Morning Business Report: U.S. oil exports hit record highs as markets continue rally
U.S. crude oil exports climbed to a record level in April.
(LILAMAX)- U.S. crude oil exports climbed to a record level in April as global buyers increasingly turned to American energy supplies amid instability in the Middle East.
According to data from commodities analytics firm Kpler, U.S. crude exports reached 5.2 million barrels per day last month.
Analysts say countries in Asia and other regions are seeking alternatives to Middle Eastern oil supplies as tensions involving Iran continue impacting global markets.
One of the busiest hubs fueling that demand has been Corpus Christi, home to one of the world’s largest oil export terminals. Officials say the port experienced the busiest first quarter in its history.
Meanwhile, a social media campaign aimed at saving Spirit Airlines has gone viral online.
TikTok creator Hunter Peterson launched the website “LetsBuySpirit.com,” encouraging users to pledge money in support of the struggling airline.
Organizers say more than 36,000 people pledged donations before the website crashed, with total pledges reportedly reaching $23 million.
On Wall Street, major indexes closed at record highs Friday as strong corporate earnings continued boosting investor confidence.
The gains come despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding energy prices and global conflicts.
At the same time, new survey data suggests many Americans are feeling overwhelmed in 2026.
A Talker Research survey of 2,000 adults found the most commonly used word to describe the year so far is “stressful,” followed by “challenging.”
The study also found about one-third of Americans say they are currently experiencing an existential crisis, with older adults more likely than younger generations to describe the year negatively.
In lighter news, the United States Postal Service has partnered with Mattel to launch a new collection of Barbie stamps this summer.
The stamps feature Barbie dolls representing 10 careers, including astronaut and soccer player, as part of an effort to inspire fans to “dream big.”
