US Trade in Goods and Services July 2026

 The latest U.S. international trade report for July 2026 presents some mixed signals. The trade deficit increased during the month, which is not necessarily good news, but there are some interesting details behind the numbers that deserve a closer look.

A significant portion of the increase was connected to technology-related imports, including computers and semiconductors. This raises an interesting question: Could some of these imports represent investment in new technology, equipment, and upgrades? It is too early to say, but it is certainly something worth considering as we look at the broader economic picture. Maybe not but time will tell.

Exports, meanwhile, decreased. The reasons are not immediately clear and could involve geopolitical issues, changing global demand, or other economic factors. More review would be needed to determine what is driving the decline.

The United States also continues to purchase substantial amounts of goods from overseas. Many of these products could potentially be manufactured domestically, raising questions about how to do this. (Its not that we have to produce all the products we consume but we should be strategic about the type of industries we foster. There may be a place for structured industry development and organic industry development.)

(Illustrative Only)
Reviewing
the trade balances
can lead to 
greater market knowledge. 
Solutions to 
market problems.

Still, there is a silver lining. The overall trade deficit for the year-to-date period was 29.6% lower than during the same period in 2025. So while the July numbers are not particularly encouraging, the longer-term picture shows some improvement. At the same time, the increase in technology-related imports may indicate that investment and upgrading are taking place behind the scenes. Maybe not?

For now, the numbers leave us with more questions than answers—but that is exactly why it will be important to watch the trends over the coming months.

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, July 2026

• The U.S. trade deficit increased to $88.6 billion in July.
• Exports decreased by $6.6 billion to $310.7 billion.
• Imports increased by $10.8 billion to $399.3 billion.
• The goods deficit rose to $119.6 billion, while the services surplus reached $31.0 billion.
• Year-to-date, the trade deficit was 29.6% lower than the same period in 2025.

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026, September 3). U.S. international trade in goods and services, July 2026. BEA report

Art, Boats, and the Occasional Creative Detour: Art as a Reflection of Human Experience

I haven’t completed an art piece in the last few weeks. I’ve been a little distracted—working on my boat, fixing things, running around taking care of other projects, and, somehow, finding time to learn how to make a couple of new craft items. Apparently, there are only so many hours in a day, and I’ve been trying to use all of them!

Photography example. 
You may purchase below.

I’ll be getting back to another art piece soon. I sell my artwork from time to time, so if you’re interested in purchasing something, there is some information below. For me, though, art is mostly about having fun and expressing an idea.

Art is also much more important than simply making something that looks nice. It is deeply connected to human nature. Even if we removed all of our modern technology, people would still create art. Our ability to imagine something that isn't directly in front of us—and then try to recreate it—is a distinctly powerful human ability.

Art helps us record history, express emotions, communicate ideas, and see the world differently. It can even contribute to innovation by encouraging people to think about possibilities that don't yet exist. So, when someone says art is a useless endeavor, I would have to disagree. Humans have been creating things for a very long time, and apparently we haven't gotten tired of it yet.

Photography example. 
You may purchase below.

It will be interesting to see how artificial intelligence changes the creative process. AI can now help generate images, connect ideas, and make the final product more consistent or coherent. That may be useful, but it also raises an interesting question: if the technology does more of the creative thinking, does the process become less of a deeply human experience?

I'm certainly not claiming to be an expert on the subject. I'm simply looking at it from what I understand about the brain, creativity, and my own experience with art. For me, part of the value of creating art is the thinking that happens along the way. If AI does all of that for us, we may get a great picture—but we might miss some of the fun of getting there. Or the human development if fosters.

Some of my pieces

Art Gallery (Painting and Photos)

$70 Purchase Painting Pay Pal

$60 for photos (Rights to Use or Printing)

Art Gallery eBay (Paintings)

How Art Shapes Culture and Reflects Human Experience

• Art reflects the values, beliefs, traditions, and experiences of different cultures.
• Art preserves history and communicates ideas across generations.
• Artists can influence society by addressing social issues and encouraging discussion.
• Art provides a powerful way to express emotions and connect people.
• Technology has expanded artistic expression through digital media and other new tools.

Fitzpatrick, L. (2023, March 15). How art shapes culture and reflects human experience. In R. May (Ed.), Humanities 101. Howard Community College Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.howardcc.edu/humanities101/chapter/how-art-shapes-culture-and-reflects-human-experience/

Federal Reserve Beige Book August 2026-Moderate Economic Increase

The U.S. economy continued to grow at a moderate pace in August, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book. Economic activity was supported by spending related to data centers and defense, while employment showed slight improvement and demand remained strong for workers with specialized technical skills.

The continued need for skilled and technology workers highlights the importance of human capital, education, and training and development. At the same time, the rapid expansion of data centers has raised questions about where these facilities should be located and their potential environmental impact. Read the news and you will understand the debate. 

