Why Markets Keep Rising Despite Inflation, Debt, and Rate Cuts | Big Money Show | Dec. 24, 2025

Lou Basenese joins The Big Money Show to break down why markets continue to climb despite inflation concerns, government spending, and uncertainty around interest rates. The conversation explores gas prices, real wages, consumer behavior, GDP growth, and what lower mortgage rates could unlock for housing and the broader economy.

Lou explains how falling energy costs act as a hidden stimulus for Americans, why real wage growth matters more than headline inflation, and how capital markets respond when productivity improves without fueling price increases. The panel also discusses AI’s role in separating winners from losers in the market, insider stock buying as a confidence signal, and why economic growth may surprise to the upside in 2026.

This discussion helps investors and everyday Americans understand how fiscal policy, rate decisions, and consumer spending interact in today’s economy—and what to watch next.

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Chapters
00:00 Welcome to The Big Money Show
00:42 Gas prices as an economic stimulus
01:56 Why inflation stays high in some states
03:06 Student loans, debt, and consumer spending
05:27 Smarter consumer behavior and buying trends
07:04 Insider stock buying and market confidence
09:04 Bull market outlook and cautious optimism
10:50 Earnings growth, rate cuts, and GDP upside
12:13 Mortgage rates and housing unlock potential
14:18 Deficits, spending, and growing out of debt
17:42 Government waste and taxpayer concerns
21:17 Prices then vs now and real wage growth
24:39 What needs to happen for wages to improve
26:17 Year-end reflection and market outlook