Weakening consumer spending
Weakening consumer spending was reflected in the 0.2 percent decline in June of the Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI), which followed a 0.1 percent increase in May and a 0.2% increase in April.
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFGNAI) increased in June
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFGNAI) increased to -0.02 in June from -0.19 in May. One of the four broad categories of indicators used to construct the index decreased from May, and two categories made negative contributions in June. The index’s three-month moving average (CFNASI-MA3) increased to -0.05 in June from -0.10 in May.
US raw steel production down from previous week
In the week ending July 18,2026, US raw steel production was 1,830,000 net tons at an ACUR of 79.3 percent, down 0.5 percent from the previous week ending July 11, 2026.
Adjusted YTD production through July 18, 2026 was 51,782,000 net tons at an ACUR of 78.8 percent.
US drill rigs running down from previous week
On July 24, 2026, there were 587 drill rigs running in the US, down one rig from the previous week ending July 17, 2026. Canadian drillers added six rigs, to 204, up twenty-two rigs from one year ago.
News Headlines
The Iranians killed at least two American soldiers in Jordan over the past weekend. They are attacking military bases in allied Arab countries. Diplomacy will NOT work with these animals. It is time to take the gloves off and finish the job. There is only one solution: destruction of the regime.
Six Americans have been killed by Iran, or their proxies, in the past week. We have bombed Iranian infrastructure for fourteen days in a row now and are surging forces, medics and weaponry to the Middle East as President Trump considers expanding the conflict. The only way to end this is to destroy the radical Islamist regime. There is no other option. Iran will NOT have a nuclear weapon and they will NOT control an international waterway. Simple as that.
In my view, the Republicans are making huge errors in this election season:
- First of all, get your shit together and PASS the SAVE America Act
- Stop talking about socialism and communism, no American wants that crap anyway, instead, talk about the positive things the administration has done for the country, and the future plans. They do not spend enough time touting these accomplishments and explaining their plans for the future.
- End the filibuster. I do not like to say that, but the Democrats WILL do it the next time they take control and then not only will the Republicans be screwed, America will be screwed. We will have open borders, a packed Supreme Court, no more law enforcement, no more military, no more customs enforcement and a host of other things they have been chomping at the bit to get passed into law. (Law? They do not care about the law)
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
“KEEP AMERICA GREAT”
Have a great weekend…. God bless America!
Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.
If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.
By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907
In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
