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The Oil Bottleneck Threatening the Global Economy – WSJ

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Strait of Hormuz: The Oil Bottleneck Threatening the Global Economy – WSJ

President Trump’s promise to protect the Strait of Hormuz with naval escorts and provide government-backed marine insurance underscores the urgent need to restore flows of energy from the Middle East before soaring prices rip through the world economy.

As of Wednesday, day five of the war on Iran, several thousand ships were stuck inside and outside the Persian Gulf, trapping roughly a fifth of the oil and liquefied natural gas the world consumes each day. The blockage is cascading through the region’s industry as storage tanks fill up with oil that can’t set sail, forcing producers to slash output.

The problem is most acute in Iraq, the world’s fifth-biggest producer. Output has more than halved, oil officials in the country said, with cutbacks at the southern Rumaila and West Qurna 2 fields.

Why Tariffs Aren’t Shrinking the U.S. Trade Deficit – WSJ

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Why Tariffs Aren’t Shrinking the U.S. Trade Deficit – WSJ

On the contrary, recent data show the tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down on Friday and that Trump has vowed to reimpose under a different statute are cementing these imbalances.

From Berlin to Tokyo, the world’s biggest exporting countries have reacted to U.S. tariffs by further committing to economic policies that support exports, subsidizing manufacturers to help them leap over the tariff wall.

As for America, it very much remains the world’s importer of last resort. The U.S. trade deficit in goods rose to a record high of $1.24 trillion in 2025, driven by a 4.3% increase in goods imports, according to data published Thursday by the Census Bureau.

Why the Federal Deficit Is Projected to Surge, in Five Charts – WSJ

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Why the Federal Deficit Is Projected to Surge, in Five Charts – WSJ

Debt held by the public will balloon to more than $56 trillion by 2036 as annual deficits continue to mount, according to the latest projections from the Congressional Budget Office. By later this year, the federal debt held by the public is expected to surpass the size of the entire U.S. economy.

The main drivers: increased spending on entitlement programs as the nation’s population ages as well as rising costs related to paying interest on the debt itself. Republicans have taken issue with the projections, saying the CBO’s assumptions on economic growth are too low.

U.S. Trade Deficit Hits $70.3 Billion, Trump Tariffs and Gold Trading Fuel Jump – WSJ

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U.S. Trade Deficit Hits $70.3 Billion, Trump Tariffs and Gold Trading Fuel Jump – WSJ

Imports to the U.S. grew to a record high in 2025, leaving the trade deficit little changed despite steep Trump administration tariffs aimed at closing trade gaps.

The nation’s trade deficit—the gap between imports and exports in both goods and services—was $901.5 billion last year, slightly smaller than the $903.5 billion deficit recorded in 2024, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The small change shows America’s role as a heavy net importer remains intact, at least thus far, despite seismic policy shifts during the year.

There were big swings in trade patterns along the way, however, including an early-year surge in imports as companies tried to get ahead of new tariffs. That surge rapidly reversed after some of the tariffs were rolled back and businesses adjusted to the new trade regime.

Over 65? Congratulations, You Own the Economy – WSJ

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Over 65? Congratulations, You Own the Economy – WSJ

Demographics, rising profits and soaring asset values have together wrought a quiet transformation in the American economy. Much of it is now in the hands of the elderly.?

As of the third quarter of last year, people 70 and over controlled roughly 39% of all equities and mutual funds owned by households, compared with 22% in 2007, according to Federal Reserve data. Their share of net worth—assets minus debts—was 32%, up from 20% two decades earlier.