The job market slowed sharply — and wages aren’t keeping up with prices.

The June jobs report, released the morning before July 4th, showed the weakest month of hiring in over a year — less than half of what economists had expected. On top of that, wage growth is now trailing inflation for the third month in a row, which means most workers are effectively earning less in real terms than they were a year ago. For anyone thinking about a job change, a raise negotiation, or their general sense of financial security, this is a shift worth knowing about.¹

Communities across the country are pushing back on AI — and it’s becoming a real economic force.

Over $130 billion in AI data center projects have been blocked or delayed in 2026 — not by Washington, but by local communities that don’t want them nearby. The concerns are concrete: data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, generate heat and noise, and can strain local infrastructure. What began as scattered protest has become organized opposition spanning nearly every state. It raises a real question for the AI boom: if communities keep saying no, what happens to all the expansion plans?²

Stocks bounced back after the holiday — the first half of 2026 was one for the record books.

After the July 4th break, markets came roaring back. The Dow hit a new record, AI stocks recovered their footing, and Wall Street is reflecting on what turned out to be the best first half of a year for stocks since 2021. Despite a war in the Middle East, inflation concerns, and plenty of uncertainty, investors who stayed the course are in a solid position heading into the second half of the year.³

The big question heading into summer: can the economy stay strong with hiring cooling off? The next major read comes later this month with June inflation data.

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Sources

1. NBC News, U.S. adds just 57,000 jobs in June – July 2, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/june-jobs-report-stable-hiring-rcna352603

2. NBC News / Yahoo Finance, Data center opponents block $130B in projects – 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/protests-blocked-130-billion-data-183438917.html

3. Yahoo Finance, Stock Market Today – July 6, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/live/stock-market-today-monday-july-6-nasdaq-sp-rise-225645420.html

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Highline Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Past performance is not indicative of future results. © 2026 Highline Wealth Partners

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