Geopolitical developments could also affect supply chains. Defense industry growth is up. Businesses continue to face concerns related to inflation, energy costs, and government policies. Overall, the Beige Book provides a useful snapshot of current market conditions and helps illustrate the economic forces shaping businesses and workers across the country.

Federal Reserve Beige Book – August 2026

• Economic activity increased modestly, with 10 of 12 Federal Reserve Districts reporting growth.
• Consumer spending rose slightly, but consumers remained price-sensitive. Tourism continued to strengthen.
• Manufacturing activity improved, particularly in defense and data-center industries, while residential construction declined.
• Employment increased only slightly, with continued demand for skilled and technical workers.
• Price pressures remained elevated due to energy, transportation, raw materials, tariffs, and other business costs.
• Overall, the economy continued to expand at a modest pace, although businesses remained concerned about inflation, energy costs, and policy uncertainty.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (2026, September 2). Beige Book—August 2026: National summary. https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/beigebook202608-summary.htm

US Manufacturing in July 2026: Modest Growth but Could be Improved

New orders for manufacturing increased, which is a good sign. Shipments are also increasing, although these are not large increases. Unfilled orders increased a little bit, and inventories increased a little bit as well. So, overall, the manufacturing sector is still expanding, but it is expanding modestly.

The economy is still growing. It is not growing as quickly as we might like under ideal conditions, but there is still positive activity. We should also think about how we can enhance manufacturing by bringing together small and medium-sized businesses and anchoring them with perhaps a few large businesses to encourage broader economic activity.

While this report does not necessarily directly cover that, many times it is the small and large businesses that experience growth. Having a strong base of micro-manufacturers, small manufacturers, and custom manufacturers can, in some cases, help create larger companies down the road. So, while we are seeing moderate growth in manufacturing, there may be opportunities to improve and expand that growth.

U.S. Manufacturing Activity: July 2026

• New orders for manufactured goods increased 0.9% in July to $663.6 billion, following a 0.2% decline in June. This suggests a modest rebound in manufacturing demand.

• Manufacturers’ shipments increased 0.8% to $658.8 billion, marking the ninth increase in the past ten months and indicating relatively consistent manufacturing activity.

• Unfilled orders increased 0.6% to $1.60 trillion and have risen in 24 of the past 25 months, providing manufacturers with a substantial backlog of future production commitments.

• Manufacturing inventories increased 0.4% to $966.9 billion, extending the inventory growth streak to ten consecutive months. The inventories-to-shipments ratio remained at 1.47.

• Overall, the July data point to a manufacturing sector that is expanding modestly, with rising orders, shipments, inventories, and a large backlog. The combination suggests continued production activity, although the slightly lower unfilled-orders-to-shipments ratio indicates some improvement in manufacturers’ ability to work through their backlog.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026, September 2). Monthly full report on manufacturers’ shipments, inventories, & orders. U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/current/index.html

Cooking On a Boat-Micro and Creative or Health

Cooking on a boat is something you have to do from time to time if you own one. A lot of people who live or spend time on boats, especially when they're at the docks, will simply order food or pick something up somewhere. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, and I do it from time to time myself. When I order food, I try to choose something relatively healthy because when you eat out, you don't always know exactly what's in your food. Eating out is often meant to be a treat, so there can be a lot of unhealthy ingredients involved.

(Illustrative Only)
Cook for food quality.

I enjoy cooking not only for economic reasons, but also because it's a hobby and something fun to do. More importantly, cooking your own food can be healthier. When you start taking better care of yourself, getting the proper fitness, and paying attention to what you eat, things begin to change. These aren't new ideas; the challenge is simply being consistent. Sometimes I'm sporadic with these habits, and other times I'm more consistent.

Cooking on a boat does take some skill because you don't have the same space or equipment that you would have at home. One of the things I rely on is an air fryer. I love the air fryer because it has a small grill, a dehydrator, and an oven all in one. Being able to use multiple functions in a single appliance saves valuable space and allows me to get more use out of one piece of equipment.

Traditional ways over gas grill, oven, or stove also makes sense but the air fryer can do it as long as you are on the dock and/or have your generator running. 

The other challenge is learning how to maximize the limited space. You're working with a smaller kitchen and less refrigeration capacity, so you have to be smart about how you store and prepare your food. That means cooking smaller amounts, using the space efficiently, and, importantly, making as little mess as possible. Over time, I've learned how to make the most of what I have.

A few things I cooked recently was bean soup, tortilla bread, pumpkin pie, granola, mushroom soup pie, cheese pastries, etc. 

Tips:

1. Cook in small batches.

2. Maximize counter space. 

3. Put down foil or wax paper so you can roll up and throw away with less mess. 

4. Do cooking in stages to make it easier. 

5. Use multiuse pots, pans, etc. to limit washing. 

6. Be creative with less supplies on hand. 

I'm a certified fitness trainer and a certified yoga instructor so if your interested in some virtual work send me a message to the right. 

