Deep DiveThe Middle East Energy Shock and the US Consumer: Lessons from 2022—Sustained Impacts Risk Trickle-Up Effect Aditya Kaushik, Analyst Sector Lead: John Mercer, Head of Global Research and Managing Director of Data-Driven Research April 6, 2026 Reasons to ReadDiscover how 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict impacted US consumer behavior and the retail sector and how the recent Middle East energy shock would impact US consumer behavior and the retail sector, with potential ripple effects on the economy. Read this report to discover answers to these and other questions: How has the conflict in Iran affected oil and gasoline prices, and what does this mean for US consumers? What can we learn from the historical comparison to the 2022 energy shock regarding fuel price increases? How might higher gasoline prices and inflationary pressures influence consumer confidence and discretionary spending across different income groups? What are the wider impacts on retail, including shifts in consumer preferences towards value-oriented products and private labels? How could the duration of the conflict influence broader economic and retail sector trends, especially in terms of inflation, store traffic and spending patterns? Companies mentioned in this report include: Amazon (NasdaqGS: AMZN), Adidas (XETRA:ADS), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Capri Holdings (NYSE: CPRI), The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX), Dollar General (NYSE: DG), Dollar Tree (NasdaqGS: DLTR), Sprouts Farmers Market (NasdaqGS: SFM), Target (NYSE: TGT), V.F. Corporation (NYSE: VFC), Walmart (NasdaqGS: WMT), Wayfair (NYSE: W) Data in this report include: US Retail Gasoline Prices (2022 and 2026), US Consumer Sentiment (2022 and 2026), Placer.ai store traffic data (2022 and 2026), US Total Real Personal Consumption Expenditures (2022), Shifts in US Grocery and Nongrocery Shopping Habits (2022) Already a subscriber? Log in You are currently viewing a preview of this report. Please select an access option to view the full report. Hide Options - Show Options + Get unlimited access to all our research with one of our subscription plans. View Subscription Plans or Contact us to purchase this report. Contact us ✕ This document was generated for Other research you may be interested in: Retail 2025: China Retail PredictionsThree Data Points We’re Watching This Week, Week 22: US Consumer Insights—Tariffs and InflationSector Focus: Luxury Goods—Data GraphicHoliday Bites: GLP-1 Disruption with Smaller Baskets, Smaller Sizes—and a Leaner Thanksgiving?—Data Graphic