Amazon's Take on Car Dealerships, New Drinks Coming to McDonald's, and More

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

Good morning! Welcome to The Tradesman, a 5-minute newsletter tailored just for America’s tradesmen.

For the next few weeks, we will be doing a giveaway for a $50 gas gift card every Thursday!

To enter, click here! (Note: only one entry per person is accepted)

Amazon has expanded its car-selling program, called Amazon Autos, to include brands like Chevrolet, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, and Subaru, and is now available in more than 130 cities across the country.

The program lets shoppers browse, buy, and finance a car from home, spending less time at the dealership.

Amazon is moving into one of America's biggest businesses — car dealerships sold roughly $1.3 trillion worth of vehicles in the U.S. in 2025 alone.

Find out how this will work here.

Beef prices are expected to jump as much as 18% in 2026 because the U.S. has fewer cattle than at any time since the 1960s, and experts say prices will stay high for years.

The good news is that pork and chicken prices are barely going up at all this year, making both great options for your backyard cookout. If you still want beef, cheaper cuts like tri-tip, chuck roast, and homemade burgers can help keep your cookout from breaking the bank.

Click here for just how big the impact of these prices is.

The U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports entered its third day on Wednesday with no breakthrough in sight, as more than 40 nations work to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

Iran has threatened retaliation, but experts say the country has only weeks to a few months before its oil revenue is seriously damaged.

Limited storage capacity makes the pressure worse, as Iran cannot stockpile its oil indefinitely.

So what will this mean for us? Click here to find out.

McDonald's is rolling out new drinks nationwide in May, including refreshers and crafted sodas like a Dirty Dr Pepper and a Mango Pineapple Refresher, with energy drinks coming later in the year.

The move is aimed at competing with specialty drink chains, with McDonald's planning to undercut rivals on price.

Find the drinks coming to McDonald’s here.

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