LEWISTON, Minn. — At $3.65, a 20-gallon tank passed the psychologically significant $100 for a fill-up in Winina County. In some parts of the country, the price was approaching $5. It’s happening globally with the fuel crisis created by the Trump war in the Middle East. To angry foreign governments Trump lectured them to buy American, not Arabian oil. “We have plenty,” Trump said. Economists declared Tump’s point was a further indicator of his ignorance of economics: Oil is a global commodity with all supplies available only from a global pool. The glboal impact is enormous because of society’s reliance on fossil fuels:
> Agriculture and groceries: Farmers are being hit especially hard by diesel fuel prices. This is ontop of major export losses due to Trump tariff wars. The farm crisis is compounded the price of fertilizer whose primary ingredient is nitrogen from Arabia.
> Shipping and commerce: United Parcel added an 8% surcjarg .to shippers,who pass along the increase customers. So too have FedEx, Amazon and the whole logistics industry.
> Mail: The Postal Service is considering $1 for a first-class stamp.
> Travel: Air faes are soaring. As an example, European carriers Ajr France and KLM have added $57 to roundtrips. U.S. carriers are making similar adjustments.
Gloomy day at gloomy pumps. A sampler around Winona County: Cenex at Rollingstone, $3,50; Clark at Stockton, $3.50; Kwik Trips, $3.54 to $3.65; Love’s a St. Charles, $3.59. Image: Steve Lunde
Vox populi. Dozens of companies that manufacture stickers are doing land-office volume with messages for angry motorists to plaster on gas pumos. Their target: Presidenit Trump.Most are are sold in packets of 100.