Wall Street Stocks Meandered Amid Mixed Economic Data and Macroeconomic Uncertainty

Barry Adams
05 Dec, 2025
New York City

Stocks on Wall Street flatlined on the final session of the week, and investors awaited the release of inflation data that could influence the Fed's rate decisions next week. 

The S&P 500 index decreased 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.2% ahead of the release of consumer income and spending data. 

Investors held out for a rate cut next Wednesday, and recent mixed economic data stoked speculation that policymakers may overlook the lagging impact of a surge in goods tariffs on inflation.

Seasonally adjusted jobless claims in the week ending November 29 were 191,000, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised figures. 

The continuing claims, which lag by one week, were 1.94 million, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on Thursday.  

 Jobless claims have been relatively stable over the last several weeks; however, employers have been reluctant to add new staff amid macroeconomic uncertainty and the chaotic trade policy of the Trump administration. 

The PCE Price Index and its core rate are likely to show little change around 2.8%, and the U.S. Commerce Department is set to release its much-delayed September's personal income and spending report later today. 

 

U.S. Movers 

Ulta Beauty soared 5.6% to $564.03 after the beauty salon operator and cosmetic retailer reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results. 

SoFi Technologies dropped 7% to $27.4, and the company announced its plans to raise $1.5 billion through a common stock offering. 

Hewlett Packard Enterprise plunged 9.4% to $20.75 after the cloud computing company's fiscal fourth quarter results fell short of market expectations.