Economists long expected the share of retirees in the population to soar as baby boomers aged. Covid-19 then caused the number to spike well beyond expectations, a surge dubbed the “Great Retirement Boom.” But just as they seemed to be coming back down, the numbers surged again in recent months, reaching a post-pandemic record in December. The U.S. now has around 2.7 million more retirees than expected.

There’s a striking disconnect between the widely shared pessimism among Americans and measures that show the economy is robust. Consumers are spending briskly – behavior that suggests optimism, not retrenchment. Inflation has tempered. Unemployment has been below 4 percent for 24 straight months, the longest such stretch since the 1960s. The disconnect has puzzled economists, investors, and business owners. But press Americans harder, and the immediate economy emerges as only one factor in the gloomy outlook. Americans feel sour about the economy, many say, because their long-term financial security feels fragile and vulnerable to wide-ranging social and political threats. 

The latest report on U.S. jobs showed a huge month for the economy, with the U.S. adding 353,000 jobs to start 2024. But there are some worrisome details. 

Amid a confusion of artificial-intelligence narratives, “quant” analyses, and sustainable funds, the oldest and simplest stock-picking strategy – dividend investing – lies almost forgotten. There might be ways to dust it off.