Blockade of Hormuz is hurting world’s poor most. Collapse of a US budget airline is latest reminder
Whether the war between Trump and Iran is over or just paused, it is still affecting everyday people. In the US, petrol prices have risen from $2.9 to $4.4 per gallon. For poorer families, this makes it much harder to manage their budgets. A US airline, Spirit Airlines, has even shut down because fuel became too expensive. Spirit was important because it offered very cheap flights—sometimes saving families up to $1,000. For many people, it made travel possible. But it couldn’t raise prices because its customers couldn’t afford to pay more.
This problem isn’t just in the US. Around the world, many businesses are struggling. In India, the price of commercial cooking gas (LPG) has gone up by 48%. This gas is used in homes and factories. When costs rise, businesses focus on expensive products that make more profit, instead of cheaper ones. This means basic goods can become too costly for poorer people. Some workers are even leaving cities because they can’t afford to cook food.
The situation is different in different places. In the US, prices are high, but fuel is still available. In countries like India, there is both high cost and not enough supply. Experts warn this could reduce how much people can buy and even lead to food shortages. Poor people will suffer the most.
So even if fighting has stopped, its effects continue. Rising energy costs can also affect big industries like technology, making things more expensive for everyone.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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