Watch 5 Stocks on Recent Dividend Hikes Amid Rising Rates & Volatility

The U.S. economy continues to hold up well, despite various domestic and geopolitical challenges. Consumer demand remains a bright spot, with August retail sales jumping 1.2%, while sales excluding autos and gasoline rose 1.2%, pointing to healthy household demand. Manufacturing also stayed firmly in expansion territory, and the Philly Fed index reached 37.8 in September, its third straight month above 37. The labor market remained resilient, nonfarm payrolls for August rose 162,000 — well above expectations of 53,000 — while unemployment held at 4.1%. Weekly jobless claims also remained low at 196,000, their lowest level since mid-June, indicating a "low-hire, low-fire" environment. Still, investors have plenty to worry about.