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With results due this week from FedEx and retail names like Lululemon and Macy’s, we’ll likely hear more about consumers’ attitudes, as gas prices and shipping costs spike and the conflict widens in the Middle East.

Nvidia “is having a harder time moving the needle” these days, one analyst notes.

AEW Revolution 2026 start time, betting odds and full match card from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif.

The 98th Academy Awards air tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu. Here’s how to stream, when the red carpet starts, who’s nominated, and who’s performing.

Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti reaches 200 weeks on the Billboard 200 as Debí Tirar Más Fotos sits just beneath the highest spot on the competitive albums ranking.

The U.S. economy appears to be resilient on the surface, but a new UBS report shows that the foundation underneath is remarkably less stable.UBS economist Jonathan Pingle and his team warn that the economy is running on a narrow engine in AI investment, while broad swaths of the economy remain sluggish. Consequently, the next few years might be a lot bumpier than the headline numbers suggest.“Despite the headline resilience, sources of growth are narrow,” Pingle wrote.In terms of hard numbers, UBS now expects real U.S. gross domestic product to rise to 2.2% in 2026, before gradually increasing to 2.6% by 2028. However, that path will most likely be uneven as macro pressures continue to build simultaneously.Of late, the U.S. economy has been losing a lot of altitude, and the Iran war has only taken things up a notch or two.For perspective, Q4 GDP growth was revised down to a 0.7% annualized pace, while real consumer spending rose just 0.1% in January, Reuters reported.At the time, inflation remains sticky in the wrong places.For context, Reuters notes that core PCE increased by 3.1% year over year in January, its fastest pace since March 2024, though February CPI held steady at 2.4% and core CPI at 2.5%. Things have gotten even more tumultuous since the Iran war began on Feb. 28. Per Reuters, Brent crude skyrocketed about 40% from around $73.70 a barrel before the conflict to $103.14.The labor market has also begun showing signs of strain.Nonfarm payroll employment excluding health care has been dropping by nearly 52,000 jobs per month over the past eight months, according to UBS, pointing to underlying softness. That also leaves the Federal Reserve in a precarious position as it navigates a remarkably testing backdrop, where the market is dependent on a small cluster of high-tech investments.U.S. GDP climbed sharply from 2020 through 20252020: $21.38 trillion2021: $23.73 trillion2022: $26.05 trillion2023: $27.81 trillion2024: $29.30 trillion2025: $30.77 trillion
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED), U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
AI investment is quietly carrying much of the U.S. economyAI is currently doing an outsized share of the lifting for the U.S. economy.The incredible scale at which the biggest in tech are spending is remarkably striking.For perspective, in 2025 alone, Amazon spent $131.8 billion on property and equipment, reported 27/7 Wall St, saying that the 50.7 billion year-over-year increase was linked to AI investments. Google parent Alphabet spent $91.4 billion on capex in the same year and expects those investments to continue rising as it develops more servers, networking equipment, and data centers, per Yahoo Finance.MoreEconomic Analysis:Ernst & Young drops blunt reality check on the economyFederal Reserve official blasts latest interest-rate pauseIMF drops blunt warning on US economyOn top of that, Meta Platforms added $72.2 billion in capex in 2025 and guides toward a whopping $115 billion to $135 billion in spending for 2026, according to InsiderFinance. In addition, Microsoft reported $64.6 billion in property and equipment additions in fiscal 2025, along with $32.1 billion in commitments linked primarily to data-center expansion.If you combine the four tech giants, they’ve collectively dropped roughly $360 billion in capex over the last year.We’re seeing those ripple effects on the broader economy, too.According to the Census Bureau, private construction fell 2.9% in 2025, while private nonresidential construction also decreased by 3.1%.However, despite the apparently sluggish figures, some of the categories linked with  computing infrastructure did far better.For instance, private office construction jumped 2.6%, while private power construction climbed 2.7%.

