Episode 7

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Published on:

13th Mar 2026

Oil Prices, Conflict, and Economic Fallouts — What Comes Next?

Season 6, Episode 7: Welcome back to a new episode of Keeping it Real with Dr. Kuehl. This week, Dr. Chris Kuehl talks about the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran and what it could mean for oil prices, inflation, and the broader global economy.

ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl is back with his weekly economic update podcast. In Season 6, Episode 7 (7:06 in length), ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl discusses the latest developments surrounding the conflict in the Middle East, the disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, and the growing economic implications if the situation continues.

  1. How has the closure of the Strait of Hormuz affected global oil shipments?
  2. Why is the U.S. military limited in its ability to protect tanker traffic in the region?
  3. Which nearby countries — including Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait — are most vulnerable to Iranian attacks?
  4. Why the length of the conflict may be the biggest economic risk
  5. Could oil prices surge into the hundreds if tensions continue to escalate?
  6. How rising oil prices could fuel inflation concerns and affect Federal Reserve rate decisions
  7. Could the conflict shape the economic narrative heading into the midterm elections?
  8. What difficult choices now face the United States as it considers its next move with Iran?

Ask Dr. Kuehl a Question!

Have a question or topic for Chris Kuehl that you would like answered on this podcast or on his monthly ASA members only webinar?

Email it to Brianna Dovichi at bdovichi@asa.net

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About the Podcast

Keeping it Real Podcast with Dr. Kuehl
PHCP-PVF economic updates in less than 10 minutes.
A weekly podcast, “Keeping it Real with Dr. Kuehl,” debut in July 2020. In these podcasts, ASA Chief Economist, Dr. Chris Kuehl, provides a brief 5-10 minute economic update on areas of keen interest to ASA members, including industrial PVF commodities.