2026 Capital Markets Forecast: Economic Experimentation: Trade, Labor and Debt Under the Microscope

At CenterState CEO's 2026 Economic Forecast event, Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors' Chief Economist Luke Tilley presented an overview of Wilmington’s 2026 Capital Markets Forecast, with a focus on how the investment environment has changed, and the factors that can guide how investors should position their portfolios.

Wilmington's 2026 Capital Markets Forecast dives into some of the economic experiments occurring today. The first theme takes on the experiment of tariffs at the highest rates in the post-WWII period, intended to redirect global supply chains back to the U.S. for purposes of economic prosperity and national security. Second, it looks at the shrinking of the labor force, demographics, immigration policy and artificial intelligence. Lastly, it tackles a familiar topic: the U.S. debt trajectory. How can investors approach the challenges of investing in this environment? This report covers the expected economic and market impacts of these experiments in 2026.