2026-10-23
30 分钟When the Strait of Hormuz was first closed,
some analysts predicted that oil prices would rise to astronomical levels.
Brent crude oil had been around $70 a barrel.
Could it rise to $150 a barrel?
$200 a barrel?
And with those crazy prices,
could the global economy experience a major shock?
Those predictions never came to pass.
The worst never happened.
Prices rose to over $100 a barrel,
but then inventories were drawn down.
China reduced its demand.
And over May and June,
prices of Brent crude oil fell almost back down to their pre-crisis levels.
Crisis over?
Or not?
Since the beginning of July,
prices have been climbing again.
At the time of recording on Wednesday, October 21st,
they are close to the highs reached when the Iran War first started