<p>The stock market is roaring back to all-time highs with a historic 12.5% four-week surge, yet a stark disconnect remains as everyday consumers grapple with economic pessimism, highlights <strong>Charlie Bilello</strong>.</p>



<h2><strong>The ‘Elevator Up’ Market Surge</strong></h2>



<p>The S&amp;P 500 has staged a staggering comeback, gaining 12.5% over four weeks to mark its 20th biggest advance since January 1950.</p>



<p>Chief Market Strategist at Creative Planning, Bilello, highlighted the unprecedented nature of this rapid rebound. Unlike previous massive market rallies, this surge did not emerge from the depths of a traditional bear market. Instead, the index experienced a modest 9.8% decline before rocketing upward. Bilello describes this unusual price action as “stairs down and elevator up.”</p>



<p>The ETF tracking the S&amp;P 500 index,<strong> State Street SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust </strong>(NYSE:SPY) has also returned 12.59% over the last month, 4.50% year-to-date and 29.61% over the year.</p>



<p>Despite the lack of a major preceding crash, history suggests the momentum could continue. Bilello notes that “strength tends to beget strength” in equities.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div>
<blockquote><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 12.5% gain in the S&amp;P 500 over the last 4 weeks was the 20th biggest 4-week advance for the index since 1950. $SPX<br/><br/>Video: https://t.co/Mf86zOcPMN pic.twitter.com/On8ryToVyG</p>— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) April 26, 2026</blockquote>
</div></figure>



<h2><strong>A ‘Growing Divide’ In Sentiment</strong></h2>



<p>However, Wall Street’s euphoria is not being felt by the average consumer. Bilello pointed to a striking contradiction in the current macroeconomic landscape, highlighting a “growing divide” between Wall Street and Main Street.</p>



<p>While the S&amp;P 500 celebrates its ninth all-time high of the year, consumer sentiment has simultaneously plunged to record lows.</p>



<p>Consumers remain heavily burdened by expectations of sticky inflation and fears of rising unemployment. Interestingly, this negative sentiment contrasts with actual economic data; jobless claims remain near multi-year lows, and retail sales continue to climb.</p>



<div>


<p>
<strong>
Read Also:

S&amp;P 500, Nasdaq Settle At Record High Levels: Investor Sentiment Edges Lower, But Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone
</strong>
</p>


</div>


<h2><strong>Embracing The Fear</strong></h2>



<p>Bilello attributes much of the stock market’s recent success to long-term investors who eagerly bought in while others were fearful.</p>



<p>He emphasized that “panic selling is rarely rewarded, even in the short run.” By indiscriminately dumping assets during minor market corrections, emotional investors often miss out on lucrative snapback rallies.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the data consistently show that embracing panic creates significant long-term opportunities for those willing to simply ignore the prevailing pessimism.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div>

</div></figure>



<div>


<p>
<strong>
Read Also:

Dan Ives Predicts '80%, 90%' Chance Of SpaceX-Tesla Merger By Early 2027
</strong>
</p>


</div>


<p><strong><em>Disclaimer:</em></strong><em> This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.</em></p>



<p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

.SPX

SPXL

UPRO

<p>The S&P 500 has achieved a historic 12.5% rally over four weeks, marking its 20th biggest advance since 1950. Despite this surge, expert Charlie Bilello warns of a growing divide between Wall Street and Main Street, as consumer sentiment remains low due to inflation and unemployment fears. While jobless claims are near multi-year lows and retail sales are rising, the disconnect highlights a stark contrast in economic perceptions. Bilello emphasizes that long-term investors who buy during market corrections often benefit from significant rebounds.</p>

- The S&P 500 has surged 12.5% over four weeks, marking its 20th largest advance since 1950, according to Charlie Bilello.  
- Despite this market rally, consumer sentiment is at record lows, reflecting a disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street, as consumers face concerns over inflation and unemployment.  
- Bilello notes that long-term investors capitalizing on market downturns often benefit, emphasizing the importance of remaining calm during periods of market volatility.

benzinga_article

S&P 500

SPDR S&P 500

Direxion S&P 500 Bull 3X

iShares Core S&P 500

VG S&P 500

Ultr S&P 500 Pro

Pro UltrPro S&Pro 500

NASDAQ Composite Index

Tesla

Shutterstock

S&P 500's Historic 12.5% Monthly Rally Is One Of The Biggest In 76 Years—Why Main Street Sees A 'Growing Divide'