Brent crude is trading around $102/barrel as of April 1 2026 — up 65% from the $62/barrel start of the year. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since March 2. Peace talks are underway but unresolved.
Compared to January 1, when Brent was $62, the $40/barrel increase passes through to household costs across three channels:
These are annual-rate figures. The live counters on this site show the cumulative cost since January 1 — the amount already spent, ticking up every second.
Fuel (65% passthrough, 1–3 weeks lag): Pump prices track Brent crude the most directly and fastest. At $102 Brent, the average US driver is paying roughly $1,590/year more than in January.
Energy bills (40% passthrough, 4–8 weeks lag): Wholesale gas tracks oil via LNG parity. Qatar declared force majeure on LNG exports in early March. UK and European energy bills are repricing now.
Groceries (15% passthrough, 3–6 months lag): Diesel costs for food logistics pass through slowly. The full grocery impact of the March price spike won’t be fully visible until June–July 2026.
The figures above are averages. Your number depends on your driving habits, heating type and grocery spend. Get your personalised estimate in 30 seconds.
Updated April 1 2026 · Brent price via Yahoo Finance / Alpha Vantage · Estimates only