diff --git a/app/api.py b/app/api.py
index 91133c8..f4a57d1 100644
--- a/app/api.py
+++ b/app/api.py
@@ -238,6 +238,14 @@ def create_app(db_path, img_dir, state_dir=None):
             live = conn.execute(
                 "SELECT COUNT(*) AS n FROM listings WHERE status='active'"
             ).fetchone()['n']
+            # item 7: fresh = active with no swipe row (the deck's new-pool
+            # predicate, verbatim). A swipe of ANY age removes freshness.
+            fresh = conn.execute(
+                "SELECT COUNT(*) AS n FROM listings l"
+                " WHERE l.status='active'"
+                " AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM swipes s"
+                "                 WHERE s.listing_id = l.id)"
+            ).fetchone()['n']
             badge = get_pref(conn, 'badge_seen_at') or ''
             new = conn.execute(
                 "SELECT COUNT(*) AS n FROM listings"
@@ -253,6 +261,7 @@ def create_app(db_path, img_dir, state_dir=None):
                 ' ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1').fetchone()
             return {
                 'live': live,
+                'fresh': fresh,
                 'new': new,
                 'likes': per['like'],
                 'maybes': per['maybe'],
@@ -463,6 +472,7 @@ def create_app(db_path, img_dir, state_dir=None):
         data['items'] = items
         data['mode'] = mode
         data['recipe'] = (json.loads(sec['recipe']) if sec['recipe'] else {})
+        data['pool'] = secmod.pool_counts(conn)
         data['prefs'] = {'rubric_debug': get_pref(conn, 'rubric_debug', 'off')}
         data['can_forge'] = (mode != 'strict'
                              or secmod.fresh_profile_exists(conn, sec))
diff --git a/app/sections.py b/app/sections.py
index a9e6139..5f09520 100644
--- a/app/sections.py
+++ b/app/sections.py
@@ -442,6 +442,20 @@ def section_decided_ids(conn, section):
            WHERE e.section_id = ?""", (section['id'],))}
 
 
+def pool_counts(conn):
+    """Stock answer to \"can the forge serve anything?\" — fresh / eligible
+    returns / wildcards candidate counts, each from the composer's own
+    candidate SQL. The per-section LAST_TWO exclusion inside compose_section
+    is deliberately NOT applied here: the answer is about stock, not about
+    what one batch will pick (item 8)."""
+    def _count(sql):
+        return conn.execute(
+            'SELECT COUNT(*) AS n FROM (%s)' % sql).fetchone()['n']
+    return {'fresh': _count(NEW_POOL_SQL),
+            'returns': _count(RETURNS_SQL),
+            'wildcards': _count(WILDCARD_SQL)}
+
+
 def section_counts(conn, section):
     """Per-action counts + second-look / wildcard engagement for this
     section (events stamped with this section_id only)."""
diff --git a/app/selfcheck.py b/app/selfcheck.py
index 8a240e6..320393a 100644
--- a/app/selfcheck.py
+++ b/app/selfcheck.py
@@ -382,7 +382,17 @@ def test_api_stats_health():
         conn.close()
         s = c.get('/api/stats').json()
         assert s['live'] == active, (s['live'], active)
-        assert set(s) == {'live', 'new', 'likes', 'maybes', 'nopes', 'last_import'}
+        assert set(s) == {'live', 'fresh', 'new', 'likes', 'maybes',
+                          'nopes', 'last_import'}   # v1.1 item 7: + fresh
+        # fresh = actives with no swipe row (the deck's new-pool predicate)
+        conn = sqlite3.connect(os.path.join(d, 'test.sqlite3'))
+        expect_fresh = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT COUNT(*) AS n FROM listings l"
+            " WHERE l.status='active'"
+            " AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM swipes s"
+            "                 WHERE s.listing_id = l.id)").fetchone()[0]
+        conn.close()
+        assert s['fresh'] == expect_fresh, (s['fresh'], expect_fresh)
         assert s['last_import'] is not None and s['last_import']['ok'] is True
         assert s['new'] == expect_new, (s['new'], expect_new)
         h = c.get('/api/health').json()
@@ -1362,6 +1372,93 @@ def test_v11_item5_section_counter():
         shutil.rmtree(d, ignore_errors=True)
 
