"US Consumer Spending Set to Moderate, Not Plummet"

The US economy is expected to slow in the coming months as the Federal Reserve continues its fight against inflation, leading to a softening of consumer spending. However, investors and economists are optimistic that consumer spending won't deteriorate significantly, which should help stocks avoid a massive sell-off. Factors such as the resumption of student loan payments and Americans' credit card debt addiction could also contribute to a slowdown in consumer spending. The effects of the Fed's aggressive inflation-busting campaign and the impact of rate hikes are still uncertain. Overall, the stock market has performed well this year, but investors shouldn't expect stellar returns in the near future.