Energy inflation fuels uncertainties in a K-shaped economy in World Economy News 13/05/2026 Rising energy prices pushed overall U.S. consumer inflation to 3.3% in March 2026, up from 2.4% in January and February, after the Iran conflict drove a spike in retail gas prices, according to Bernstein research. Gas prices, which had been deflationary through most of 2025, surged sharply in early 2026. The broader consumer price index had moderated through late 2025 before the energy-driven reversal, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited in the report. The inflationary pressure is hitting lower-income households hardest. The gap between top- and bottom-third income consumer sentiment widened sequentially in the first quarter of 2026, after narrowing in the prior quarter, according to University of Michigan data cited by Bernstein. Higher-income consumers received a temporary cushion from tax refunds, allowing their sentiment to rebound and diverge from lower-income peers, the report noted. Cumulative inflation across all categories since January 2019 stands at 31%, led by energy at 70% cumulative and food at 35%, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Food-away-from-home inflation ran at 3.8% year-over-year in March 2026, still outpacing food-at-home at 1.9%, though the gap has narrowed since 2025. SNAP benefits paid have declined year-over-year since October 2025, when the USDA’s new fiscal year began, driven by tighter employment requirements for 55-to-65-year-olds that reduced eligible participants by 10% year-over-year as of early 2026, per USDA data. Total retail sales grew year-over-year across channels as of March 2026, with clothing and accessories stores posting 7.2% growth and general merchandise at 2.5%, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Non-store retailers, including e-commerce, have continued gaining share from brick-and-mortar channels since 2021. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate remained above 6.2% as of 2026 year-to-date, per Freddie Mac data, with roughly 80% of existing mortgage holders locked in below 6% and approximately 49% below 4%, suppressing housing turnover. Pending and existing home sales remained subdued over the prior 12 months, per National Association of Realtors data. Bernstein’s proprietary model forecasts home improvement spending growth of 0% to 1% over the next six to nine months. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index continued declining year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, extending a multi-year downtrend. One-year inflation expectations climbed toward 7% by late 2025 into early 2026, per University of Michigan data, while the share of consumers expecting rising unemployment remained elevated. Real disposable personal income per capita was trending upward at approximately $52,500 as of February 2026, per Bureau of Economic Analysis data, offering a partial offset. Consumer credit outstanding continued growing, though year-over-year growth lagged inflation, per Federal Reserve data. Food private label volume held positive growth with market share near 27.8% as of March 2026, per NielsenIQ data, reflecting continued value-seeking behavior particularly among lower-income consumers. Source: Investing.com 2026-05-13 hellenicshippingnews... window.___gcfg = {lang: 'en-US'}; (function(w, d, s) { function go(){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], load = function(url, id) { if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.src = url; js.id = id; fjs.parentNode.insertBef