 
+def test_v11_item7_stats_fresh():
+    """Item 7: /api/stats.fresh counts actives with no swipe row and moves
+    on swipe (the deck's new-pool predicate)."""
+    d, c, db_path = p3_env()
+    try:
+        conn = _sq_conn(db_path)
+        rows = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT id FROM listings WHERE status='active' LIMIT 5"
+        ).fetchall()
+        assert len(rows) == 5
+        ids = [r['id'] for r in rows]
+        conn.execute("UPDATE listings SET status='gone' WHERE status='active'")
+        conn.execute("DELETE FROM swipes WHERE listing_id IN (%s)"
+                     % ','.join('?' * len(ids)), ids)
+        conn.execute("DELETE FROM swipe_events WHERE listing_id IN (%s)"
+                     % ','.join('?' * len(ids)), ids)
+        for lid in ids:
+            conn.execute("UPDATE listings SET status='active' WHERE id=?", (lid,))
+        for lid in ids[:3]:
+            conn.execute(
+                "INSERT INTO swipes (listing_id, action, created_at)"
+                " VALUES (?, 'maybe', '2026-11-01T00:00:00Z')", (lid,))
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        st = c.get('/api/stats').json()
+        assert st['live'] == 5, st
+        assert st['fresh'] == 2, st        # 2 of 5 still never-touched
+        # swiping one of the untouched pair moves fresh to 1 on next read
+        c.post('/api/swipe', json={'listing_id': ids[3], 'action': 'like'})
+        assert c.get('/api/stats').json()['fresh'] == 1
+    finally:
+        shutil.rmtree(d, ignore_errors=True)
+
+
+def test_v11_item8_pool_and_dry():
+    """Item 8/6: pool counts ride section_state; 0/0/0 composes an empty
+    section; a fresh=0, returns>0 catalog labels the forge note dry."""
+    d, c, db_path = p3_env()
+    try:
+        conn = _sq_conn(db_path)
+        conn.execute('DELETE FROM section_items')
+        conn.execute("UPDATE sections SET status='closed'"
+                     " WHERE status!='closed'")
+        # every active gets a maybe swipe + round-1 event (returns alive,
+        # fresh + wildcards drained)
+        conn.execute(
+            """INSERT INTO swipes (listing_id, action, created_at)
+               SELECT id, 'maybe', '2026-11-01T00:00:00Z' FROM listings
+               WHERE status='active'
+                 AND id NOT IN (SELECT listing_id FROM swipes)""")
+        conn.execute(
+            """INSERT INTO swipe_events (listing_id, action, round, section_id)
+               SELECT id, 'maybe', 1, NULL FROM listings
+               WHERE status='active'
+                 AND id NOT IN (SELECT listing_id FROM swipe_events)""")
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        s = c.get('/api/section').json()      # dry but alive
+        assert s['pool']['fresh'] == 0 and s['pool']['returns'] > 0, s['pool']
+        assert s['recipe']['new'] == 0 and len(s['items']) > 0
+        f = c.post('/api/section/forge', json={}).json()
+        assert f['recipe']['new'] == 0 and len(f['items']) > 0
+        assert 'catalog fully reviewed' in (f.get('note') or ''), f.get('note')
+        # drain returns too (one-shot) + wildcards: pool 0/0/0 -> empty compose
+        conn = _sq_conn(db_path)
+        conn.execute("DELETE FROM section_items")
+        conn.execute("UPDATE sections SET status='closed'"
+                     " WHERE status!='closed'")
+        # burn return eligibility: every active already had its return slot
+        # -> re-insert one-shot return rows for all of them
+        conn.execute(
+            """INSERT INTO section_items (section_id, listing_id, slot, position)
+               SELECT (SELECT id FROM sections ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1),
+                      listing_id, 'return', 1 FROM swipes
+               WHERE listing_id IN (SELECT id FROM listings
+                                    WHERE status='active')""")
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        s2 = c.get('/api/section').json()
+        assert s2['pool'] == {'fresh': 0, 'returns': 0, 'wildcards': 0}, s2['pool']
+        assert s2['items'] == []
+        assert s2['recipe']['new'] == 0 and s2['recipe']['return'] == 0
+        assert s2['recipe']['wildcard'] == 0, s2['recipe']
+    finally:
+        shutil.rmtree(d, ignore_errors=True)
+
+
 P3_API_TESTS = [
     ('p3: events seeding idempotent (from swipes)', test_p3_event_seeding_idempotent),
     ('p3: swipe round math + clear-then-re-decide', test_p3_round_math_and_clear),
@@ -1381,6 +1478,10 @@ if API_DEPS:
 V11_TESTS = [
     ('v1.1: item 5 — section counter keys off in-section events',
      test_v11_item5_section_counter),
+    ('v1.1: item 7 — stats fresh = active minus swiped',
+     test_v11_item7_stats_fresh),
+    ('v1.1: item 8/6 — pool counts, 0/0/0 empty compose, dry forge note',
+     test_v11_item8_pool_and_dry),
 ]
 
