Recent economic surveys point to a slowdown ahead in 2026—and there's a pattern here. Policy uncertainty and tariff headwinds are getting the blame for dampened growth expectations. But here's the thing: are economists being too pessimistic? Market cycles have a way of defying consensus predictions. When the broader economy faces drag from trade policy shifts and regulatory unpredictability, contrarian bets often pay off. The disconnect between bearish forecasts and actual market performance has happened before. Worth watching whether this economic headwind narrative holds or gets upended.