December brought some headwinds to the US economic outlook. New York Fed's latest survey shows inflation expectations ticked up, while sentiment on job availability hit its worst level in over 12 years.

What's this mean for markets? When inflation expectations rise while employment prospects darken, you typically see investors reassessing their risk tolerance. The Fed's monthly data is worth tracking closely—these are the kind of macro signals that ripple through all asset classes, crypto included.

The job market cooling combined with sticky inflation creates an interesting backdrop. Economic uncertainty tends to amplify volatility across digital assets, even as some see it as a contrarian buy opportunity. Either way, these Fed readings are something serious traders and portfolio managers keep an eye on.