U.S. grocery inflation sits at 3.0% year-over-year—hardly the doomsday scenario some are making it out to be. Meanwhile, wage growth is holding steady at 3.8%, according to fresh banking data. The disconnect is worth noting: when you actually look at the numbers rather than the headlines, the inflation narrative doesn't quite stack up the way media coverage suggests. These macro indicators matter for anyone thinking about broader asset cycles and market conditions right now.