The 2025 US economy narrative basically comes down to two major pain points: how to afford basic necessities, and who's actually keeping their job. These aren't just casual chatter—they've become the defining economic buzzwords shaping consumer behavior and market sentiment throughout the year.

Affordability has been the elephant in the room. Despite efforts to cool inflation, everyday costs haven't budged much for regular folks. Housing, food, energy—the essentials haven't gotten cheaper. Meanwhile, companies have been trimming headcount aggressively. Layoffs across tech, finance, and beyond have kept employment anxiety high, even as unemployment rates tell a different story on paper.

Why does this matter for crypto and asset markets? When consumers are squeezed on purchasing power and job security is shaky, risk appetite contracts. People shift toward preservation over speculation. It's the kind of macro backdrop that influences institutional participation, retail FOMO cycles, and ultimately, how capital flows across digital assets.