Stock Market U.S. stocks surged on the final day of April 2026 with all three major indices closing at record highs, thanks to investors looking past lingering geopolitical concerns and a softer-than-expected GDP reading of 2% annualized growth for Q1 2026. As a whole, April delivered an exceptional month for equities. For the month, the stock market’s three major indices performed as follows: S&P 500 10.4% The Dow 7.1% Nasdaq 15.3% It was the S&P’s best month since November 2020, the Nasdaq’s best month since April 2020, and the Dow’s strongest monthly advance since November 2024. *** Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/29/stock-market-today-live-updates.html   Inflation The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.9% in March, bringing the annual inflation rate to 3.3%, up from 2.4% in February and the highest level since April 2024. The increase was largely driven by a sharp rise in energy prices, which surged 10.9% for the month and 12.5% over the past year. Gasoline alone jumped 21.2% in March, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the overall increase, largely tied to geopolitical tensions involving Iran. Shelter costs also continued to rise modestly, increasing 0.3% for the month and 3% […]