by Ethan Faverino | May 7, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The U.S. trade deficit widened in March, according to analysis released earlier this week by the Joint Economic Committee based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S Census Bureau, Treasury Department, and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The total trade deficit reached $60.3 billion in March, an increase of $2.53 billion from February and 3% above the 12-month average. The goods trade deficit stood at $88.71 billion up $4.09 billion from the prior month and also 3% above its 12-month average. This was partially offset by a services trade surplus of $28.41 billion, which rose $1.56 billion from February and was likewise 3% above average.
For the full 12 months through March 2026, the United States recorded a total trade deficit of $700.49 billion. This reflected a goods trade deficit of $1.03 trillion, partially offset by a services trade surplus of $331.39 billion. Total exports over the period reached $3.53 trillion, while total imports totaled $4.23 trillion.
Largest Trade Imbalances by Country
Over the trailing 12 months, the largest goods trade deficits were with Mexico ($194.42 billion, 18.96% of the total goods deficit), Vietnam ($193.35 billion, 18.86%), and Taiwan ($177.28 billion, 17.29%). Additional notable deficits occurred with China, Thailand, Ireland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and India.
The largest goods trade surpluses were recorded with the Netherlands ($68.49 billion), United Kingdom ($47.42 billion), and Hong Kong ($40.32 billion).
Top Exports and Imports
The leading exported goods by value were civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts; pharmaceutical preparations; and nonmonetary gold. Together these categories accounted for 17.54% of all U.S. goods exports over the 12-month period.
The United States exported the most to Mexico ($347.18 billion), Canada ($327.56 billion), and the United Kingdom ($109.51). These three destinations represented 34.72% of total U.S. exports.
On the import side, the top categories by value were computers; pharmaceutical preparations; and passenger cars, which together made up 19.74% of all imported goods. The largest sources of imports were Mexico ($541.61 billion), Canada ($365.62 billion), and China ($266.59 billion), accounting for 35.74% of total U.S. imports.
Import Duties Decline
In March, the U.S. collected $20.49 billion in import duties—18.40% below the 12-month average—with the average applied duty rate at 6.85%, down 2.45 percentage points from the yearly average. Over the full 12 months, calculated duties totaled $301.30 billion.
The highest duty revenues came from passenger cars, vehicle parts, and electric apparatus, with notably higher average rates applied to certain categories such as iron and steel products. China remained the top source of duty revenue.
Currency Movements and Terms of Trade
From March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. dollar weakened against several major currencies: by 4.9% against the Chinese yuan, 6.3% against the euro, 2.2% against the British pound, and 11.9% against the Mexican peso. It strengthened 6.1% against the Japanese yen.
A stronger dollar typically improves U.S. terms of trade by reducing the cost of imports, allowing the country to purchase more foreign goods for the same volume of exports.
Export and Import Price Trends
Year-over-year export prices rose 5.57 percent overall, while import prices increased 5.10%. Non-fuel import prices rose 5.85%, with notable variations across categories including industrial supplies and consumer goods.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 6, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved an amendment presented by Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) to accelerate recovery efforts in the Kaibab National Forest following the devastating White Sage Fire.
The amendment, included in the 2026 Farm Bill, grants the U.S. Forest Service critical emergency contracting flexibilities to bypass unnecessary bureaucratic delays and speed up restoration work in the fire-affected areas.
Modeled after the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025, the measure targets nearly 60,000 acres impacted by the wildfire in Northern Arizona.
“Page, Fredonia, the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, and other impacted communities were dealt a setback due to the devastating White Sage Fire,” stated Rep. Crane. “In response, I’m honored to have introduced and passed an amendment to help pave the way to a full and timely recovery.”
Key provisions of Rep. Crane’s Amendment (Sec. 8409 – Kaibab National Forest Restoration):
- Authorizes the use of emergency acquisition flexibility under federal regulations to contract for forest management restoration activities, rebuilding, planning, design of structures, ground improvements, and other recovery efforts.
- Removes the need for a Presidential emergency or disaster declaration, allowing immediate action to support local communities.
- Requires robust transparency through detailed reports to Congress every 180 days on expenditures, expected costs, cost overruns, contractor performance, potential conflicts of interest, waste/fraud/abuse, and project timelines.
- Includes a 12-month extension option if new wildfires impact ongoing recovery, subject to congressional approval.
