February 26, 2026 -   

Reuters is reporting that suppliers to U.S. aerospace and semiconductor companies are facing significant rare earth shortages. While the trade conflict between the US and China has lessened and shipments have resumed, those shipments reportedly rarely make it to the U.S. It’s a topic that will certainly be on the agenda when Presidents Trump and Xi meet in Beijing in March.

The Electric Power Research Institute finds that data centers could consume as much as 17 percent of US electricity generation by 2030, a significant increase over its current share of nearly 5 percent, and 60 percent higher than the group anticipated just two years ago. As we think about strains on the grid that are coming sooner than later, this is certainly a big one.

Gold and silver prices are up, fueled by uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and geopolitical tensions from Mexico to the Middle East continue. Looking longer term, analysist are expecting copper and aluminum to rise again in the third quarter, with both metals forecast to be in deficit this year as global demand picks up by the summer, especially in the U.S., Europe and China.