Skip to main content

Featured

Oil Prices Are Spiking — Here's What It Means for Your Gas Tank and Grocery Bill

  Published July 17, 2026 Crude oil is trading near one-month highs this week, and if you've filled up your tank recently, you've probably already felt it. The culprit: an escalating conflict in the Middle East that's disrupting one of the world's most important oil shipping routes — and it's starting to show up at Canadian pumps and, eventually, on grocery store shelves. What's happening with oil prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the North American benchmark, has been trading around the $79–$80 per barrel range this week — up roughly 5% over the past month. Brent crude, the global benchmark that matters more for what Canadians pay at the pump, has been hovering near $85 per barrel, also near a one-month high. The spike traces back to renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and has intensified strikes, while Iran has responded with attacks on U.S. bases and threats to disrupt regional energy shipments further. ...

article

A Comprehensive Approach to Addressing the US Debt Problem

 

The US debt problem is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to solve. While closing the $688 billion tax gap is a step in the right direction, it is not a panacea for the US debt problem. According to a recent article by AOL, even if the IRS achieves a 100% collectible rate and closes the estimated $688 billion tax gap, that won’t be enough to meaningfully shrink the US debt gap. The article suggests that the US government needs to focus on other areas such as reducing spending, increasing revenue, and improving economic growth.

The US debt problem is a critical issue that requires immediate attention. The current debt-to-GDP ratio indicates that current policy under this report’s assumptions is unsustainable. If lawmakers fail to take action soon, the report projects that the federal debt could “exceed 200 percent [of GDP] by 2046 and reach 566 percent by 2097”. To stabilize the federal debt at current levels, the Financial Report estimates that the government will have to run “primary surpluses” equal to 0.6 percent of GDP, 4.9 percentage points higher than current projections, between 2023 and 2097 .

Therefore, it is imperative that the US government takes a comprehensive approach to address the debt problem. The government should focus on reducing spending, increasing revenue, and improving economic growth. A balanced approach that includes a combination of these measures is necessary to address the US debt problem.

Comments