- Sunsets the authority five years after enactment or upon completion of recovery efforts, whichever comes first.
In addition to his own amendment, Rep Crane signed on as the sole cosponsor of an amendment led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) to eliminate provisions that shielded pesticide companies from accountability while preserving critical public health protections. The measure restores Americans’ right to hold these companies accountable in court when their products cause harm.
He also cosponsored an amendment introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) to reform evidence standards for compensating ranchers for livestock losses caused by Mexican wolves.
“I’m also grateful for the leadership of Representatives Gosar and Luna, who successfully passed provisions that assist our ranchers and help protect our food supply,” added Crane. “These results advance critical priorities for rural Arizonans, and I’m thankful for the positive outcomes.”
The amendments now move forward as part of the broader Farm Bill package.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 5, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Arizona Republican Party announced the appointment of Greg Roeberg as its new Legal Counsel last week. An Arizona attorney, with nearly two decades of experience in business and government law, Roeberg has become one of the state’s leading voices on election integrity.
Moving to Arizona during law school, Roeberg established a law practice focused on business law, serving entrepreneurs and small businesses in the early years of his career. He holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and Government and a law degree from Georgetown University. He was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 2008.
Roeberg is a lifelong Republican and became deeply engaged in politics in 2016 serving on the Trump Presidential Inaugural Committee. He went on to support the Trump Campaign in 2020 with a focus on logistics and election law.
Following his recovery from a 2019 lymphoma diagnosis and successful chemotherapy treatment, Roeberg answered the call again in 2024, serving as Election Integrity Attorney for the Trump campaign in Arizona. He has since represented the Republican National Committee, President Trump, and Republican candidates across the state throughout the 2020, 2022, and 2024 election cycles.
“Greg Roeberg is one of the sharpest legal minds in Arizona, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him on our team,” stated AZGOP Chairman Sergio Arellano. “He has spent nearly twenty years building a distinguished legal and business career, and over the last three election cycles he has been on the front lines defending the integrity of our elections — standing up for President Trump, the RNC, and Republican candidates across this state.”
Earlier this cycle, Roeberg launched a campaign for Arizona Attorney General before stepping down to focus on what he called the most urgent priority of the year: protecting the integrity of Arizona’s elections.
“When Greg made the decision to step away from his own campaign for Attorney General to take on this role, it spoke volumes about his character and his commitment to Arizona,” added Arellano. “He is a fighter, a patriot, and exactly the leader our party needs at this moment. I am proud to welcome him as our Legal Counsel.”
“It’s an honor to serve the Arizona Republican Party and the millions of Arizonans who believe in free, fair, and secure elections,” said Roeberg. “After three election cycles in the trenches, I know what’s at stake in this state. I’m grateful to Chairman Arellano for his trust, and I’m ready to get to work alongside him and our grassroots team to protect the voice of every legal voter in Arizona.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 4, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Joint Economic Committee released its Monthly Expenditures Update for March 2026 alongside the advance estimate for first-quarter 2026 Gross Domestic Product (GDP), painting a picture of an economy experiencing above-target inflation alongside continued, albeit moderating, real consumption growth and accelerating nominal activity.
From February to March 2026, headline Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index inflation accelerated to 0.66%, up from 0.38% the prior month.
Core PCE inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.29% compared to 0.37% (durable goods +0.42%; nondurable goods +1.98%), while services inflation stood at 0.32%. Gasoline and other energy goods posted a sharp 19.23% month-over-month rise.
Real personal consumption expenditures (PCE) advanced 0.24% ($39.57 billion), in the period. Real spending on goods rose 0.55% ($31.34 billion), led by durable goods (+0.94% or $20.12 billion), while services spending increased a more modest 0.10% ($10.63 billion). The nominal personal savings rate declined 0.3 percentage points to 3.6%.
On the income side, headline personal income grew 0.56% ($149.22 billion). However, real disposable personal income per capita edged down 0.07%, indicating that after-tax income growth lagged behind price increases.
Year-over-year measures showed headline PCE inflation at 3.50% in March 2026 compared to March 2025—well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target—while core PCE inflation registered 3.20%. Both figures accelerated from the prior year’s pace.
GDP Advance Estimate
In its Q1 2026 GDP Advance Estimate the Committee reported that real GDP increased at a 1.99% annualized rate from the fourth quarter of 2025. Current-dollar GDP rose 5.64% annualized, or $433.731 billion, reaching $31.856 trillion. The GDP deflator contributed approximately 3.6 percentage points to nominal growth.
