Since the United States and Israel launched a massive coordinated wave of surprise airstrikes against Iran earlier this year, Michiganders have been feeling the impact—and in ways they didn’t expect.
“The ways we feel these foreign policy decisions and these conflicts are directly in our wallets. It becomes a very ‘bread and butter’ issue,” said Amanda Mattingly, a Truman Security Fellow and founder of ACM Global, an international risk consulting firm. Formerly employed by the US Department of State and the National Security Council, she told The ‘Gander in an interview that gas shortages due to conflicts in the Middle East, which produce millions of barrels for the global oil supply each day, have historically affected various sectors of the American economy.
“Iran and other countries along the Persian Gulf produce a ton of oil and gas, and much of that travels through the Strait of Hormuz,” said Mattingly, adding that Iran has closed the Strait several times this year as a “choke point to impact the global economy.”
As a result, Michiganders and others across the country are having to reach deeper into their pockets to afford basic necessities, and many have given up on traditions like summer vacations entirely.
While some may last longer than others, here are a few ways that Michiganders are seeing rising oil prices show up in their daily lives.
High(er) grocery bills
While some Michiganders are already struggling to afford groceries due to job losses, cuts to health insurance coverage, and loss of childcare, most people across the state report their grocery bills have jumped since Trump’s invasion of Iran.
“If you’ve looked at your grocery bill recently and wondered why grocery prices are still high, it’s because of the shortage in the oil and gas sector,” Mattingly said.
High gas prices can impact the cost of food regardless of where it’s grown, because it typically has to travel long distances to reach grocery store shelves. Perishable foods, including fruits, eggs, and fresh meat, are among the first items impacted by high gas prices.
High oil prices can also drive up the cost of fertilizer that’s used to grow crops and feed livestock by at least 10%, which can raise the overall price of the food that’s produced.
Related: Food deserts in Michigan: What they are, why you should care, and how to get help
Postponed healthcare
Healthcare providers are concerned that rising gas prices will create another barrier to accessing medical care.
Recently, KFF reported that 64% of US adults are worried about paying healthcare costs, given rising gas prices—especially as the Trump administration continues to try to push healthcare access away from Medicaid recipients.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this trend. In July and August 2007, as oil prices more than doubled ahead of the nationwide housing crisis, Michigan had some of the highest gas prices in the country. During this time, the CS Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health conducted a study to examine how rising gas prices were impacting Michiganders’ ability to get to the doctor.
In their results, researchers found that parents saw increased gas prices as another barrier to receiving healthcare, forcing them to postpone medical visits for their children and/or wait to buy medications.
Watch: MI joins lawsuit against Trump’s sudden changes to Medicaid work requirements.
Tourism troubles
As high fuel costs have made domestic and international flights more expensive, Mattingly predicts that more Michiganders are likely to stay in-state or have a “staycation” closer to home this summer. The same is true for people across the US who may have traveled to Michigan for summer fun.
“As discretionary spending goes down, that’s not good for our overall economy, but it’s really not good for tourism,” said Mattingly, adding that high fuel costs have made domestic and international flights more expensive.
What’s more, the Trump administration fired hundreds of rangers and land managers last year—making parks and public lands less safe, less clean, and more crowded than ever before.
