money dialogue: The rise of finance-focused influencers (aka “finfluencers”).

“I’ve been sharing my life online since I was making about $24,000 a year. I currently make $87,000, and I just got a raise,” said Sarah Wilson, who has nearly 100,000 followers on her YouTube channel, Budget Girl. “Talking about money normalizes it… And it helps us trust each other.”

Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Finances?

If money talks, then why is society so hesitant to talk about it?

For one thing, financial literacy wasn’t prioritized when many of us were growing up, so it’s easy to see why broaching financial topics might be uncomfy. You can’t speak French unless someone teaches you, n’est-ce pas?

A lack of financial education can lead to overspending, taking on too much debt, or shying away from investing because you feel you don’t know enough.

Avoiding conversations around salaries can prevent people from boosting their earnings. All of this can create unnecessary shame and trauma. Eventually, that can lead to people avoiding conversations about money entirely (or even ignoring their bank balance).

“When people feel ashamed about something, the natural human tendency is to hide it and not talk about it,” said LeBaron-Black.

People also worry about making others in their social circle uncomfortable if they’re in different financial situations.

Our society places a high — sometimes toxic — value on wealth. It’s easy to conflate net worth with self-worth, and though they are not the same thing, people might shy away from discussing money in an effort to avoid judgement — either because they fear they don’t have as much as others do, or they feel they have more.

How to Break Past the Money Taboo

Conversations about strategies for saving, investing, budgeting, and managing debt tend to boost financial literacy. And knowledge = financial empowerment.

“Money doesn’t reward silence,” said Wilson. “Keeping it taboo is only going to hold you back and keep you poor.”

Here are a few ways to responsibly open up the dialogue:

•   Find your circle: The place to be really open about money is with family, particularly with a spouse or partner and children, said LeBaron-Black. Finding a supportive online community is another option, said Wilson, though don’t assume all advice is good advice. Watching how other people discuss money can be a learning experience, too.

•   Test the waters: Wilson advises taking a light approach when first broaching a financial topic with someone. “Toss them a couple of softballs. See if they have any advice.” After all, everyone wants to feel like they can help someone.

•   Be mindful of your filter: Remember, you’re in control of how much you choose to share — and with whom. LeBaron-Black recommends keeping this in mind when talking with very young children about details you might not want everyone to know.

•   Normalize differences: You don’t have to be on the same page every time. “Money is tied to a lot of other deeper things in relationships, like trust, respect, and values,” said LeBaron-Black. Recognizing that everyone has different ideas, financial situations, and expectations can go a long way toward being able to talk about it.

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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