Mike Rowe’s been championing the workers of Main Street America for as long as I can remember. I remember like it was yesterday watching his show “Dirty Jobs” with my kids and how he was relatable to us. We had talks about all kinds of odd jobs and how they make the world go ‘round. […]

Let’s Celebrate WORK this Labor Day Weekend
E.J. Smith

In the United States, the vast majority of passenger vehicles run on gasoline, but there’s a more important fuel that powers the vital pieces of the economy: diesel. It’s the fuel of life. Farming, transport, manufacturing, construction. These industries run on diesel fuel, and the price of that fuel is at or near all-time highs. […]

The Fuel of Life Is Expensive
E.J. Smith

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 162,000 in August, well above the average monthly gain of 31,000 over the previous year, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%. Job gains were concentrated in food services and drinking places, which added 59,000 jobs, and local government education, which added […]

U.S. Job Growth Surges in August, Adding 162,000 Payrolls
Young Research

The Dutch central bank, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), moved 86 tons of gold from New York and Ottawa to London between March and August 2026, citing rising geopolitical tensions and the need to make its reserves more quickly accessible during a crisis, according to Fortune. DNB holds about 612 tons of gold, with roughly 18.5% […]

Netherlands Moves 86 Tons of Gold From U.S. and Canada
Young Research

NVIDIA has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.93 billion, bringing the open AI platform and its large developer community into NVIDIA. Hugging Face has more than 18 million users, hosts over 3 million models, 500,000 datasets and 1 million applications, and is used by more than 200,000 companies. The companies say Hugging Face will […]

NVIDIA Agrees to Acquire Hugging Face for $12.93 Billion
Young Research

Cuban cigars have become an increasingly important source of revenue for Cuba, with Habanos’ sales rising to $827 million by 2024 after steep price increases. The industry was also transformed by businessman Chen Zhi, whose investment in Habanos helped expand its luxury positioning, particularly among wealthy Chinese buyers. However, Chen’s subsequent sanctions, arrest and liquidation […]

Cuban Cigars Lose Ground as Customers Turn to Latin American Rivals
Young Research

You know that artificial intelligence has sparked a potential nuclear renaissance, but while new reactors are planned and weave their way through the permitting process, natural gas power generation is being installed at a rapid pace to keep up with demand. Haley Zaremba reports at OilPrice.com on the buildout of natural gas power generation, writing: […]

BYOP: Bring Your Own Power
E.J. Smith

The Trump administration says new energy agreements with Chevron, Eni, and GE Vernova will drive major investment in Venezuela’s oil industry and electric grid. The US Department of Energy reports that the agreements are expected to attract billions of dollars in private investment, expand oil production, and modernize Venezuela’s power infrastructure, with the administration projecting […]

Trump Unveils Historic Energy Investment in Venezuela
Young Research

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit widened by $17.4 billion, or 24.4%, to $88.6 billion in July, as imports increased while exports declined. Exports fell 2.1% to $310.7 billion, while imports rose 2.8% to $399.3 billion. The increase was driven primarily by a $17.6 billion rise in the goods deficit, which reached $119.6 billion. […]

U.S. Imports Rise as Trade Deficit Widens
Young Research

Electra, an aircraft company that grew out of an MIT graduate class project, is planning an $850 million manufacturing expansion in Ohio expected to create nearly 2,000 jobs. The company is developing a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft designed to take off and land on runways as short as 150 feet—about half the length of a soccer […]

MIT-Born Aircraft Could Transform Regional Air Travel
Young Research

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm business labor productivity increased 1.4% in the second quarter of 2026, as output rose 1.7% and hours worked increased 0.3%. Productivity was up 2.2% from a year earlier, while unit labor costs increased 1.2%, reflecting a 2.6% rise in hourly compensation. Manufacturing productivity increased 2.4%, driven […]

Labor Productivity Gains Continue in Second Quarter
Young Research

“What do you think of the bond market right now?” I’m asked. “I like it,” I respond. “It’s about time savers get what they deserve for lending their money.” As an observation, isn’t it funny how, when prices fall, buyers disappear? These are the same buyers who, a month ago, told you they liked good […]

“What Do You Think of the Bond Market?”
E.J. Smith

President Trump urged U.S. oil executives to build more refineries to help lower gasoline prices ahead of the November midterms, but the industry faces little incentive to construct new facilities. U.S. refiners are currently earning record profits as disruptions in the Middle East, Russia and China tighten fuel supplies, but companies expect those conditions to […]

Trump Pushes Oil Industry to Build More Refineries
Young Research

The White House says President Donald Trump has secured a historic oil agreement with Venezuela that gives the United States majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan oil reserves. Under the deal, North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) received 100-year concessions to operate 17 oil fields and granted the U.S. government […]

U.S. Moves to Expand Control of Venezuela’s Oil
Young Research

Germany’s power grid was targeted in two suspected sabotage incidents within 24 hours, disrupting critical electricity infrastructure in the east and west of the country, according to Reuters. Near the Jänschwalde coal plant in Brandenburg, unknown perpetrators damaged high-voltage lines, while a separate incident near Bergheim in North Rhine-Westphalia caused five RWE lignite-fired power units […]

Power Grid Sabotage Raises Alarm in Germany
Young Research

U.S. job openings were little changed at 7.3 million in July, with the job openings rate holding at 4.4%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hires remained at 5.1 million (3.2%), while total separations were also 5.1 million (3.2%). Quits totaled 3.1 million (1.9%), suggesting workers’ willingness to leave jobs remained steady. Layoffs […]

Job Openings Hold Steady at 7.3 Million
Young Research

Dear Survivor, Are you getting out there? Going to Portugal or PEI? You know from Your Survival Guy’s experiences this summer that many of you are. Even though inflation numbers are coming down, prices for stuff you want to spend money on, like once-in-a-lifetime trips, are not. That’s why I want you to spend your […]

Survive and Thrive August 2026: Are You Getting Out There: Portugal or PEI?
E.J. Smith

Reframe Systems has raised an additional $40 million to expand its robotics-powered homebuilding microfactory network across North America. The company uses physical AI, robotics, and software to build homes faster and at lower cost, claiming its approach can deliver housing 3× faster and 35% cheaper than traditional construction. Reframe is opening a new microfactory in […]

AI and Robotics Take Aim at America’s 4.5 Million-Home Shortage
Young Research

Look, Your Survival Guy likes what he’s hearing from new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. He’s talking tough about inflation and isn’t pacifying Wall Street with baby talk about where rates might be headed. Good. When I’m asked, “What’s going on in the bond market?” I don’t think twice about my response: “I like it. […]

Don’t Fight the Fed in Your Retirement Life
E.J. Smith

Gold prices extended their decline Monday after a sharp sell-off Friday, with gold futures around $4,475 per ounce, down more than 1%. Analysts attributed the drop largely to Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish comments on inflation, which increased expectations for higher interest rates. Renewed U.S.-Iran tensions also pressured gold by pushing oil prices higher and […]

Gold Rally Loses Momentum as Fed Rate-Hike Odds Soar
Young Research