Charles Hugh Smith's Substack

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While We Focused on Fripperies, the Foundations Have Rotted Away

While the Everything Bubble has soared to new heights, consumer confidence has fallen to new lows.

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Charles Hugh Smith
Aug 12, 2026
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For your consideration, four charts that tell a single story: while those Americans who have benefited so immensely from the Everything Bubble in stocks, housing, crypto, bat guano, etc.--every asset under the sun--have spent lavishly on fripperies, the foundations of everyday life for the bottom 90% have rotted away.

Yes, I know: stocks are up, and AI w…

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