USA in April 2026: Rising petrol prices, a job boom on USAJobs, and a scorching football summer ahead

How're things, folks? Let's take a look across the pond to the States. The mood there right now is as mixed as an Irish April day. Some are looking forward to the football summer, others are cursing at the petrol pump. And right in the middle: an election campaign that overshadows everything. I've gathered the key bits for you – from the job portal to the women's national team.

$4 a gallon? The new normal at the pump

If you're driving through New Hampshire or Connecticut right now, your eyes will pop. In towns like Hanover or Norwich, the price for liquid gold is climbing above four dollars a gallon. That works out to about $1.06 per litre – for us Irish it'd be a bargain, but for Americans it's a shock. People on the East Coast are being reminded just how fast the world turns. No wonder the local papers ran headlines this week: "Pain at the Pump is back".

Election fever and 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 members and their families, kept its counters open extra late. Just like the First National Community Bank in northwest Georgia: polls opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m. Many veterans used the chance to sort out their finances quickly before casting their vote. Just a classic American Tuesday.

• USAJobs.gov is currently seeing a surge: tens of thousands of new public sector jobs are being advertised – many of them in infrastructure and border security.
• The US men's national football team has set up its training camp in Florida. Morale is high as they look ahead to the 2026 World Cup.
• The US women's national football team is even hotter: after their disappointing World Cup exit in 2023, they've completely rebuilt, and the first friendlies in spring 2026 are looking very promising.

Who's working for Uncle Sam tomorrow?

When the USAJobs platform is glowing red, 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. Interesting fact: many applicants are coming from the tech sector, which has seen layoffs in California and Texas. The security of a government job is suddenly sexy again. A major national daily 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 their early exit at 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 young talents straight from the college league. Tickets for the summer friendlies against Germany and England are practically sold out. Compared to the men's team, who are chugging along fairly steadily, the women have that extra spark of energy.

So, dear people: the USA remains turbulent, expensive at the pump, but red-hot on the sports front. I'll be keeping my eyes open – especially for the US men's national football team on home soil. Because 2026 is their big year. We'll talk again.