With the Iran war still raging, energy experts warn that prices could rise sharply. Manuel Frondel, a power‑sector specialist from the RWI-Leibniz Institute, told the “Rheinische Post” on Saturday that a $180 a barrel price would far exceed the peak of roughly $150 seen in 2008, and such a high is not ruled out. He added that if this happened, the oil price would heat up inflation in Germany, likely derailing the growth prospects expected for 2026.

On Friday, Brent crude hit $111 a barrel. Frondel explained that households with gas furnaces are still shielded by their contract price locks, but those who need to sign new contracts will feel the effect of higher fuel costs. He went further, saying that anyone still running an oil heater in the basement can breathe a little easier now that winter is over, though they can only hope that prices will ease again come autumn.