Cooking on a Boat: Delicious Recipes for On-the-Go Meals-Yacht World

Boat Cooking Is Different

August 2026 ADP's Employment Report Shows Hiring Weakness

ADP’s employment report gives us another way to think about how the job market is performing. In August 2026, private employers created only 38,000 jobs, which suggests that hiring is slowing. When we look more closely at the sectors gaining and losing jobs, education and health services led the gains, adding 45,000 jobs. Health services, in particular, continues to represent a significant source of employment growth, while education still has considerable room for improvement.

The largest job losses occurred in manufacturing, which declined by 17,000 jobs, followed by professional and business services, which lost 16,000. Trade, transportation, and utilities also experienced declines. Overall, the data show an uneven labor market, with some industries continuing to expand while others are pulling back.

Another interesting trend is that large businesses accounted for most of the job gains, while small businesses added only a modest number of jobs and medium-sized businesses were essentially flat. Wage growth also remains moderate, suggesting that employers are continuing to exercise caution in both hiring and compensation.

August 2026 ADP National Employment Report: Private-Sector Employment Increased by 38,000 Jobs

• Private-sector employment increased by 38,000 jobs in August, the slowest pace of job creation since January and below July’s revised gain of 46,000.
• Education and health services led employment growth with 45,000 new jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with 16,000 and construction with 12,000.
• Several industries lost jobs, including manufacturing (-17,000), professional and business services (-16,000), trade, transportation and utilities (-5,000), and information (-4,000).
• Large businesses accounted for most of the gains, adding 34,000 jobs, while small businesses added 3,000 and medium-sized businesses were essentially unchanged.
• Wage growth remained positive but continued to moderate. Base pay increased 3.2% year over year, while gross pay increased 4.7%; job-changers continued to experience faster pay growth than job-stayers.

ADP Research. (2026, September 2). ADP National Employment Report: Private-sector employment increased by 38,000 jobs in August. ADP. https://mediacenter.adp.com/2026-09-02-ADP-National-Employment-Report-Private-Sector-Employment-Increased-by-38,000-Jobs-in-August

The Second Class Citizen....

Second-class citizenship occurs when laws and institutions do not protect everyone equally or equitably. We are discussing the short and long-term consequences of unchecked biased in decision making and institutional outcomes from an economic and social perspective using a philosophical thought experiment. Let us consider what might happen if a small closed network system uses prejudice, corruption, intimidation, or abuse of power to target others while avoiding accountability. Years of wrongdoing went unchecked and whistleblowers discarded and targeted into silence.

The problem is not simply individual bigotry. It becomes a broader social problem when courts, justice officials, or other institutions fail to stop misconduct or correct the harm done to victims (P.S. the vast majority do the right thing and the young should join service to do their part, put an end to codes of silence and squeeze out those circumventing our most sacred laws. Respect those who do good for society. In some views this would be in alignment with oath and duty. In one philosophical line it could further be argued that those who are trying to encourage systems to reach their highest potential are more patriotic, loyal and good conscious contributors to society than those who misuse system and misallocate resources for self or group gain. In a merit based system they have earned their spot. Institutions must serve the needs of the poeple and not visa versa or it goes out of true north alignment. ). Honor what is good and challenge what is wrong is an important path forward. 

The Allegory of the Clan is a hypothetical philosophical thought experiment in which some members of society are openly targeted while courts protect people who are more similar to or within the network of decison makers. Although the majority may be trying to do the right thing, the example highlights a potential serious systemic problem when wrongdoing is allowed to continue without correction (i.e. stopping because your getting caught and not because you have moral conscious.). Even when wrongdoing is well known the process of victim dumping is used over and over.  It is convenient and the checks and balances intentionally weak. It is the preferred path....

Other victims have no voice so we must continue to stand for what our great grandparents were trying to build, a place of fair treatment, freedom, and representation of all people....

Those who swear oaths to uphold these institutions and understand their purpose should recognize the danger of unchecked authority when it is not focused on its mission, purposes, and promises. At a minimum, they should ask whether our institutions are truly serving everyone. If there are people it does not see worthy of also serving therein opens up a concern. As a general rule those who stand for what is right have honor while those who don't encourage darker times.  

That is why checks and balances matter. Laws must apply equally, institutions must be accountable, and victims must have meaningful avenues for justice. Without these protections, people can effectively become second-class citizens. A second class citizen robs society of its best and brightest and therin lies a crime on a whole new level; at least if you are mission focused; and there are no additional influences. It is up to you to decide which ring to kiss. 

*The Allegory of the Clan is for philosphical purposes so take with a grain of salt. It is meant to explore concepts and one can come to any conclusion they so wish. There is no right or wrong answer. 

For discussion purposes what is a second class citizen? These two in a quick search showed up.  The definitions seem only partial.

Second Class Citizen Wikipedia

The Making of a Second Class Citizen