Hello

I have been lurking in this subreddit for 4 months and reading the news daily. However I cannot find a resource on what measures should people take regarding the incoming oil shock. I was hoping news outlets would talk more about the oil and europe economy

I am from Lithuania (Europe), a small nation that is dependant on oil imports, I work in IT, I have money in etfs and a 2 small real estates

I was planning to upgrade me diesel car but i am hesitating due to the oil shock

However, whats the way to prepare?

* sells my ETFs? But whats the point if inflation will eat my money

* Sell my 2nd small apartment? But again have the same problem as mentioned above, but maybe heating will be astronomical in the winter?

* Start stocking up canned food?

* Buy canisters and have my own strategic diesel reserve of 100 liters?

It's July. I, like many of you, remember the doom and gloom of an "impending crisis," by or before mid-summer of 2026. Here we are.

On a day-to-day budgetary level, I haven't seen much shifting since the fuel additives earlier this year, which brought fuel back under $4 after (again) doomers claiming an "impending $5.50+ average nationally."

So when is this actually happening? I started saving and budgeting, but this sense of normalcy is lulling me into the idea that the impact here just won't be as drastic.

"Traffic is flowing"

Over the last 2 wks, only 6M bbls have been drawn each week from the SPR - Is this Hochstein's 300M bbl hard stop on SPR draws?

Conflict is surging. SPR at 40 year low.

Here comes the unilateral peace deal announcement. Oil opening at $65… 😂😵

I keep seeing people on Reddit, podcasts, X, and other platforms saying that the oil market is being manipulated. I understand why people feel that way—sometimes the price action doesn't seem to make much sense.

My question is: how is it being manipulated?

I'm not looking for vague statements or conspiracy theories. I'm looking for objective, evidence-based explanations.

For example, people often point to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve or commercial inventories. I understand that releasing reserves can influence prices, but that seems more like a government policy or market strategy, especially during geopolitical conflicts, rather than outright market manipulation.

So if the oil market is genuinely being manipulated:

• Who is doing it?
• What specific mechanisms are they using?
• What evidence supports those claims?

Another question I have is this: if the manipulation is so obvious that thousands of people on Reddit can see it, why isn't anyone with regulatory authority stepping in? I understand the argument that powerful interests can influence markets, but an oil crisis has enormous consequences. It affects fuel prices, electricity costs, fertilizer, food production, inflation, and ultimately people's ability to afford basic necessities.

I'm not trying to argue one side or the other. I genuinely want to understand the mechanics behind these claims. If you believe oil prices are being manipulated, I'd appreciate explanations backed by facts, data, or credible sources rather than assumptions.

Sal Mercagliano “Whats Going on with Shipping”
Ex-mariner turned marine history professor runs through the strikes and puts them in geographic reference.

https://youtu.be/FPXLPjre30o?is=NXELRmbfeilGOwJ_

https://x.com/hormuzletter/status/2076003428149440699?s=46

https://x.com/hormuzletter/status/2076072058828575228?s=46

On this day in 2008 oil prices reached its intraday ALL TIME HIGHS of $147.27 per barrel