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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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Stock Market Today: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Extend Winning Streak Ahead of Jackson Hole Symposium

US stocks continued their upward momentum today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both on track for their eighth consecutive daily gain. Investors are eagerly awaiting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium later this week.

Key Points:

  1. S&P 500 ( ^GSPC): The broad-market index rose 0.5%, extending its longest winning streak of the year.
  2. Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC): The tech-heavy index increased more than 0.5%, also aiming for an eighth consecutive session win.
  3. Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI): The Dow gained over 200 points, mirroring the positive sentiment.

Last week’s strong rally helped recover losses from an early August sell-off, as encouraging inflation and consumer spending data eased recession concerns. Confidence in a “soft landing” for the economy has grown, leading investors to focus on the magnitude of potential rate cuts by the Fed in September.

Keep an eye on Powell’s speech and the upcoming Democratic National Convention for further market insights.


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