economy
Here are the 3 big things we're watching in the stock market in the week ahead
The holiday-shortened week of trading will address key debates including AI's impact on software and inflation.

TL;DR
- Salesforce's earnings report will be a key indicator of AI's impact on software businesses, with investors watching revenue growth for its AI agents platform and performance metrics like cRPO.
- Costco's results will provide insight into consumer spending trends, with a focus on profit margins, membership renewals, and the impact of high gas prices.
- The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index will be a critical inflation gauge, influencing the Federal Reserve's decisions on interest rates amidst concerns about consumer strain and rising energy costs.
- Major companies including Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, GE Vernova, Wells Fargo, Eli Lilly, and Starbucks are scheduled to present at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference.
- Upcoming economic data includes the PCE price index, Q1 GDP revision, and new home sales, all of which will help paint a picture of the economy's current state and future trajectory.