EV sales slow, US Treasury yields grow, 'Niu Lai' has impressive box office mojo

North American electric vehicle sales have plummeted 27% year-over-year, prompting manufacturers to pivot battery production toward grid-scale storage to meet the surging power demands of data centers. Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury bond market faces significant pressure, with 30-year yields reaching 5.3%—a two-decade high—driven by a $40 trillion national debt and competition from tech giants issuing debt to fund AI infrastructure. In the entertainment sector, the Chinese animated film *Niu Lai* illustrates the unpredictable nature of viral success; despite a reported $200 production budget and widespread criticism of its poor animation, the film transformed negative social media attention into a $4.2 million box office return. These indicators highlight how shifting investment priorities, fiscal instability, and digital-age consumption patterns are reshaping global economic and cultural landscapes.