USA in April 2026: Rising petrol prices, a jobs boom at USAJobs and a scorching football summer
Hello there, colleagues, let's take a look across the pond. Right now, the mood over there is as mixed as an April day in the UK. Some are looking forward to the football summer, others are cursing at the petrol pump. And in the middle of it all: an election campaign that overshadows everything. I've gathered the most important bits for you – from the job portal to the women's national team.
Four dollars a gallon? The new normal at the pump
Anyone driving through New Hampshire or Connecticut right now will have their eyes wide open. In cities like Hanover or Norwich, the price of liquid gold is climbing to over four dollars a gallon. That works out to about $1.06 per litre – for us Brits, almost a bargain, but for Americans, it's a shock. Folks on the East Coast are being reminded just how fast the world turns. No wonder local papers have been running headlines like: "Pain at the Pump is back".
Election fever and the USAA: Where's my account?
And then there's the election, of course. Yesterday was Election Day for the primaries in Georgia and several other states. USAA, that huge bank for military personnel and their families, kept its counters open extra late. Much like the First National Community Bank in northwest Georgia: the polls opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m. Many veterans took the chance to sort out their finances quickly before casting their vote. Just a classic American Tuesday, really.
- USAJobs.gov is currently seeing a surge: thousands of new public sector jobs are being advertised – many of them in infrastructure and border protection.
- The US men's national football team has set up its training camp in Florida. Spirits are high, even as they look ahead to the 2026 World Cup.
- The US women's national football team is even hotter right now: after the disappointing World Cup exit in 2023, they've completely rebuilt, and the first friendlies in spring 2026 are looking very promising.
Who wants to work for Uncle Sam tomorrow?
When the USAJobs platform is buzzing, you know the state apparatus is hiring again. From IT specialists to park rangers – the job ads read like a cross-section of the whole country. Interestingly, many applicants are coming from the tech sector, which has seen layoffs in California and Texas. The security of a government job has suddenly become sexy again. A major national newspaper ran a story about it this week: "Why everyone wants to work for the government now".
Women's football: the hype is real
Speaking of sexy: the US women's national football team (or let's just say USWNT) is back in business. After the early exit from the last World Cup, the players have undergone a remarkable transformation. New coach, new attack – and a mix of old hands like Alex Morgan (yes, she's still playing!) and fresh young talent from the college leagues. Tickets for the summer friendlies against Germany and England are practically sold out. Compared to the men's team, which is chugging along fairly solidly, the women just have that extra spark of energy.
So, dear readers: the USA remains turbulent, expensive at the pump, but red-hot when it comes to sport. I'll be keeping an eye out – especially for the US men's national football team on home soil. Because 2026 is their big year. Talk soon.