Hi There! Somewhere between takeoff and Las Vegas, I realized how far a single, brave start can carry you.

Often, the project you keep delaying isn't waiting for a fancy website, the perfect headshot, or a massive following. It is waiting on one courageous decision from you.

When I launched The Rhoda Report almost four years ago, I did not have a blueprint. I did not know where the road would lead or how the pieces would fit together. My only commitment was to show up every single week. All I wanted was to share my stories, particularly the financial ones. I wanted to help people make sound decisions without needing a Wall Street dictionary nearby. Cutting through the jargon of crypto and stock markets became my mission (still is), ensuring everyday people realize that investing was built for them, too.

Fast forward to 2026. This week, I am in Las Vegas covering the Bitcoin Conference as a member of the press for The Rhoda Report.

Consider that for a moment. I am the same woman who started with one weekly article and a hope to impact millions with financial literacy. This milestone did not arrive because I reached perfection. It arrived because I started anyway. I kept writing. I kept teaching. I kept researching. I kept showing up for my clients. Persistence carried me through the months when the subscriber count stayed flat and the moments when doubt felt heavier than the weights in my gym.

Let this be your reminder to start the thing. Launch the podcast. Post on social media. Build the side hustle. Take the leap of faith. Go ask for the raise. Open the investment account. Perhaps you even start drafting the exit plan from the job that is currently draining your spirit.

Setbacks are outside your control. Other people's expectations are outside your control. However, your next step belongs entirely to you. Successful people usually start before they feel ready.

Bigger things are on the horizon for The Rhoda Report, and I cannot wait to share the lessons I gather here in Vegas. The beginning may look small, then again, small beginnings carry the biggest blessings.

Last week the markets swung through a door of choppiness.

U.S. equities finished strong, helped by AI optimism and better-than-expected earnings. Europe struggled as higher oil prices weighed on cyclical stocks. Asia was mixed, with technology names providing support.

Treasury yields rose, the dollar strengthened, and commodities bounced.

Equities: Wall Street remained headline driven, but buyers returned late last week. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record highs after President Trump extended the ceasefire and investors grew hopeful about renewed U.S. and Iran talks.

AI stayed in focus. Alphabet and Marvell drew attention around a potential custom chip collaboration, while Oracle expanded its partnership with Alphabet.

Earnings also helped the market sentiment. Boeing, Intel, UnitedHealth Group, General Electric, and Northrop Grumman delivered stronger-than-expected results. Intel had a standout week after strong earnings and guidance and pulled the entire semi conductor sector up with it. Tesla beat earnings expectations, but shares fell after the company raised spending plans tied to AI and robotics.

Fixed Income: Core bonds moved lower as Treasury yields rose. Since the start of the Iran conflict, the 10-year Treasury yield has climbed by more than 35 basis points. Inflation concerns and reduced expectations for Fed rate cuts helped push yields higher. Interest rate volatility has cooled, and the Treasury term premium remains near its one-year average. Even so, the bond market may be too calm given the geopolitical risk.

Commodities: Commodities rebounded sharply last week, led by oil. WTI and Brent crude both rose well over 10% as blockades around the Strait of Hormuz restricted crude exports. Gasoline futures also surged near four-year highs. Gold moved lower as investors weighed inflation, rates, and Middle East uncertainty.

Currencies:

The U.S. dollar strengthened as hopes for a near term deal outweighed fears of a prolonged conflict. The euro and yen weakened against the dollar, as follows:

U.S. Economic Recap (April 19 - 25, 2026)

Kevin Warsh’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee was a key event last week. Warsh said he would remain independent and discussed potentially restructuring the Federal Open Market Committee. He also argued AI-driven productivity could support growth without adding inflation pressure.

Europe: European stocks struggled as rising oil prices and Middle East uncertainty pressured cyclical sectors. Travel, autos, and banks lagged. Energy stocks gained. SAP posted healthy cloud backlog growth, easing some AI disruption fears. ASML fell after Taiwan Semiconductor delayed plans to use ASML’s newest chipmaking equipment until 2029.