 if API_DEPS:
diff --git a/app/static/index.html b/app/static/index.html
index 01bd9ca..59b8392 100644
--- a/app/static/index.html
+++ b/app/static/index.html
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ nav{height:calc(68px + env(safe-area-inset-bottom,0px));display:flex;align-items
 .empty{position:absolute;inset:6px 14px 2px;display:none;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;border:1px dashed #2a2a33;border-radius:18px;color:var(--mut);text-align:center;padding:24px;font-size:13.5px}
 .empty.on{display:flex}
 .empty b{color:#fff;font-size:16px}
+/* item 8: loud exhausted state — section mode only (legacy .empty stays) */
+.empty2{position:absolute;inset:6px 14px 2px;display:none;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:10px;border:1px dashed #4a4a55;border-radius:18px;background:#141419;color:var(--mut);text-align:center;padding:32px;font-size:14px;min-height:220px;z-index:3}
+.empty2.on{display:flex}
+.empty2 b{color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800}
 /* list screen */
 .list{position:absolute;inset:0;display:none;flex-direction:column;background:var(--bg);z-index:50;padding-bottom:68px}
 .list.on{display:flex}
@@ -212,6 +216,7 @@ nav{height:calc(68px + env(safe-area-inset-bottom,0px));display:flex;align-items
 
   <div class="stage" id="stage">
     <div class="empty" id="empty"><b>You're all caught up.</b>New bikes arrive nightly — next import 08:30.<br>↺ brings the last card back.</div>
+    <div class="empty2" id="empty2"><b>No more new bikes!</b>New bikes arrive nightly — next import 08:30.<br>↺ brings the last card back.</div>
     <div class="report" id="report">
       <b>Section complete.</b>
       <div id="repCounts"></div>
@@ -652,6 +657,12 @@ async function loadSection(){
   finally{ deckLoading=false; }
   maybeRefill();
 }
+/* item 8: the deck can serve nothing at all (pool all-zero) -> loud empty */
+function poolDead(){
+  return !!(section && section.pool
+            && section.pool.fresh===0 && section.pool.returns===0
+            && section.pool.wildcards===0);
+}
 function maybeRefill(){
   if(legacyMode){
     if(buffer.length<DEPTH&&deckCursor&&!deckLoaded) loadDeck();
@@ -659,23 +670,31 @@ function maybeRefill(){
     return;
   }
   if(!pile.length&&!buffer.length&&!deckLoading){
-    if(section&&sectDecided>=sectTotal){
+    if(poolDead()){
+      // nothing to serve at all: the loud empty owns the stage (no report)
+      $('empty2').classList.add('on');
+      $('report').classList.remove('on');
+      $('empty').classList.remove('on');
+    }else if(section&&sectDecided>=sectTotal){
       // locally exhausted (last POSTs may still be flushing — the report
       // shows from localDecisions; a quiet resync freshens counts and the
       // server's report flip, rate-limited so a failing last POST can't
       // cause a resync loop)
       $('report').classList.add('on');
       $('empty').classList.remove('on');
+      $('empty2').classList.remove('on');
       if(!section.exhausted&&Date.now()-lastResyncAt>2000){
         lastResyncAt=Date.now();
         loadSection();
       }
     }else if(section){
       $('empty').classList.remove('on'); $('report').classList.remove('on');
+      $('empty2').classList.remove('on');
     }
   }else{
     $('empty').classList.remove('on');
     $('report').classList.remove('on');
+    $('empty2').classList.remove('on');
   }
 }
 
@@ -723,6 +742,7 @@ function undo(){
   preloadPhotos();
   $('empty').classList.remove('on');
   $('report').classList.remove('on');
+  $('empty2').classList.remove('on');
 }
 $('btnLike').onclick=()=>{ if(pile[0]) commit(pile[0].el,'like'); };
 $('btnNope').onclick=()=>{ if(pile[0]) commit(pile[0].el,'nope'); };
@@ -1163,7 +1183,8 @@ let badgeFired=false;
 async function loadStats(){
   const res=await getJSON('/api/stats');
   if(!res) return;
-  $('pill').innerHTML=`<b>${res.live}</b> live`+(res.new>0?` · <b>${res.new}</b> new`:'');
+  const fresh=typeof res.fresh==='number'?res.fresh:null;   // old API: no segment
+  $('pill').innerHTML=`<b>${res.live}</b> live${fresh!=null?` · <b>${fresh}</b> fresh`:''}`+(res.new>0?` · <b>${res.new}</b> new`:'');
   $('lsub').innerHTML=`${res.live} active · `+(res.new>0?`<b style="color:#fff">${res.new} new</b>`:res.new+' new')+' since your last visit';
   if(!badgeFired){
     badgeFired=true;
@@ -1262,6 +1283,12 @@ $('btnForge').onclick=async()=>{
       fillPile();
       updateSectionUI(body);
       if(pile.length){ $('report').classList.remove('on'); }
+      // item 8: a zero-item forge on a fully drained catalog -> empty2,
+      // no lone Forge button inviting a wasted agent run
+      if((body.items||[]).length===0 && poolDead()){
+        $('report').classList.remove('on');
+        $('empty2').classList.add('on');
+      }
     }else{
       $('forgeStatus').textContent= body.detail||'Forge failed';
       paintMode();