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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. ...

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U.S. stocks retreat from record highs ahead of jobs data


U.S. stocks ended lower on Monday, pulling back from record highs reached last week. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.8%.

Investors were cautious ahead of some key reports this week on the U.S. economy, especially the jobs market The reports could provide more clues on the Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates and inflation.

Technology and communication services stocks were among the biggest losers on Monday. Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Netflix all declined more than 1.5%. Alaska Air Group plunged 14.2% after announcing a deal to buy Hawaiian Airlines.

Markets in Europe and Asia closed mixed on Monday. U.S. crude oil prices fell 1.4%, easing some inflationary pressure.

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