# Mortgages, diesel and the US midterms

An episode of [Unhedged](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1691284824), 13 Oct 2026, 20 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6478a825654260001190a7cb/e/6ace7cee9fea6e0a64e39723/media.mp3

US consumers are still in love with buying things, buoyed by stock markets that are near all-time highs. But could sky-high mortgages and diesel prices spoil their shopping spree? And if the strains on the economy continue, what does that mean for the November midterm elections? Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong ask how long the stock market wealth bubble can prop up the US economy. Plus, Rob shorts silly jackets and Katie shorts silly smokers. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer. Credit to Roderick MacLeod for the Charts on the Radio jingle! You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at unhedged@ft.com. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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