Stocks are up, unemployment is down – so why is a leading NC economist raising a red flag?

A new Catawba College–YouGov Survey shows 72% of North Carolinians have cut back on purchases due to rising prices. Despite the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching 53,000, a Kenan-Flagler Business School economist warns of declining job growth, falling labor force participation, and a rise in long-term unemployment. Consumer sentiment and sector-specific job losses, including 61,000 in leisure and hospitality, raise concerns about economic health.