Have you noticed that the economic news lately feels like a constant “good news”, bad news” loop? One day we’re hearing about record-breaking AI breakthroughs, and the next, we’re staring at $110-a-barrel oil prices because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This strange middle ground is exactly why economists have started buzzing about Stagflation Lite 2026. It’s not the total economic collapse of the 1970s, but it’s certainly not the “easy street” we were hoping for this year. For those of us trying to manage a household budget or a retirement portfolio, understanding this “lite” version of a classic economic trap is the first step to staying ahead.…