Data & financial journalist covering global economics and policy
Oil and gas might not be the only commodities vulnerable to the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Fertilizers are at particular risk, as their supplies get choked at the strait, a critical shipping corridor for a third of the world’s fertilizer shipments.
On January 14, 2026, the U.S. State Department announced that it will indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries beginning January 21. The move is a part of a broad immigration policy shift under the Trump administration.
The August inflation data overlaps with President Trump’s latest round of tariffs on major U.S. trading partners. But while the direct impact is up for debate, beef’s surge suggests tariffs may already be filtering into consumer prices.
After months of negotiations, pauses, and delays, a sweeping new tariff slate took effect Thursday—marking a new era in U.S. trade policy, with import rates reaching their highest levels since the Great Depression.