Oil prices surge straight past the $100 mark! The core logic behind this spike is simple: fighting in the Middle East has spread to major shipping routes, and several oil tankers have been hit in succession, with navigational safety completely spiraling out of control. On the supply side, deliveries are directly cut off, and freight rates and insurance premiums jump in tandem by 6%. Face the reality: high oil prices will burn through inflation and your wallet like a wildfire.