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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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Market Turmoil: UnitedHealth's Plunge Sends Dow Spiraling Amid Weekly Losses

The stock market faced another turbulent session as UnitedHealth (UNH) shares plummeted over 22%, dragging the Dow Jones Industrial Average down by more than 500 points. The Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 struggled to find footing, with both indexes sputtering after Wednesday’s tech-led sell-off.

UnitedHealth’s sharp decline followed a cut in its full-year profit forecast, making it the worst-performing Dow component of the day. The broader market also felt the weight of uncertainty surrounding trade policies and Federal Reserve decisions, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of economic challenges ahead  due to tariffs.

Despite a slight rebound in the S&P 500, all three major indexes closed the week lower, with the Dow and Nasdaq falling over 2.5% and the S&P 500 down around 1.5%. Investors now turn their attention to upcoming earnings reports and economic indicators that could shape market sentiment in the coming weeks.


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