America Braces for an Economic "Firework"—Just Without the Fireworks

The US economy is like a tired boxer in the twelfth round: still standing, but you can tell by the look in its eyes it just wants to go home. The Economist ominously hints: only a few weeks remain until a major economic surprise. If you’ve already stashed your dollar reserves under the mattress—congratulations, you’re one step closer to enlightenment.

The reasons for the looming storm are as classic as jazz in Harlem: record government debt, expensive loans, a drawn-out inflation marathon, and a slightly downcast consumer mood. All this mixes together like a cocktail from a freelance bartender—the result is impossible to predict, but many are sure to wake up with a headache in the morning.

Investors nervously bite their nails, and the Fed promises to “monitor the situation,” which basically means pretending everything is under control. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans are growing anxious: maybe it's time to return to good old bartering—trade a vacuum cleaner for a couple of steaks? Journalists advise not to panic too soon, but recommend learning the word “stagflation” just in case, and remind us that every storm has an eye—sometimes even with bags under them.

Experts speculate: will there be a soft landing, or will the economic boomerang come flying back so fast that no one has time to duck? All that’s left is to watch this “reality show” and not bet everything on red—even if you really want to.