MTGS

U.S. diesel prices have entered uncharted territory. The national average has surged to roughly $5.85–$5.94 per gallon in September 2026 , surpassing the previous record set during the 2022 energy crisis. For American consumers, that may initially look like a problem for truck drivers and diesel pickup owners. It is much bigger than that. Diesel is the fuel that moves America's freight, powers much of its agricultural equipment, supports construction and mining, and helps deliver everything from food to manufactured goods. When diesel prices rise sharply, the increase eventually finds its way into transportation costs, business expenses, food prices and, ultimately, consumer inflation. The crucial question now is: Is $5.85–$5.94 the peak—or could diesel go substantially higher? The answer depends largely on how long the global oil-supply disruption lasts, what happens to the Strait of Hormuz, whether refineries can rebuild inventories, and whether the approaching winter increases ...

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has issued an unusually blunt challenge to financial markets: “I am the house now.” The comment, delivered at Southern Methodist University, was more than colorful Wall Street language. It offered a revealing glimpse into how Bessent views his role as Treasury secretary—and the advantage he believes the U.S. government has when it intervenes in financial markets. A former macro hedge-fund manager, Bessent argued that traders betting against U.S. policy makers may be underestimating the information and coordination available to the government. “I have asymmetric information,” he said, referring particularly to the Treasury’s knowledge of Japanese policy intentions during the recent intervention in the yen. But the remark also raises a bigger question: Can a government consistently outplay markets, or does challenging investors create new risks of its own? What did Bessent mean by “I am the house”? Bessent was speaking in the language of a casino. In...

Donald Trump has repeatedly used a simple political proposition: if government collects money, saves money, or benefits from his policies, ordinary Americans should get some of it back. The language has changed over time. During the COVID-19 crisis, Americans received stimulus payments. In his second presidency, Trump has promoted ideas ranging from a $2,000 tariff “dividend” to a $5,000 “DOGE dividend” , and most recently a proposed $5,000 payment to American adults if Republicans win control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections . But there is an important distinction between a presidential promise, a proposal, legislation, and an actual payment. So, which Trump payment promises became real — and which didn't? The short answer Promise or payment What happened? Status 2020 COVID stimulus payments Congress enacted them and Treasury/IRS distributed them Materialised Proposed $2,000 COVID payment in late 2020 Trump demanded larger checks, but the proposal did not become a $2,000...