You are living in a “haves and have yachts” world, with the “haves” being the steady economy and the “have yachts” being the rock star stock market. They aren’t running at the same pace. But that’s where we are. Whether this divergence continues is the question. It’s why if you’ve won the war and are […]

Your Survival Guy’s RAGE Gauge: Develop a Plan
E.J. Smith

The Financial Times says shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has become increasingly risky due to regional conflict, forcing many oil tankers to use a narrow alternative route along Oman’s coast under US protection. About 15 ships a day are using this corridor, with US air cover helping maintain limited oil flows to global markets. […]

Risky Omani Route Emerges as Pressure Mounts in Strait of Hormuz
Dick Young

The Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 1.1% in May, matching April’s increase and marking a continued acceleration in wholesale inflation, reports the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, prices were up 6.5%, the largest annual gain since late 2022. Most of the monthly increase came from a sharp rise in goods prices, […]

US Producer Prices Jump 1.1% as Energy Costs Surge
Dick Young

The US Energy Information Administration explains that US biofuel compliance credits (RINs) have doubled in value since the start of 2026, driven mainly by higher federal blending mandates under the Renewable Fuel Standard. These higher prices, along with strong gasoline and diesel prices, have significantly improved profits for ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel producers. As […]

US Biofuel Market Booms on Higher Compliance Credit Values
Dick Young

The Washington Post article, Trump Vows to Hit Iran “Very Hard Tonight,” Threatens to Seize Kharg Island, describes a sharp escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran after Iran launched attacks on US bases in the Middle East. In response, Donald Trump threatened major retaliatory strikes and said the US could take control […]

Trump Signals New Military Action and Eyes Iran’s Oil Hub
Dick Young

War and politics have a way of scrambling signals from what might otherwise be an orderly economic cycle. That can somewhat explain the disconnected economic data you can find in Your Survival Guy’s “Charting Your Course.” But when the data feed is full of noise, sometimes clearer pictures can push their way through. Here are […]

The Many Mixed Signals of the Global Economy
E.J. Smith

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.5% in May 2026, following a 0.6% rise in April. Over the past twelve months, inflation reached 4.2%, up from 3.8% in April. The increase was largely driven by higher energy prices, which rose 3.9% during the month and accounted […]

US Inflation Rises to 4.2% in May 2026 Amid Higher Energy Costs
Dick Young

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s May 2026 Survey of Consumer Expectations shows a mixed but weakening picture of household sentiment. Short-term inflation expectations edged down slightly, while medium- and long-term expectations stayed stable, and expected home price growth rose to its highest level since 2022. At the same time, labor market confidence softened, […]

New York Fed Reports Deteriorating Household Financial Outlook
Dick Young

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that US existing-home sales rose 3.2% in May 2026 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million, marking the strongest monthly gain of the year and the highest sales pace since December 2025. The increase was driven by improved affordability conditions earlier in the spring, including slightly […]

US Home Sales Rebound to Highest Level Since December
Young Research

Shipowners have placed a record number of orders for very large crude carriers (VLCCs), surpassing the previous peak set in 2008, with 262 supertankers now on order worldwide, Bloomberg reported. The surge is being driven by strong tanker earnings during the current Iran-related disruption, which has pushed charter rates to multi-year highs as rerouted trade […]

VLCC Newbuild Surge Raises Fears of Future Tanker Market Glut
Young Research

When your lazy cash is sitting on your couch, streaming shows, and eating all your food, it makes you wonder if it could lead a more productive life. One thought that comes to mind is using it for yourself, where you take the trips, and you enjoy the fruits of your labor. Yes, it’s expensive, […]

There’s Always Competition for Your Cash
E.J. Smith

Global semiconductor sales reached $110.5 billion in April 2026, up 11% from March and nearly 94% higher than a year earlier, marking the industry’s 14th consecutive month of growth. The strongest annual gains came from the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and China. SIA also endorsed a forecast from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization projecting global chip […]

AI Infrastructure Fuels Explosive Growth in Semiconductor Market
Young Research

The US trade deficit narrowed slightly to $55.9 billion in April 2026, down 1.2% from March, as exports and imports both increased, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Exports rose to $327.1 billion, driven by higher shipments of capital goods, computers, civilian aircraft, and crude oil, while imports climbed to $383.0 billion, led […]

AI Boom Drives Chip Imports While US Exports Rise
Dick Young

The Times of Israel article, “Why the Houthis Threatening Red Sea Shipping Could Be Worse for the Oil Market This Time,” examines the Houthis’ renewed threat to Red Sea shipping after the Iran-backed group announced a ban on Israel-linked vessels amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The move has raised concerns about global energy […]

Iran’s Red Sea Wild Card: The Houthis Reenter the Fight
Dick Young

Bloomberg examines how the global LNG market is being strained by damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex and broader disruptions linked to conflict in the Gulf. Qatar has long been one of the world’s most reliable LNG suppliers, so any prolonged outage raises significant concerns for energy-importing nations in Asia and Europe. They report […]

Global Gas Markets Face Tight Supply Across Multiple Scenarios
Young Research

You know about diversification. How about its best friend, patience? Such a pretty word. Just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Not so much when you’re telling someone else to be “patient.” It’s like saying, “Why don’t you just relax?” But without patience, compound interest, the seemingly magical formula of making interest on interest, is […]

You Know Diversification’s Best Friend Is Patience
E.J. Smith

A Federal Reserve Bank of Boston paper, “Reassessing the US Economy’s Vulnerability to Oil Shocks,” argues that the United States is much less vulnerable to oil-price spikes than it was during the 1970s. The paper explains that the economy now uses less oil relative to its size, and increased domestic production—especially from shale oil—has reduced […]

Why the US Economy Is Less Vulnerable to Oil Shocks Today
Dick Young

An EIA report, “US Jet Fuel Market Response to Strait of Hormuz Closure,” finds that US jet fuel production has surged to record highs after the Strait of Hormuz closure on February 28 pushed global fuel prices up. Refiners increased output from about 1.7 million barrels per day to over 2.0 million by May, driven […]

US Refiners Boost Jet Fuel Output Amid Global Price Spike
Young Research

A paper by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, “Mexico in US Supply Chains: Lessons from 2018–19 Tariffs,” examines how the 2018–19 US–China tariffs reshaped trade, with Mexico becoming the largest supplier of US imports. It asks whether Mexico’s export surge reflects real competitiveness gains or indirect effects of China relocating production […]

China, Mexico, and the Rewiring of US Supply Chains
Dick Young

Walmart announced a new partnership with Subway that allows customers to order freshly prepared meals from in-store Subway locations through the Walmart app and website. The meals can be delivered in as little as 30 minutes through Walmart’s Express Delivery service and can be combined with grocery and household-item orders in a single delivery. The […]

Walmart’s New Strategy to Integrate Restaurant and Grocery Delivery
Young Research