# YTD: Inflation (Oil) Up, Stocks Down. Are We Near Max Pain?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/stock-talk-5318189/ytd-inflation-oil-up-stocks-down-are-we-near-max-pain
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/stock-talk-5318189/ytd-inflation-oil-up-stocks-down-are-we-near-max-pain.md
Podcast: [Stock Talk](https://stenobird.com/podcast/stock-talk-5318189)
Published: 2026-03-20T21:28:51+00:00
Episode link: https://oakharvest.podbean.com/e/ytd-inflation-oil-up-stocks-down-are-we-near-max-pain/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/2xktctnqf3be9fc9/Stock_Talk_320_Audio_Only_V29dr82.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/stock-talk-5318189/episodes/ytd-inflation-oil-up-stocks-down-are-we-near-max-pain
Duration seconds: 439

## Resource

This week, I break down why the market feels stuck and what’s really driving it. Stocks have now declined for three straight weeks, but this isn’t a typical selloff. Instead, we’re seeing a grinding, sideways market as inflation pressures quietly build again, led by rising oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East. I’ll explain why the bond market is signaling “higher for longer” interest rates, how energy costs are feeding real-time inflation risk, and what that means for stocks going forward. I also dive into the shift happening in AI, from hype to accountability, and why it still matters long term. Most importantly, I’ll walk through what investors should be watching right now: oil, the Fed, and upcoming earnings and how to stay positioned in a market that’s not broken, but increasingly sensitive. About Chris Perras, CFA®, CLU®, ChFC®, Chief Investment Officer: As CIO, Chris is the lead investment strategist and director of research at Oak Harvest Financial Group. Chris develops the firm's core market outlook, putting his decades of experience and expertise to work for our clients. He hosts Oak Harvest's podcast, "Stock Talk," available on the website with new episodes each week. He completed his undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech, and went on to obtain an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Driven by a desire to maximize his knowledge and skill set, he acquired financial planning and investment management qualifications, becoming a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®). Stock Talk is a weekly vlog/podcast dedicated to discussing the Oak Harvest Financial Group Investment Team's perspective on what's happening in the market. Hosted by Chief Investment Officer Chris Perra…

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## Transcript

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