Iran Pressure Escalates: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Washington will roll out “economic isolation” measures against Iran next week, paired with an indefinite Strait of Hormuz blockade, as Trump signals “never seen” economic pressure. Retail Demand Cools: U.S. retail sales fell 0.6% in July, the biggest drop in over a year, adding to worries that affordability strains are turning into slower consumption. Wall Street Retreats: Major U.S. indexes slipped from record highs after the weak retail-spending report, with oil prices swinging amid Iran-war uncertainty. AI Adoption Gap: New U.S. Census data points to an AI divide: larger firms report higher adoption while many small businesses show little change, raising competitiveness concerns. State Budgets & Growth: Oklahoma reported FY2026 General Revenue Fund collections $612M above estimate, while the Dutch economy is projected to grow 1.4% in 2026 but faces energy and trade uncertainty. Innovation Spending: Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 budget sets aside $125M for “Innovate in PA 2.0,” aiming to expand venture capital and commercialization in robotics, life sciences, and manufacturing. Local Economic Bets: Springfield’s $1.3B data center project promises 120 jobs but faces environmental and power-generation concerns.