Consumer sentiment just cratered to (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/08/consumer-sentiment-falls-to-fresh-record-low-in-may-as-surging-gas-prices-hit-outlook.html) as surging gas prices demolish household budgets — and we're staring down the stagflation barrel everyone pretended wouldn't happen. When energy costs devour paychecks faster than consumers can adapt, even your "safe" defensive plays turn toxic.