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by avanticc 106 days ago
The debate over whether oil prices drive inflation or vice versa usually ignores the lag in supply chain adjustments. When oil hits a certain threshold, it doesn't just increase the cost of a gallon of gas; it reprices the entire logistics layer of the global economy. Even if the current price is lower in inflation-adjusted terms compared to 2008, the volatility matters more for business planning than the absolute number. A rapid spike forces companies to price in risk, which stays sticky even if the price of crude eventually drops back down.