Inflation: Oil hits 2018 high in third week of gains

The American Automobile Association national average for gas is $3.08 per gallon

Oil continued its run higher, clocking the third straight week of gains and adding to the inflation concerns building on Wall and Main Street. 

West Texas Intermediate crude prices topped $70.91 on Friday, a weekly gain of 11.5% and the highest level since October 2018, as tracked by Dow Jones Market Data Group. For the year, crude is up over 46%.  

CONSUMER PRICES JUMP 5% MOST SINCE 2008

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
USO UNITED STATES OIL FUND L.P. 78.72 +1.18 +1.52%

"The commodity strength has been one of the stories of the recovery," Baird Investment Strategy Analyst Ross Mayfield told FOX Business, adding the run is not over. 

"I do think oil continues to head higher, continues to look strong on reopening demand so anything highly linked, highly correlated, with oil price, should be a winner" he noted. 

HOW BITCOIN CAN FIGHT 'HIDDEN INFLATION TAX'

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
XLE ENERGY SELECT SECTOR SPDR ETF 94.38 +0.97 +1.04%

A rise in consumer prices, including energy, has sparked a debate over how hot inflation may get in the coming months. 

The Consumer Price Index for May, reported on Thursday, jumped 5%, the biggest gain since 2018, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

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While energy prices were unchanged from April, the 12-month rise hit 28% through May. 

And drivers are paying for it at the pump. The national average for gas is over $3.00 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Ohio, Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia and Hawaii have seen the largest price uptick in the past week. 

Next Wednesday, the Federal Reserve will announce its decision on interest rates following its two-day policy meeting and are expected to give us a fresh update on inflationary levels and projections.