Happy Easter from Dick and Debbie in the Florida Keys.

Happy Easter!
Dick Young

Blue Owl, which you may remember closed one of its private equity funds earlier this year, has now limited redemptions at two of its private credit funds, its flagship OCIC fund and its tech fund, OTIC. CNBC’s Leslie Picker reports: Blue Owl is experiencing elevated redemption requests for two of its private credit funds, according […]

Private Equity Is the Next Big Thing Coming for YOU: Part XIV
E.J. Smith

The US Department of the Interior reported that offshore energy production reached a record 714 million barrels in 2025, marking the highest annual output on record. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum highlighted that regulatory reforms, streamlined processes, and responsible development policies have accelerated investment, particularly in the Gulf of America, while maintaining environmental and […]

Gulf of America Drives Record Offshore Energy Production
Dick Young

The US gas turbine market is facing a major supply-demand imbalance, with global orders at 110 GW but manufacturing capacity limited to 60–70 GW, driving prices toward $600/kW by 2027—a 195% increase since 2019, according to Wood Mackenzie. The surge is fueled by electrification, particularly the rapid growth of data centers and AI workloads, which are expected […]

US Gas Turbine Market Faces Supply Crunch Through 2027
Dick Young

Economic activity in the US manufacturing sector expanded for the third consecutive month in March, according to the March 2026 ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report. The Manufacturing PMI rose slightly to 52.7%, signaling ongoing growth, with production increasing and new orders continuing to expand.

Manufacturing Surges as Prices Hit Highest Level Since 2022
Young Research

While there are aspects of nearly every job that might be improved on or automated by artificial intelligence, there are some careers in which humans are harder to replace than others. Your Survival Guy is a huge fan of nursing as a career choice. Demographics don’t lie. America needs nurses. Jeanne Whalen explains in The […]

Are Any Jobs Safe from AI?
E.J. Smith

In February 2026, the U.S. trade deficit rose to $57.3 billion, up $2.7 billion from January, as exports reached $314.8 billion and imports $372.1 billion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The increase was driven by higher goods imports, particularly capital goods, computers, and crude oil. Year-to-date, the deficit is down 54.8% from 2025, […]

US Trade Deficit Rises to $57.3B in February Amid Strong Imports
Dick Young

By the end of 2025, Puerto Rico’s rooftop solar generation capacity reached 1,456 MW, 20% of its total, with 192,000 systems installed, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Coupled with 171,000+ battery storage units forming virtual power plants, these distributed resources strengthen the grid and help manage power shortages. The EIA writes: Rooftop solar […]

Battery Storage Boosts Puerto Rico’s Energy Resilience
Young Research

MIT researchers have uncovered a key reason why solid-state batteries—long seen as a safer, more energy-dense alternative to lithium-ion batteries—have struggled with dendrite formation, the metallic cracks that cause short circuits. Contrary to the previous belief that dendrites form mainly due to mechanical stress, the study shows that high electrical currents chemically weaken the electrolyte, […]

Solid-State Batteries Get a Boost from MIT Breakthrough
Young Research

Iran has effectively turned the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global energy chokepoint — into a tollbooth, requiring some commercial vessels to pay for safe passage amid ongoing conflict. According to Bloomberg, ships seeking to transit the strait may be charged fees in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency (including stablecoins) and must be vetted by […]

Ships Navigate the Tehran Toll Booth in the Strait of Hormuz
Young Research

Dear Survivor, How long will the war in the Persian Gulf last? That’s the question on everyone’s mind. The market isn’t sure as announcements of peace talks and progress on negotiations are regularly interrupted by new waves of attacks from both sides. President Trump announced on Truth Social that he would pause on his threat […]

Survive and Thrive March 2026: How Long Will the War Last?
E.J. Smith

According to the Dallas Fed Energy Survey, US exploration and production firms report that average oil prices of about $43 per barrel are needed to cover operating costs for existing wells, while roughly $66 per barrel is required to profitably drill new wells. Larger firms generally have lower cost thresholds than smaller operators. Despite higher […]

Higher Prices, Cautious Drilling: Inside U.S. Oil Outlook
Dick Young

US job openings held steady at 6.9 million in February, while hires fell to 4.8 million, marking the lowest hiring rate since April 2020, reports the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Total separations remained little changed at 5.0 million, with quits and layoffs largely stable. Declines in hiring and job openings were observed in sectors […]

Job Market Cooled Slightly in February
Dick Young

The Advance Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services Survey (MARTS) provides early estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales based on a sample of roughly 4,800 firms. The most recent MARTS Current release shows that seasonally adjusted retail and food service sales for February 2026 were $738.4 billion, up 0.6% from the prior month […]

US Retail Sales Rise 0.6% in February 2026, MARTS Shows
Young Research

US coal exports fell 16 million short tons in 2025 to 93 MMst, marking the first decline after four years of growth, according to the US Census Bureau. Thermal coal exports dropped 18% and metallurgical coal 11%, driven largely by a 92% fall in exports to China following new tariffs. Global oversupply, soft demand, and […]

Domestic Coal Use Rises 12% as Exports Fall
Young Research

When Your Survival Guy started my series “There’s Nothing Wrong with Making Money Slowly,” the idea was to show you that yes, you can become rich too, without some of the risks associated with trying to make money “fast.” When you think about how a Rich Man invests, the phrase “money makes money” comes to […]

There’s Nothing Wrong with Making Money Slowly (Part 19)
E.J. Smith

US crude oil production reached a record 13.6 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2025, up 3% from 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s March 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook. Most production came from the Lower 48 states (11.3 million b/d), with the Permian Basin driving growth (+280,000 b/d). Despite fewer rigs and wells, […]

US Crude Oil Hits Record 13.6 Million Barrels Per Day in 2025
Dick Young

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order to keep Unit 1 of the Craig Station coal plant in Colorado operational, delaying its planned shutdown to ensure reliable and affordable electricity. The order directs Tri-State, Xcel Energy, PacifiCorp, and other co-owners, in coordination with the Western Area Power Administration and Southwest Power […]

US Moves to Maintain Coal Generation to Prevent Blackouts
Dick Young

Australia is looking to leverage its position as a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter to Asia to help secure fuel supplies amid global energy disruptions, reports Bloomberg. With Middle East tensions tightening oil and refined fuel availability, Canberra aims to use its LNG export clout to negotiate access to petroleum products and help stabilise […]

Australia Leverages LNG Exports to Secure Asian Fuel Supplies
Young Research

Two Chinese container ships successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on their second attempt amid the ongoing Gulf conflict, ship‑tracking data shows. After turning back on Friday, the COSCO‑operated vessels sailed through the strategic waterway on Monday and exited into the Gulf of Oman — the first non‑Iranian container vessels to do so since the […]

How Did Chinese Ships Navigate Hormuz Amid Gulf Tensions?
Young Research