The Strait That Could Break Your Wallet — And Expose the Fragility of the Global Energy System

The Inflation Americans Never Escaped For millions of Americans, the economic pain never really stopped. Groceries still cost more than they did just a few years ago. Rent remains stubbornly high. Interest rates have made borrowing more expensive. Families that once had breathing room now find themselves doing the math every month. So when gasoline prices jump—even a little—it lands like a punch to the gut. Energy is not just another commodity. It is the foundation of modern life. Every product on a store shelf, every delivery truck on the highway, every airplane ticket and heating bill ultimately traces back to the cost of energy. When oil prices surge, the ripple spreads quickly: transportation costs climb food prices follow manufacturing…