Today, I’m sharing 8 of my favorite investing & economic charts from the past month.

These charts cover topics such as:

• Why stocks recovered despite war headlines
• How $4 gas could affect inflation
• The gap between profits and pessimism... and more!

Looking at headlines through the lens of longer-term data can make it easier to stay thoughtful and avoid reactive decisions.

I hope the charts below help provide that perspective.

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Before we dive in, did you catch this week's podcast? 👇

3 Tax Return Moves to Review Now (+ A Fresh Take On Social Security Timing) ​Josh Rendler joins me to unpack what's hiding in last year's tax return—including 3 important numbers to review, a QCD detail that keeps charitable giving "invisible" to the IRS, and a counterintuitive take on Social Security timing. 🎙️ Listen now on ​Apple​, ​Spotify​, or ​YouTube​.

8 Favorite Investing Charts (April 2026)

#1 - The Markets Figured Out a Way Forward

When the war in Iran began, the headlines were hard to ignore.

But instead of the dramatic selloff many feared, stocks declined by just under 10%, less than the average intra-year decline of about 14%, according to J.P. Morgan.

Then came the surprise.

Despite the ongoing conflict, and even with the Strait of Hormuz still closed, the market quickly recovered, reached new all-time highs, and closed above 7,000 for the first time.

That outcome didn’t match the headlines or most predictions...which is the point.

Markets don’t move based on what feels most frightening.

They move based on what’s already priced in, what changes at the margin, and what unfolds differently than expected.

#2 - Why Hasn’t the Market Suffered More?

In one word: earnings.

Despite the headlines, uncertainty, and geopolitical stress, many of the world’s largest companies continue to grow profits at an impressive pace.

Assuming Q1 2026 results come in as expected, the S&P 500 is on track for its sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth.

Forecasts can change quickly, but for now, they don’t point to an immediate slowdown.

And while that may feel surprising, Corporate America has a long history of adapting through difficult periods by cutting costs, raising prices, improving productivity, and finding new ways to protect profits.

That doesn’t mean stocks move in a straight line, but it does help explain why the market has held up better than the headlines suggest.

#3 - The Price of Oil (And Gas) Is Surging

Since the war began, oil prices have moved sharply higher, with volatility picking up as expectations around a resolution continue to shift.

Prices have come down from their peak, but they’re still elevated.

And that’s showing up in the place most people feel it first. At the pump.

The national average recently climbed to $4.09 per gallon. 🤯

If fuel prices stay high, the effects can ripple through the broader economy.

Transportation costs rise, input costs increase, and over time, that pressure can begin to show up in inflation data.

Which is exactly what the next two charts begin to highlight.

#4 - Inflation Remains a Sticky Problem

Since the start of 2020, inflation has averaged about 4% per year, still well above the Fed’s stated 2% target. And people are tired of it.

At the gas pump, the grocery store, the car dealership, and in the housing market, prices feel much higher than they used to... because they are.

Even though inflation has cooled from its peak, that doesn’t mean prices have fallen back to where they were—it simply means they’re rising more slowly than before.

That distinction matters, especially for retirees trying to protect their purchasing power.

But the story is more nuanced than one annualized inflation number can capture, which is exactly what the next chart helps explain.

#5 - Here’s Some Additional Inflation Perspective

A 4% annualized inflation rate feels high, especially after the low-inflation 2010s.

But over the past 50 years, inflation has averaged closer to 3.6%, making this decade less unusual than it may feel.

Two details matter.

First, the higher average since 2020 is mostly the result of the 2021 and 2022 inflation spike.

Second, inflation has been below its long-term average for much of the past three years, and at or below 3% for nearly two.

That is, until last month, when it moved back above 3%, largely because of higher oil prices.

None of this makes life feel less expensive, but it does provide context.

The inflation fight has not been painless, and it may not be over, but meaningful progress has been made.

#6 - Consumer Sentiment Hit a 70-Year Low

So far, the data tells a mixed but more balanced story.

Markets have held up well, corporate earnings remain strong, and while inflation is still frustrating, it has been running below its long-term average for much of the past few years.

And yet consumer sentiment is completely in the tank.

Last month, it fell to the lowest level in the history of the index.

Think about that...

Through wars, recessions, financial crises, and a global pandemic, consumers have never reported feeling worse than they do today.

I share this because it highlights a growing disconnect between the data itself and how people feel about the data.

Yes, prices are higher. Yes, uncertainty is real. And yes, there are legitimate reasons to feel uneasy.

But it’s also worth asking how much of that unease is being amplified by the constant stream of information we consume every day.

Much of it is designed to grab our attention by focusing on what’s negative, urgent, or frightening.

Two Positive Trends

Before wrapping up, I want to highlight two positive trends that are easy to overlook when the headlines feel heavy.

1.) The first is new business formation.

I’ve shared this trend before, but it continues to stand out and appears to be accelerating from an already elevated level.

Why?

Maybe it’s optimism. Maybe it’s necessity. But most likely it’s some combination of both.

Either way, the takeaway is encouraging.

​More people are taking steps to create opportunity, build something of their own, and exert greater control over their financial future.

That’s almost certainly a positive sign.

2.) The second is the continued expansion of internet access around the world.

For years, I’ve remained optimistic about two powerful long-term trends: the growth of the global middle class and the fact that billions more people are gaining access to the internet.

That second trend matters because the internet represents more than connectivity.

It represents access to information, education, markets, tools, and opportunity.

​In Argentina, for example, adoption rates are accelerating as satellite technology, along with some government deregulation, brings more rural areas online.

The implications are significant.

As more people gain access to the collective knowledge of humanity, more people can learn, build, earn, solve problems, and improve their standard of living.

That’s a trend worth paying attention to. The future is bright, my friends. 😊

Bottom Line

All of this is what makes investing so difficult.

The backdrop still feels uneasy, geopolitical tensions are elevated, oil prices have been volatile, and consumer sentiment remains near historic lows.

At the same time, markets have held up better than many expected. Earnings continue to grow, and many asset classes have quietly recovered.

While those realities may feel like they shouldn’t coexist, they often do.

That gap between how things feel and what the data shows is a normal part of investing.

Headlines amplify uncertainty, while fundamentals often move more gradually in the background.

None of this tells us what happens next, which is why the core approach remains the same:

Stay diversified, remain patient, and keep following a disciplined plan.

📚 What I've Been Reading

• Working Longer Isn't a Foolproof Retirement Plan (CNBC)
• Your Odds Are Not the Average (Polymath Investor)
• Why Portfolio Diversification Has Paid Off—But More Isn’t Always Better (Morningstar)
• How to Train Your Brain to See Possibility Instead of Doom (The Guardian)
• Something Big Is Happening (Matt Shumer)​
• How to Read More: The Simple System I’m Using to Read 30+ Books Per Year (James Clear)​

Thank you for reading!

Please reply to this email with comments, questions, and/or feedback.

Stay wealthy,

Taylor Schulte, CFP®