Macro
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month values ▾
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -0.57 | +0.80 | +0.80 | +0.85 | +0.85 | +0.85 | -0.66 | +0.20 | -0.30 | -0.70 | -0.85 | -0.73 |
The first half brought record $147 crude and the peak of the boom, but the financial crisis and demand collapse cratered oil to $33 by December, a violent reversal from euphoria to existential dread in six months.
How this mood is scored ▾
Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude surged to $100 a barrel, closing at $99.62, driven by sustained high prices and market momentum. The jump lifted wholesale fuel costs, signaling higher retail gasoline prices, with AAA warning of record consumer costs ahead. Though the economic impact of the marginal increase may be limited, the psychological barrier of $100 oil underscores ongoing inflationary pressures in energy markets.
Crude oil surged to a record $147.27 per barrel due to escalating geopolitical tensions with Iran, supply disruptions in Nigeria and Brazil, and a weakening U.S. dollar. The spike in energy prices is expected to drive up winter heating costs, particularly for Northeast U.S. households relying on heating oil, while raising broader inflationary pressures across energy markets.
Crude cratered to four-and-a-half-year lows as global demand contracted at the fastest pace since the early 1980s despite record OPEC cuts. The crash hammered energy earnings and petrostate budgets while delivering a rare tailwind to consumers.