UBS economists warn the U.S. economy may rely heavily on a narrow engine of growth.Platt/Getty Images

Tariffs create new inflation risks for the Federal ReserveTariffs are perhaps the biggest complication for the U.S. economic outlook at this point, including for the Fed.UBS economists are of the view that tariffs will result in stronger inflationary pressures, while parts of the economy buckle under pressure.According to the bank’s analysis, the effective U.S. tariff rate has surged to a worrying 11.5%, up from just 2.5% at the beginning of 2025.Related: Veteran analyst drops surprising gold price prediction And those higher costs don’t stop at the border.In fact, UBS estimates that tariffs alone could add 0.7 percentage points to core PCE inflation this year, a key metric the Federal Reserve uses when deciding whether to cut or hold interest rates steady.For some color, core PCE inflation is still running hot at 3%, above the Fed’s long-term 2% target. At the same time, we’re seeing the broader economy show signs of uneven momentum, with job growth weakening across a wide range of sectors, apart from healthcare and AI-led spending. That’s why UBS expects the Fed to move cautiously.It forecasts just a couple of quarter-point rate cuts this year, bringing the federal funds target range down to 3% to 3.25% by year’s end.It’s important to note that the latest CME FedWatch read is expected to hold rates steady at 3.50% to 3.75% at the March 17-18 meeting.Latest 2026 U.S. real GDP growth forecastsGoldman Sachs: 2.6%Morgan Stanley: 2.4% (full-year forecast)Bank of America: 2.4% (Q4)IMF: 2.4%J.P. Morgan: 2.2% (2026 average; its March update also said 2% year over year by Q4 2026)
Sources: Goldman Sachs Research, Morgan Stanley Research, Bank of America Global Research, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, IMF
Related: Veteran analyst shares warning for stock market investors

Rivian Automotive (RIVN) investors are receiving a fresh jolt from Wall Street. One of the biggest names in the financial world is giving his blessing to the firm. The analyst call urges stockholders to look past the recent issues that have caused the company’s stock to fall and instead focus on what could be its most important upcoming product launch.TD Cowen upgraded RIVN stock to buy, per CNBC, and raised its price target to $20 from $17, citing the company’s lower-cost R2 platform as a potential catalyst. The analyst call comes at a time when the Rivian story is starting to transform. “Can it preserve demand?” becomes “Can it finally scale?” That is a far more intriguing question for investors, and it explains why a single upgrade is getting so much attention. The timing of the upgrade matters a lot. Rivian is already expecting the first customer deliveries of the R2 in the second quarter of 2026. The company is also effusive regarding the launch, describing it as a critical step in expanding beyond its premium R1 lineup. Rivian’s most recent letter to shareholders put their minds at ease by explaining that the start of production is still on track and that more information about the product and lineup will be released on March 12. As a result, the stock has a clearer near-term story than it has had in months. Rivian no longer simply asks investors to believe in the brand. Instead, it’s asking investors to believe that the vehicle can open up a larger market for them.Rivian R2 is the product Wall Street has been waiting forThe core of the bullish thesis is straightforward. Rivian wants to reach the average consumer by focusing on the lesser premium segment. Rivian’s R1T pickup and R1S SUV established the company as a credible EV brand. But the brand became increasingly associated with high-end consumers because the high price point limited its volume.  More Automotive:Tesla investors may miss game-changing moveKey auto parts and services company files Chapter 11 bankruptcyTop-rated analyst drops curt 8-word take on Tesla stockRivian, on the other hand, said when it introduced its mid-sized platform that the R2 will start at about $45,000, with deliveries starting in the first half of 2026. More recently, Rivian informed shareholders that they anticipate the first customer deliveries in the second quarter of 2026. Translation? The launch schedule is still intact. The price point is why analysts keep circling back. R2 is not another product. It is Rivian’s best chance to prove it can move from a premium niche into a more scalable part of the EV market.The company’s own 2026 guidance supports this narrative. Rivian said it expects to deliver 62,000 to 67,000 vehicles this year after delivering 42,247 vehicles in full-year 2025. The numbers imply a roughly 53% jump in 2026 deliveries, with the smaller and more affordable R2 seen as a key driver of that increase. That is a much better growth story than Rivian had a few months ago. There is no longer a debate about whether Rivian makes good cars. The question is whether the company can use R2 to create real operating leverage, more demand, and a stronger long-term investment case.

