# EJ ANTONI: Overseas wars put affordability on hold, but that’s only temporary

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ej-antoni-overseas-wars-put-affordability-on-hold-but-thats-only-temporary/
- Published: 2026-11-02T09:00:16+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T11:39:11+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/ej-antoni-overseas-wars-put-affordability-hold-temporary
- Topics: World

## Key points

- US cost-of-living progress has slowed amid overseas conflicts.
- Oil climbed from roughly $60–$70 to $100–$120 a barrel.
- The article expects affordability to improve once the wars end.

## Summary

The article argues that US families’ cost of living was improving after January 2025, but conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine have pushed energy and other costs higher, slowing that progress. It says the setback may be temporary and that affordability could improve again when the wars end.

It reports that average weekly pay rose about 17% during Joe Biden’s presidency, while its purchasing power fell around 4%. From January 2025 to February 2026, inflation-adjusted weekly pay increased roughly 2%, but oil prices then climbed from about $60–$70 to $100–$120 a barrel. The article links higher fuel costs to more expensive food, transport and manufactured goods, and says housing affordability has declined since reaching a three-year high in February.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.