Marketplace A fuel-driven economy
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Mar 31, 2026 Curtis Lee, a reporter on income and health trends, explores why more middle-class people are selling blood plasma. Henry App, a transportation reporter, discusses whether high gas prices could nudge car buyers toward electric vehicles. Justin Ho, a commodities reporter, covers rising aluminum costs and how industries are coping. Short, punchy stories about fuel shocks, supply strain, and shifting markets.
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Commodity Uncertainty Forces Risky Business Choices
- Businesses face uncertainty over how long war-driven commodity spikes will last, complicating planning and pricing.
- Vidya Mani warns costs could escalate substantially month-to-month, prompting firms to use tariff-era 'playbooks' to cope.
Energy Shock Spurs A Coal Comeback In Asia
- Oil above $100 a barrel pushed Asian buyers back toward coal as LNG shipped through the Strait of Hormuz becomes pricier and less available.
- Daniel Ackerman reports countries like Thailand and Taiwan may restart mothballed coal plants and Japan and South Korea have suspended some coal limits.
Short-Term Coal Rise Could Speed Renewable Investment
- Short-term coal and emissions may rise, but sustained fuel shocks can incentivize faster investment in renewables.
- Daniel Cohan suggests wind, solar, and batteries become more attractive once countries aim to avoid imported fuel volatility.