Rivian expects the first customer deliveries of the R2 in Q2 2026. White/Getty Images for Rivian

What makes the Rivian R2 launch so importantRivian has said first customer deliveries are expected in the second quarter of 2026.The company introduced R2 as a mid-sized platform with a starting price of about $45,000.Rivian delivered 42,247 vehicles in 2025, making its 2026 growth target a meaningful step up.Management’s 2026 delivery guidance is 62,000 to 67,000 vehicles.Analysts see R2 as central to Rivian’s success as EV demand remains uneven. Rivian also continues to build out the infrastructure needed to make this launch a success. In its shareholder letter, the company said it now has 36 spaces, 97 service centers, nearly 700 mobile service vehicles, and more than 930 chargers across over 140 sites on its Rivian Adventure Network.That’s important because R2 isn’t just a factory event. It is a test for going to market. Rivian needs to be able to sell, service, and support a lot more customers than it does now.Rivian is getting a second look as the EV market changesThe other reason why this story is trending is because it comes at a rough time for the EV market. Rivian said deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2025 went down from the previous quarter, mainly because there were fewer R1S and R1T vehicles sold after some federal EV tax credits ran out last September. The IRS also says the New Clean Vehicle Credit under Section 30D is only available for cars bought on or before Sept. 30, 2025. This limitation means EV makers had to make their cars more affordable last year. Related: Oil shock sends blunt message on stock market inflation riskThat backdrop is why investors and consumers are generally avoiding higher-priced EV models. If the tax incentives are removed, pricing power will become more significant. When affordability becomes a bigger issue, lower-cost launches matter more. Rivian feels both pressures; it’s not foreign territory.And yet Rivian also can boast of several talking points that can keep the bulls happy for now. The company posted $120 million in fourth-quarter consolidated gross profit and $144 million for full-year 2025, a sharp improvement from the prior year. Rivian’s fourth-quarter results handily beat Wall Street estimates, giving the stock a great post earnings kick in February. That does not mean the risks are gone. Rivian still expects adjusted EBITDA of negative $2.10 billion to negative $1.80 billion in 2026 and capital expenditures of $1.95 billion to $2.05 billion, which shows how lethal the next phase will be. But it does give the company a more believable bridge between today’s premium lineup and tomorrow’s hoped-for scale. Key takeaways for Rivian investorsTD Cowen upgraded Rivian to buy from hold.Rivian says R2 customer deliveries are expected in Q2 2026.The R2 was introduced with a starting price of about $45,000.Rivian delivered 42,247 vehicles in 2025.The company’s 2026 delivery outlook is 62,000 to 67,000.The federal new clean-vehicle credit applied only to vehicles acquired on or before Sept. 30, 2025.Rivian reported positive full-year gross profit for 2025, but still expects sizable losses and heavy spending in 2026. Rivian stock sentiment is improving, but execution still decides everythingWall Street’s warmer tone is worth considering. However, it matters that the calendar time is getting shorter. Rivian does not need investors to imagine a fuzzy future. It requires them to observe a real launch approach. The company says the production remains on track. It’s broadening commercial and service infrastructure ahead of the R2 launch and additional product launches are coming. Those are the kinds of milestones that change how analysts will view a stock. Still, the next move upward will likely depend less on one analyst’s price target and more on whether Rivian can execute on several key milestones. Some of these include being ready to make things, having enough customers, keeping margins in check, and making a convincing case for switching from the expensive R1 family to a more affordable mid-market platform.What Rivian investors should watch nextRivian’s March 12 update on additional R2 product and lineup details.Management keeps repeating that first customer deliveries are on track for Q2 2026.Signs that Rivian’s retail, service, and charging footprint is scaling fast enough for a broader launch.Whether 2026 deliveries begin tracking toward the company’s 62,000 to 67,000 target.The strength of demand for lower-priced EVs in a post-tax-credit market remains to be determined. If Rivian gets the R2 right, it will look less like a promising high-end electric vehicle maker and more like a business that has a real chance of becoming more important on a larger scale. That’s why the upgrade worked. It’s not really a story about one company changing one rating. It’s a story about how Wall Street is starting to think that Rivian’s next chapter might finally be close to reaching the publishers.Related: Greg Abel sends Berkshire investors a powerful new signal

