Consumer economy: Oil surge, retail slump, Panama Canal record, tariff refunds, Canada tariff pause, debt $40T, Fed hawkish, FTC pricing

Oil surge continues; US retail sales slump 0.6% in July; consumer sentiment 51.0. Panama Canal slot prices hit $4.6M. German companies cut US investment. Companies get tariff refunds up to $2B. Avocado pickers resume exports. Ford moves Lincoln production from China. Back-to-school debt, egg recall. Trump pauses 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for 3 days. Canadian tariff deadline looms. Auto recalls surge. Port of LA posts high July volume. CK Hutchison seeks $1.5B from Panama in arbitration. Proposed tariffs lead to $7K price increase for mascot costume. Dallas plans to end library adult learning program. Colorado regulators approve Xcel rate increase. US FTC considers requiring disclosure of personalized pricing. US national debt tops $40T. Fed minutes show many officials think higher rates needed. Bond market alarm prompts Treasury action. Women leaving workforce. State Farm sending $100 checks. Amazon layoffs at North Texas fulfillment centers. Medicare GLP-1 pilot has catch. Multistate salmonella infections climb to 431. Cyclosporiasis cases climb to 15,716. Publix frozen blueberry recall upgraded. US appeals court upholds real estate settlement. Stocks halt slide after Treasury moves. Mortgage rates ease to 6.65%. Fed's Musalem signals rates may stay higher. Bessent upsizes bond buybacks. Ross Stores raises profit forecast.

Sources (41)

Updated Aug 22, 2026

Consumer economy: Oil surge, retail slump, Panama Canal record, tariff refunds, Canada tariff pause, debt $40T, Fed hawkish, FTC pricing

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Stocks rise, even as the bond market applies more pressure

Stone Brewing lays off employees as it moves production away from Southern California

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Fed's Musalem says on CNBC he won't prejudge rate call view for September FOMC

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell to 6.65% this week, Freddie Mac says, its second straight decline

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FTC says "personalized pricing" based on consumer data could violate law

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Ross Stores raises annual profit forecast again on discounted apparel demand

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Japan's core inflation accelerates in July, bolsters case for rate hike

Fed policymakers' inflation concerns increased at July meeting, minutes show

An alarmed bond market gets the Trump administration to act again

‘Many’ Fed officials think higher rates will be needed if inflation stays high

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