In 2026, the economy is testing business models that once grew fast on cheap money. Headline inflation is still running hot, and energy costs in particular have jumped, pushing up logistics, materials, and utilities. In May, headline CPI rose 0.5% month-over-month and 4.2% year-over-year, with energy up 23.5% from a year earlier (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI news release)).