GDP — You gotta hand it to economists, because despite being wrong so damn always, they still come out swinging. Real, annualized GDP growth decelerated in Q3, growing at 2.0% on estimates of 2.6%. This is in stark contrast to Q2’s annualized real growth of 6.7% and reflects a slowing recovery from the woes of COVID.

According to the BEA, the Delta Variant wave from July through September likely slowed growth or, at least, brought uncertainty to GDP participants that in turn led to slower growth. Business inventory investments, personal consumption, and spending by state and local governments drove the increase, but these factors squared up with decreases in residential investment, federal spending, and lower net exports, leading to slower growth.

Now, this release itself is actually just an estimate. Termed the “advance estimate”, the BEA won’t know for certain what Q3 growth was until late in November, but obviously, if there’s something to take a guess on, economists are gonna go for it.

A Much Needed W — Retailers were beaten like Nate Robinson over the last year and a half, but experts say the holiday season is ready to save the day in a big way. 2021’s Holiday season is set to be the biggest on record. The fundamentals are there from a demand side, with consumers wielding more spending power than just about ever before, but supply chain issues could still ruin the party. And, apparently you guys listened to my warnings, as shopping for Holiday gifts has already begun in earnest. It’s a matchup between massive demand and spending power from consumers against distribution and labor shortage issues on the supply side. Let the fight begin.

eBay ($EBAY) — Despite the similarities of Shopify and eBay’s business model and earnings release, the latter got absolutely hammered yesterday. Shares plopped down 6.8% as analysts just weren’t buying it like they were Shopify (no pun intended). eBay actually beat on earnings, but management’s guidance for lighter demand must not have sat well during the day. After hours however, the firm is back on top, rising back much closer to Wednesday’s close price, sitting at $77.66 right now.

Royal Dutch Shell ($RDS) — It was a whirlwind of garbage inside of a shitstorm for Shell yesterday. Not only did the company miss on earnings, but activist shareholders got a lot louder in calling for the firm to break up. Dan Loeb, CEO of Third Point, wants the firm to separate between legacy fossil fuel assets and natural gas station operations, according to Reuters. Investors vomited at the idea, sending shares down 5.1%.