What’s in Bloom – Second Week of March 2026

By Claire Madden on March 12, 2026

Weekly data-driven insights on the markets and economy

Inflation Steadies Reported on Wednesday, U.S. consumer prices rose exactly as expected in February, with headline inflation steady at 2.4% and core inflation at 2.5%, signaling stable—though still elevated—price pressures. Cooling rents and falling used car and insurance costs helped offset rising food and services prices. But economists warn the calm may be short lived, as the recent oil spike tied to the Iran conflict is poised to push inflation higher in the months ahead.ⁱ
Gold Slips Again Gold prices edged lower on Wednesday as a firmer U.S. dollar and persistent inflation concerns weighed on demand. Safe haven buying tied to the Iran conflict is clashing with expectations for higher for longer interest rates, leaving the metal stuck in a push and pull market. Analysts say the near term pressure may continue, but they still expect gold to regain its upward momentum longer term.^ii.
Meta-Moltbook Merger Meta announced on Tuesday that it acquired Moltbook, a fast growing social platform where AI agents interact with one another. The deal brings Moltbook’s founders into Meta’s Superintelligence Labs and strengthens Meta’s push into more autonomous, task performing AI systems. It also signals Meta’s interest in building networks where AI systems collaborate directly—a space attracting both investment and scrutiny.^iii.
Ticketing Shakeup Live Nation and Ticketmaster reached a settlement on Monday with the U.S. Department of Justice that ends some of their exclusive ticketing practices and forces the company to divest more than a dozen venues. The agreement aims to boost competition and lower costs for consumers, though it stops short of breaking up the company—a move several states still plan to pursue in court. With many attorneys general continuing their own lawsuits, the legal fight over Live Nation’s dominance is far from over.^iv
Meltdown Risks Rise On Monday, Ed Yardeni, an economist and president of Yardeni Research, raised the odds of a U.S. market meltdown to 35% as the Iran war drove oil above $100 a barrel and has rattled global markets. Higher energy prices, slower growth, and fading expectations for Fed rate cuts are stirring fears of 1970s style stagflation. While Yardeni still sees the “Roaring 2020s” as the most likely outcome, he warns the economy is increasingly stuck “between Iran and a hard place.”^v
Airfares Could Rise United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby warned last Friday that a sharp spike in jet fuel prices amid the Iran conflict will pressure the carrier’s quarterly results and could lead to higher airfares in the near future. Despite soaring fuel costs and widespread Middle East flight disruptions, travel demand remains strong, with bookings up 20% from last year as passengers reroute away from closed airspace.^vi

ⁱCNBC. “Consumer Prices Rose 2.4% Annually in February, as Expected.” CNBC, 11 March 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/11/cpi-inflation-report-february-2026.html. Accessed 11 March 2026.
ⁱⁱCNN. “Live Nation Settles Antitrust Lawsuit with Justice Department.” CNN, 9 March 2026, https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/09/business/live-nation-ticketmaster-doj-settlement. Accessed 11 March 2026.
ⁱⁱⁱCNBC. “Meta Gets Into Social Networks for AI Agents With Moltbook Acquisition.” CNBC, 10 March 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/meta-social-networks-ai-agents-moltbook-acquisition.html. Accessed 11 March 2026.
^ivReuters. “Gold Edges Higher as Inflation Jitters Ease; Key U.S. Data in Focus.” Reuters, 11 March 2026, https://www.reuters.com/world/india/gold-edges-higher-inflation-jitters-ease-key-us-data-focus-2026-03-11/. Accessed 11 March 2026.
^vYahoo Finance. “Yardeni Raises Odds of US Market Meltdown to 35% on Iran War.” Yahoo Finance, 9 March 2026, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/yardeni-raises-odds-us-market-072554339.html?guccounter=1. Accessed 11 March 2026.
^viCNBC. “United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Says Higher Airfare Could Be Ahead After Fuel Price Spike.” CNBC, 6 March 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/06/united-airlines-ceo-scott-kirby.html. Accessed 11 March 2026.

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What’s in Bloom – Second Week of March 2026

By Claire Madden on March 12, 2026

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