Consumer spending contributed 1.1 percentage points to real GDP growth, while nonresidential fixed investment provided a strong 1.4 percentage point boost. Government spending added 0.7 points, and private inventories contributed 0.4 points. Net exports subtracted 1.3 points, and residential investment was a slight drag at -0.3 points.
Category highlights (Nominal PCE Levels, March 2026)
- Housing and utilities: $3,904.5 billion (17.86% of total)
- Health care: $3,741.3 billion (17.11%)
- Financial services and insurance: $1,822.6 billion (8.34%)
- Food and beverages: $1,547.8 billion (7.08%)
- Food services and accommodations: $1,526.4 billion (6.98%)
Notable year-over-year nominal increases included financial services and insurance (+10.46%), health care (+8.02%), and transportation services (+9.53%). Gasoline and other energy goods rose sharply both month-over-month (+19.23%) and year-over-year (20.97%).
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 3, 2026 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Goldwater Institute has called on Arizona’s largest school district to immediately repeal a policy that prohibits “personal attacks” on school board members, staff, students, or members of the public during public comment periods, arguing the rule unconstitutionally silences criticism while allowing praise.
In a formal letter sent to Mesa Public Schools Governing Board President Courtney Davis, the Goldwater Institute contends the policy constitutes blatant viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment and the Arizona Constitution.
The Mesa Public Schools Governing Board adopted this policy in July 2024, banning any “personal attacks” during the public comment portion of board meetings. According to the Goldwater Institute, the rule effectively permits speakers to praise or thank board members, administrators, and teachers by name, but forbids any negative, critical, or challenging comments directed at the same individual—no matter how factual or civil the critique may be.
“This prohibition punishes a specific viewpoint insofar as it prohibits ‘attacks,’” the letter states. “It is not, then, the speaking about Board members, staff, students, or members of the public in general that the Governing Board is preventing, but only speech about those groups from a certain viewpoint. That is unconstitutional.”
Adam Shelton, an attorney for the Goldwater Institute, who wrote the letter, told The Center Square, “The Supreme Court has consistently held that viewpoint discrimination is almost always unconstitutional.”
The Goldwater Institute became involved after concerned Mesa parents contacted the organization, requesting a review of the policy. Shelton noted that the board reads the restriction aloud before every public comment session.
“The policy has chilled the speech of some of the parents,” Shelton added. “They’re afraid to speak out and bring problems before the school board. These parents are concerned about being banned or punished for making negative comments about school board officials.”
Public comment periods at school board meetings serve as a vital democratic function, allowing parents and community members to bring forward issues, including complaints about teachers, policies, or administrative decisions. The Goldwater Institute argues that Mesa’s policy undermines this purpose by making it nearly impossible to discuss real problems without naming those responsible.
Federal courts have repeatedly struck down similar policies. In Ison v. Madison Local School District Board of Education, the Sixth Circuit invalidated a rule banning “antagonistic” or “abusive” speech personally directed at board members as impermissible viewpoint discrimination. More recently, in Moms for Liberty – Brevard County, FL v. Brevard Public Schools, the Eleventh Circuit ruled against a prohibition on “abusive” comments, noting that such policies effectively require “happy-talk”—allowing positive comments while suppressing negative or challenging ones.
The Eleventh Circuit emphasized that restricting “personally directed” speech obstructs the core purpose of school board meetings: educating officials and the community about legitimate concerns. The court observed that a parent complaining about a math teacher’s instructional methods would struggle to explain the issue without referencing the teacher.
The Goldwater Institute warned that maintaining the policy exposes the district to potentially costly litigation. Following its victory in the Brevard case, Moms for Liberty secured a settlement requiring the Florida school district to pay nearly $600,000 in attorney fees, costs, and expenses.
In addition to federal constitutional concerns, the letter highlights that the policy likely violates Article II, Section 6 of the Arizona Constitution, which provides even broader protections for free speech than the First Amendment.
The Goldwater Institute has requested that the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board promptly amend its policy by removing the prohibition on “personal attacks.” The organization expressed willingness to work cooperatively with the board to bring the rules into compliance with constitutional standards and noted that all options remain under consideration if the policy is not revised.
No response has been received from the Board President, Courtney Davis, or the governing board as of the time of publication.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
