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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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Dow Set to Build on Rally as Major Week for Markets Begins

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is poised to continue its upward momentum as a significant week for the markets kicks off. U.S. stock futures rose on Monday, with Dow futures up approximately 0.4%, following a surge of over 650 points last week. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures also showed gains of 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively.

Investors are gearing up for a busy week filled with key events, including a Federal Reserve rate decision, the July nonfarm payrolls report, and earnings reports from major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. The market’s recent rally was bolstered by a promising inflation reading, which has strengthened bets for future interest-rate cuts.

Despite the positive outlook, the market remains cautious after a volatile period marked by a significant tech sell-off. The Federal Reserve is expected to hold off on any rate changes at its meeting on Wednesday, with many analysts predicting that any action will be delayed until September. The upcoming jobs report on Friday is anticipated to reveal potential weaknesses in the labor market, which could influence the timing and extent of future rate cuts.

As investors await these crucial updates, over 150 members of the S&P 500 are set to release their quarterly results, starting with McDonald’s on Monday. This week promises to be a pivotal one for the markets, with potential surprises that could test the resilience of the current rally.


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