Record U.S. exports confirmed last 3 months all-time highs exceeding $300B monthly.

[Orby]

Its all the energy sector, particularly crude, refined, and liquid exports.  

But for fun

Exports in March 2025: $275.7 Billion
Gas prices in March 2025: $3.15/gallon

Exports in March 2026: $320 Billion
​​​Gas prices March 2026: $3.79/gallon

% change in total Exports: 14-15% 
% change gas price: 16-17%

So lets try to guess what April will be. Not released yet.  We know the gas prices, so if im right about something we can back extrapolate the likely record exports in April..

​​​Gas prices April 2026: $4.10/gallon
% change gas price: 7-8%

BASED ON ALL OF THE ABOVE, I predict US exports hits 335 to 340 billion for April 2026.

And the export boom's effect for us is neglibable.

I've noticed more Yank manufactured stuff over here in the UK on our shelves. Just bought one of your Streamlight torches, they are made in the States, marvellous things. Nothing comes close, you can use them and they just keep working. At work write now and using one of your marker pens, totally awesome and just keeps on working on most surfaces unlike the crap from China, a Sharpie finepoint, again Made in USA

[andy06shake]

I would agree your nation has some issues to work out perhaps change is on it's way. 

It's arrogant of you to blame everyone but the person whom put themselves in the situation they have. 

Rent, food, bills, healthcare always go up they never go down sink or swim that's up to you.

Poor people put themselves in their situations 100% they are not victims they are the culprits.  

Suck it up just means carpe diem. You are responsible for your own fortunes not anyone else.

My nation is in the same to similar predicament to your own.

Same cr@p to contend with, slightly different wrapping paper, really.

And dont worry about my fortunes, I'll get by one way or the other...

But you're still treating poverty like it's 100% personal choice.

And that doesn't match reality.
 
Yes, people make choices.

But the costs of rent, food, healthcare, and transport aren't fully in their control.
 
If wages don't keep up(and they don't), working full-time still doesn't guarantee stability or a roof above your head.
 
Sink or swim isn't a neutral rule.

It's just how you describe pressure without any sort of support.
 
People also start from very different positions, so outcomes in life aren't equal in this world by any manner or means.
 
Yes, responsibility matters, be kind of hard to argue otherwise.
 
But that doesn't mean you can reduce it all to personal blame and call it a day.

[SomeStupidName]

But the costs of rent, food, healthcare, and transport aren't fully in their control.
 
If wages don't keep up(and they don't), working full-time still doesn't guarantee stability or a roof above your head.
  
People also start from very different positions, so outcomes in life aren't equal in this world by any manner or means.
  
But that doesn't mean you can reduce it all to personal blame and call it a day.

The costs of rent, food, healthcare, and transport will never be in the consumers hands more than simple supply vs demand, plan for those things to increase every year.

People do start out in different places in life that's wonderful and I wouldn't want to live any other way. Life isn't fair get over it.

I can because in a capitalist environment anyone can succeed no matter where they start out in life it's truly 100% up to the individual.

[andy06shake]

The costs of rent, food, healthcare, and transport will never be in the consumers hands more than simple supply vs demand, plan for those things to increase every year.

People do start out in different places in life that's wonderful and I wouldn't want to live any other way. Life isn't fair get over it.

I can because in a capitalist environment anyone can succeed no matter where they start out in life it's truly 100% up to the individual.

I would have to suggest that the idea that prices for rent/food/healthcare/transport being purely simple supply and demand issues somewhat ignores taxes, regulations, and unfair wages.

Not to mention that big bad elephant in the room, inflation.

How people are supposed to plan for those sorts of changes is beyond me. 

Costs are shaped by policy and power, not just the consumer.

If in doubt, see the price of electricity or gas. 

The thing about people's starting position in life.

Is that it tends to affect outcomes further down the line.

To argue otherwise is quite frankly rather short-sighted. 

Saying life is fair or should be accepted as such doesn't address those constraints or inequalities.

Life is anything but fair or equal, same as people. 

And yes, capitalism allows upward mobility in some cases, but people tend to have to play the hand they are dealt.

Luck still plays a major role in this world as to who succeeds and who struggles.

And if success were purely effort, billionaires weans wouldn't statistically stay rich while poor families stay poor for generations.

Capitalism creates opportunity.

But it also concentrates wealth, influence, and access to all sorts of different things in this life.

[SomeStupidName]

I would have to suggest that the idea that prices for rent/food/healthcare/transport being purely simple supply and demand issues somewhat ignores taxes, regulations, and unfair wages.

Costs are shaped by policy and power, not just the consumer.

If in doubt, see the price of electricity or gas. 

The thing about people's starting position in life.

Is that it tends to affect outcomes further down the line.

To argue otherwise is quite frankly rather short-sighted. 

Saying life is fair or should be accepted as such doesn't address those constraints or inequalities.

Life is anything but fair or equal.

And yes, capitalism allows upward mobility in some cases, but people tend to have to play the hand they are dealt.

Luck still plays a major role in this world as to who succeeds and who struggles.

And if success were purely effort, billionaires weans wouldn't statistically stay rich while poor families stay poor for generations.

Capitalism creates opportunity.

But it also concentrates wealth, influence, and access to all sorts of different things in this life.

I said life isn't fair and that it's a good thing.

There is more to life than luck.

You have to make success happen even billionaires have to to put in work to get more look at Elon Musk dude is always working on something. Oprah Winfrey, born poor in Mississippi put in the work and became a millionaire. Both started at different places in life both have done amazing things with their lives. They made the choices that got them to where they are not luck.

[andy06shake]

I said life isn't fair and that it's a good thing.

There is more to life than luck.

You have to make success happen even billionaires have to to put in work to get more look at Elon Musk dude is always working on something. Oprah Winfrey, born poor in Mississippi put in the work and became a millionaire. Both started at different places in life both have done amazing things with their lives. They made the choices that got them to where they are not luck.

Im not quite sure about it being "a good thing."

But it is a fact, life isn't fair...

Just consider that for every Oprah or Elon Musk, there are millions who work just as hard.

And who will never become rich because of opportunity, timing, connections, health, education....or just plain bad luck.

Hard work increases your chances in this world, just as with education. 

To argue otherwise would be somewhat counterproductive i suppose.

But it doesn't guarantee success anymore, if it ever did. 

And Elon was born into wealth and privilege...

Oprah is an exception to the rule people point to because her story is so rare.

But if success was only about choices.

Every exhausted single parent working two jobs to keep the lights on and pay the bills would already be a billionaire.

[SomeStupidName]

Every exhausted single parent working two jobs to keep the lights on and pay the bills would already be a billionaire.

No they would not, but I would call them successful. And that they chose that success when they could have played victim been poor and received a free ride. I would recommend they reevaluate their career options. it might be time to pick up and move to better opportunities.

[andy06shake]

No they would not, but I would call them successful. And that they chose that success when they could have played victim been poor and received a free ride.

Unfortunately, life is not as kind..

And acknowledging obstacles is not "playing victim."

It's recognising reality.

On that note i really must be getting on with some "real-world" issues.

Else i will be in the poor house myself...

[Knows]

That is the rich getting richer via insider trading, you should know that because it has been discussed on this forum many times.

Or the working poor. Who have IRA's and or 401k's.  

[quintessentone]

Or the working poor. Who have IRA's and or 401k's.  

What with all the ups and downs in the stock market are the boomers still under water or have they recovered what was previously lost, but never to see gains?