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealIt can be tiring after getting home from a long day of work, but having a well-furnished and put together home that gives off cozy vibes can automatically boost your mood as soon as you walk through the door. Having a comfortable and easy to maintain rug can pull your separate furniture pieces together and create a homey, welcoming feeling. A rug can warm your feet during cold days, offer a soft comfortable feeling while sitting, and provide a place to sit on the floor with your children or pets to play games or just relax. If you need a nice-looking rug that can seamlessly fit into your existing decor, the Ruugme Washable Vintage-Style Rug should be your first choice. At just $60, this 6-foot round area rug brings the room together, providing a blend of aesthetic appeal and practicality to your home. At under $100, this vintage-style rug is a steal.Ruugme Washable Vintage-Style Rug, $60 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?This rug makes an eye-catching centerpiece for any room, including the bedroom, family room, and more, without taking over the design of the home. The earthy, tribal influences are unique while still blending in with your existing furniture, and the neutral tones of the Ivory color brighten up the space. The flat woven, water-repellent design is ideal for busy households. It holds up to spills, footsteps, and general use well, thanks to the polyester material and the non-slip backing.Related: Amazon is selling a $35 5×8-foot boho outdoor rug for just $25 that’s waterproof and stain-resistantThis rug is easy to flatten out if it becomes creased after washing or from foot traffic. Just turn it over, spray the backside with water, and let it sit in the sunlight for about 20 minutes. The rug also weighs just under seven pounds, making it easy to pick up and wash or to move out of the way for vacuuming. It’s also easy to fold up and store away under the sofa or in a closet. The rubber backing is soft and won’t scratch your floors, and the low-pile design is effortless to vacuum. The thinDetails to knowSizes: This rug comes in multiple shapes and sizes, but the 6-foot round rug is the best deal.Color: The Ivory color is the best deal, but they also offer black, beige, and navy.Cleaning: This washable rug can be thrown in the washing machine.One reviewer said, “These rugs are excellent quality, beautiful, vibrant color, and soft. No smell and packaged in a manner that there were virtually no wrinkles.” Another shopper said, “The rug is very soft, and if you spill anything or have wet paws from your dog, it dries quickly.”Shop more deals Lofus Washable Rectangle Area Rug, $30 (was $40) at AmazonOlanly Shag Area Rug, $48 (was $60) at AmazonCotiled 5-Foot Vintage Area Rug, $29 (was $50) at AmazonWhether you need to add some decoration to your family room, are putting together a new guest room, or just want to feel something soft underfoot as soon as you’re out of bed, the Ruugme Washable Vintage-Style Rug is a great choice. It’s super soft, easy to clean, and at just $60, it’s easy on the bank account.

The next trillion-dollar payments network won’t have a checkout page. No card number, no CVV, no human at the keyboard. Just machines paying machines, thousands of times a second, for fractions of a cent.

More than 20 million barrels of oil and LNG per day normally transit the Strait of Hormuz. Here’s why replacing that supply in the short term is nearly impossible.