Asia: Asian markets were mixed, with tech-heavy markets leading. Taiwan rallied on strength in Taiwan Semiconductor. South Korea gained after strong SK Hynix earnings and solid economic growth results. Hong Kong fell as tech shares weakened. Mainland China posted a moderate gain, while Japan’s Nikkei advanced on tech strength.

The Caribbean had a policy focused week.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank hosted its 10th Annual Growth and Resilience Dialogue from April 22 to April 24 in St Kitts. Discussions focused on regional trade, geopolitical alignment, skills development, and the ECCB’s 2026 to 2031 Strategic Plan.

The Caribbean Development Bank released its Caribbean Economic Review and Outlook 2025 to 2026 on April 23. The report noted slower regional growth in 2025 due to global uncertainty, climate shocks, and structural challenges.

Guyana remained a major growth story after the government approved ExxonMobil’s US$10 billion Yellowtail offshore oil project.

In Jamaica, the Bank of Jamaica offered US$50 million through its B FXITT operation to support orderly foreign exchange conditions. The policy rate remained at 5.50%.

Last week, crypto was mixed:

Bitcoin rose 2.2% over seven days and traded near $77,868. Ethereum fell 1.63% and traded near $2,322. Bitcoin was supported by three catalysts: an eight day spot Bitcoin ETF inflow streak, Strategy’s $2.54 billion Bitcoin purchase, and the indefinite ceasefire extension. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs added about $823.7 million from April 20 to April 24. Strategy bought 34,164 Bitcoin at an average price of $74,395, bringing total holdings to 815,061 BTC. Ethereum ETF flows totaled roughly $155 million for the week, but momentum was weaker after a $75.9 million outflow on April 24. Tether also froze $344 million in USDT across two Tron wallets tied to U.S. enforcement action involving Iran financial networks. The broader stablecoin market did not show major stress.

Top crypto gainers (last week): STABLE, CHZ, M, PENGU, ATOM

Key U.S. economic releases (April 27 - May 1, 2026):

Fed Speakers and Events:

Five of Magnificent Seven will release earnings this week These include reports from Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft on Wednesday, and Apple reports Thursday.

Markets will focus on cloud growth, AI spending, margins, advertising trends, consumer demand, and guidance.

Notable earnings releases are shown in the chart below.

If the economy has a "check engine" light, it’s the monthly Retail Sales report. In the Rhoda Report issue 182, we’re looking at a signal that just flashed a warning, and that is, the American consumer is officially tired.

On Tuesday, April 21, the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that retail sales for March 2026 fell by 0.4%, a sharp contrast to the flat growth economists expected. Even more telling, year-over-year growth slowed to 2.1%, the most sluggish pace we’ve seen since early 2024. At the Rhoda Report, we don’t just see numbers; we see 330 million people deciding that the "name brand" cereal or the extra weekend road trip just isn't worth the current price tag.

What exactly is this report? Think of Retail Sales as the "Consumer Pulse." Released mid-month, it tracks the total dollar value of everything sold at stores, from the eggs in your fridge to the gasoline in your tank. Because consumer spending accounts for roughly 70% of U.S. economic activity, this report is the ultimate "truth serum" for the economy. It doesn’t tell us what people say they’ll do; it tells us what they actually spent.

When the "control group", which excludes volatile items like cars and gas, slips by 0.3% as it did in March, it’s a clear sign of belt-tightening. Families are moving from "discretionary" spending (the fun stuff) to "defensive" spending (the necessities).

Why does a drop in national sales matter to your personal budget?

History tells us that geopolitical tension acts like a tax on the consumer. Just as we saw during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, today’s Middle East instability is driving up "input costs." When producers pay more for energy, you pay more at the register. The soft March numbers are the direct result of consumers choosing to buy less because the "stuff" costs more.

For investors, "soft" retail data often lifts assets like Gold and Bitcoin as the market bets on future rate cuts. But for your household, it’s a cue to check your "financial moat."

When spending slows nationally, it’s time to review your own budget. Use this period to lock in fixed rates if they dip, and keep your savings in high-yield accounts while rates remain elevated. Retail sales are the thermometer for your financial health. Stay ahead of the trend, and your wallet will thank you.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is strictly educational. The information this report provides does not constitute investment, financial, trading, or any other advice. You should not treat any of the report’s content as such. Please be careful and do your research.