“The S&P 500 just hit 7000 for the FIRST TIME EVER. On Tuesday, new data showed that U.S. consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level in more than 11 years, underscoring persistent concern about inflation and living costs. The Conference Board, an independent U.S. economic research organization, said consumer confidence fell sharply in January 2026 to 84.5, the weakest level since May 2014. Any reading below 100 on the long-running Consumer Confidence Index is considered a warning sign, with 84.5 indicating that households remain significantly worried about economic conditions. It took about three years for the S&P 500 to rise from 4,000 to 5,000 points, but only around nine months to advance from 5,000 to 6,000, which it reached in November 2024.