Markets hate uncertainty and we have been living in an uncertain world for a while now, Brexit, Trump, Covid, China, Ukraine and the Red Sea have all added to that uncertainty.

pegasus1:

Markets hate uncertainty and we have been living in an uncertain world for a while now, Brexit, Trump, Covid, China, Ukraine and the Red Sea have all added to that uncertainty.

And not to forget the Liz Truss budget (in the UK) that crashed the UK economy making it so much harder for people in the UK to live let alone buy stuff! And if Trump wins the election again then it's going to be yet another sad state for markets and the world in general! Stop the planet! I want to get off!!

Korc:

And not to forget the Liz Truss budget (in the UK) that crashed the UK economy making it so much harder for people in the UK to live let alone buy stuff! And if Trump wins the election again then it's going to be yet another sad state for markets and the world in general! Stop the planet! I want to get off!!

The Truss thing had an effect yes but it was more localised rather than Brexit, Trump and Covid which sent global waves out. As for a winning the next US Election, to be honest i dont think we see the same Trump in office, i think we see somebody who is (a bit) more a team player, also it wouldn't be a new new as we have all been there before. Trump likes to be seen as the OG and if he pulls funding for Ukraine then he loses his seat at that table.

Well i know here in the Uk the cost of living is still impacting on everything, so i am not suprised luxury items are not flying off the shelves, with the biggest impact still almost 2 years later, coming from lekky and gas prices, and everyone i know is in the same boat, moreso with the lekky, which is still 4 times higher than it was at the beginning of 2022, and of course the standing charge, which for some people has just risen to 70p a day, that is basically £21 a month just to have a lekky meter in your home, and that is before you get your bill for lekky. But it is scary that millions in the UK/EU have seen something as basic as heating or hot water now become a luxury item.

XP-200:

But it is scary that millions in the UK/EU have seen something as basic as heating or hot water now become a luxury item.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think situation in the UK and EU was comparable. Afair the largest share of lowered gas consumption was companies/public sector.

XP-200:

Well i know here in the Uk the cost of living is still impacting on everything, so i am not suprised luxury items are not flying off the shelves, with the biggest impact still almost 2 years later, coming from lekky and gas prices, and everyone i know is in the same boat, moreso with the lekky, which is still 4 times higher than it was at the beginning of 2022, and of course the standing charge, which for some people has just risen to 70p a day, that is basically £21 a month just to have a lekky meter in your home, and that is before you get your bill for lekky. But it is scary that millions in the UK/EU have seen something as basic as heating or hot water now become a luxury item.

The average wage for a 40 year old in the UK is just over £40,000 gross.