US Unemployment Rate Faces Further Upward Pressure:

February data shows that 11% of US small businesses list "weak sales" as a core operational challenge, a proportion that has approached the peak level since 2020, ranking fourth among all issues, behind only taxation, workforce quality, and inflationary pressure.

Over the past three years, this proportion has tripled, returning to typical levels seen during previous economic recessions. From historical patterns, small businesses, as the largest employer in the US job market, face operational pressures that serve as a leading warning signal for rising unemployment.

This suggests that in the coming months, US unemployment may surge from the current 4.4% level to above 5%, marking a new high since the mid-2021 pandemic recovery phase.

Core Conclusion: Markets face near-term pressure, while long-term opportunities for portfolio allocation are emerging. $BTC $ETH $SOL