All articles tagged with #july 2026
Trump blasted July’s rise in the U.S. trade deficit, which climbed to $88.6 billion as imports—driven by tech goods like semiconductors and computer parts—outpaced exports; Canada’s deficit narrowed, but deficits with major partners persist despite tariffs. He warned on Truth Social that he could halt trade with deficit countries unless the Fed lowers interest rates, arguing the tariffs are working even as imbalances remain.
In July 2026, the U.S. trade deficit widened to $88.6 billion as imports rose and exports fell (exports $310.7B, imports $399.3B; goods deficit $119.6B; services surplus $31.0B). Exports fell by $6.6B from June and imports rose by $10.8B. Year-to-date, the deficit declined 29.6% versus 2025, with revisions to January–June 2026 data and a three-month moving average showing an $78.5B deficit. The release includes country and commodity detail and notes adjustments for gold and other items; next release is October 6, 2026.
New Circana data shows US spending on gaming hardware and physical software fell sharply in July, with hardware outlays down 29% year over year and overall hardware spending near July 2020’s pandemic-driven shortages. Physical game sales hit a near-record low for July, while subscriptions rose 6%. Share of new physical game spend skewed toward PlayStation and Nintendo, and the top-seller was Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (port) with other ports also performing well; the combined spend on games, hardware and accessories declined about 10% year over year.
Redfin's July housing report shows a record gap: about 51% more sellers than buyers nationwide (966,752 buyers vs 1,462,921 sellers), with 39 of 49 metros in buyer's markets; Miami, Nashville and several Texas metros lead, as high mortgage rates curb demand and give remaining buyers more negotiating power, suggesting a Labor Day window could be favorable for deals.
The U.S. Producer Price Index for final demand rose 4.7% over the past 12 months ended in July, unchanged from June on a seasonally adjusted basis. Monthly changes were mixed: final demand services up 0.2%, construction up 2.2%, while final demand goods fell 0.7%—driven by energy price declines—leaving the year-over-year inflation pace at 4.7%.
July 2026 was the hottest month on record in the United States, with an average of 76.9°F—3.3°F above the 20th‑century average. Overnight temperatures drove the record, all 48 contiguous states posted above‑average temperatures, and Wyoming recorded its warmest July ever. Rainfall was generally below average and wildfire activity remained high; globally, July was among the warmest on record, aided by El Niño. The NOAA outlook for August suggests continued above‑average heat across the central and southern U.S. and elevated wildfire potential.
White House economist Kevin Hassett argues July’s dismal payrolls can be dismissed by excluding sectors that lost jobs and focusing only on gains, but the broader Bureau of Labor Statistics data show a fragile, patchy labor market with declines in local government education and mixed manufacturing signals, challenging the idea of a strong economy despite some private-sector growth.
OSINT outfit DeepState reports that in July Russian forces captured 36 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, with reporting delays possibly pushing the total to as much as 88 km2; Ukrainian forces, by contrast, advanced in two other areas by at least 132 km2, though those gains await official confirmation. Frontline hotspots include Rodynske, Kostiantynivka, and areas near Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, while the data remain subject to security-related delays and further updates are expected in an official announcement.
July 2026 deliveries of new energy vehicles in China were mixed: BYD led with 419,211 NEVs, followed by Chery Group (276,820) and Geely Auto (250,161); several major players (Nio, Xpeng, Li Auto) fell month-on-month, while Leapmotor and Zeekr hit new monthly highs. Huawei HIMA and Xiaomi EV delivered more subdued counts, and CPCA forecast a slight NEV retail dip for July amid seasonal slowdown.
July 2026 delivered a 14-watch showcase from top brands, spanning compact new Overseas models from Vacheron Constantin, Panerai Luna Rossa editions, a Japan-inspired Roger Dubuis Excalibur Kabuto Legacy, dual Jaeger‑LeCoultre Rendez‑Vous releases, gem‑set Gerald Charles Masterlinks, a turquoise IWC Ingenieur Automatic 35, Hublot’s sapphire Big Bang in a sky-blue theme, H. Moser & Cie.’s cosmic Endeavour Minute Repeater Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton, Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969, Glashütte Original SeaQ North Atlantic-inspired editions, Breitling’s Aston Martin DB5‑themed Top Time, Zenith Defy Extreme in bold hues, TAG Heuer x Team Ikuzawa Carrera Chronograph, and Ulysse Nardin’s five‑complication Blast Moonstruck — a diverse blend of nautical, lunar, and motorsport influences suited for summer wear.
Xbox Game Pass will remove a total of 19 games this July 2026, with eight more titles leaving on July 31 after an initial notice of 11 removals earlier in the month; the exiting list includes Crusader Kings 3, Celeste, My Friendly Neighborhood, Back to the Dawn, and Rain World, while Wave 2 July additions are expected to be announced soon.
Microsoft has removed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from the July 2026 Xbox Game Pass lineup after an editor's note updated the company’s Game Pass list; no official reason was given, but licensing concerns—likely around music or branding—are suspected, while THPS 3+4 remains available on Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass.
Samsung has begun global rollout of the July 2026 security patch for the Galaxy S25 family (S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge, and S25 FE) across Europe and India. The updates use CZG3 for the standard/Plus/Ultra/Edge models and BZG3 for the Fan Edition, addressing 57 security issues. Users can update via Settings > Software update > Check for updates; a future One UI 9.0 major update is in progress.
TheWrap’s Casey Loving highlights seven new HBO Max titles for July 2026, spanning horror, drama and documentary: Army of Darkness, The Drama, Hereditary, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, The Long Walk, Marc by Sofia, and Ocean’s 8, with notes on standout performances and why each film stands out in this month’s streaming lineup.
July 2026 features several celestial events, including visible planets, a Buck Moon full moon, and a meteor shower, offering prime summer stargazing opportunities.