#inflation

#inflation

The U.S. Treasury bond market has finally responded to the Mideast war, giving its assessment of the energy shock's severity and the war's effect on U.S. fiscal imbalance and inflation.

The national average for a gallon of gasoline is poised to surpass $4, up from about $3 a month ago - and is set to rise further the longer the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

The orthodoxy across much of the world has been that only markets should decide what things cost, as argued by influential economists like Friedrich Hayek.

In Ireland, milk and butter prices are determined by a combination of international commodity market and global supply and demand dynamics. Lidl is proud to lead the market by dropping the price of milk and butter, passing savings directly on to shoppers.

The increase takes effect from 1 April and will mean the average council tax for a Band D property in England will increase to £2,392 a year - up £111 on last year.

The figures show the severe impact the Iran war is already having on the euro zone economy. But, like in the 1970s, stagflation could become a widespread global phenomenon characterised by high inflation, low growth, and high unemployment, heavily driven by oil price shocks.

Goldman Sachs now expects Brent crude to average $105 per barrel in March and $115 in April before retreating to $80 by year-end, assuming roughly six weeks of Hormuz supply disruptions.

The average American's FICO score is now down to 714 - a two point decline over the course of the last year, reflecting a troubling trend in credit health.

Gold's stabilization comes amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, particularly in the Middle East, where tensions and oil prices remain high, impacting market sentiment.

The Bank of England has held rates at 3.75 percent, with global tensions including the conflict in Iran keeping inflation risks alive and delaying hoped-for cuts.

Sterling fell by 0.5% against the dollar, dropping below $1.33, as the US currency strengthened due to a flight to safety. The dollar index increased by 0.3%.

Dan McTeague, a fuel analyst, stated that gas stations in the Greater Toronto Area experienced a net increase of eight cents a litre this weekend alone, which is quite devastating given the current inflationary pressures affecting various sectors.

Inflation is the reason the Fed can't step in to help. The Fed's preferred gauge hit 3.1% year-over-year in January 2026 and is expected to hover near 2.9% through December—well above the 2% target.