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Goldman Sachs just made it official: The pain at the pump is not going away anytime soon. The bank now expects Brent crude to average above $100 a barrel in March and $85 in April, a dramatic upward revision driven by the deepening crisis at the Strait of Hormuz.Brent futures for May were trading at $100.13 a barrel early Friday, March 13, after spiking to $119.50 on Monday, March 9, their highest level since mid-2022. Since the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran began Feb. 28, Brent has surged more than 36%, and WTI has climbed roughly 39%.This is no longer a market pricing in fear. It is a market pricing in a genuine, prolonged supply squeeze with no clear end in sight.Why Goldman revised its forecast so sharplyGoldman’s commodity team, led by analyst Daan Struyven, now assumes the Strait of Hormuz will operate at just 10% of normal flows for 21 days, followed by a 30-day gradual recovery. That is a significant shift from the team’s earlier model, which assumed only a 10-day disruption.The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s single most critical energy chokepoint. One-fifth of global oil and natural gas supply passes through it every day, Bloomberg reported. With the Strait effectively shut since the start of the conflict, tankers have been stranded, and Gulf producers have been forced to slow or suspend output entirely as onshore storage nears capacity.More Oil and Gas:Energy giant sends blunt $20 billion message on dividend growth147-year-old oil giant just raised dividend 4% in 2026Top energy stocks to buy amid Venezuela chaosAt least 150 tankers have dropped anchor in open Gulf waters, clustered off the coasts of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, according to Reuters ship-tracking data. Shipping giants including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM have suspended operations through the Strait entirely, rerouting vessels around the southern tip of Africa, according to CNBC, adding 10 to 14 days to voyages and piling costs onto an already strained system.Neither the IEA’s emergency release of 400 million barrels from global reserves nor a U.S. waiver allowing Russian oil sales from floating storage has been enough to meaningfully cool prices. Both measures will take weeks to put real barrels on the market, and the Strait is still shut.What Goldman’s numbers actually sayGoldman has now published two separate forecast updates within days of each other, each one more alarming than the last. Here is where the numbers stand as of Friday, March 13.Key Brent crudeforecasts from Goldman’s latest noteMarch Brent average: Above $100 per barrel, reflecting peak war disruption.April Brent average: $85 per barrel, as initial rerouting takes hold.Q4 2026 base case: $71 per barrel for Brent and $67 for WTI, up from prior estimates of $66 and $62.Q4 2026 risk scenario: A two-month Hormuz disruption pushes Goldman’s Q4 Brent estimate to $93 per barrel, up sharply from $71.Later this year: Goldman still expects prices to gradually ease back to the low $70s, but only if flows normalize on schedule.The bank is telling the market there are two very different stories at play. There is the violent geopolitical squeeze happening right now, and then there is a normalization story that could unfold later in the year. Which one wins depends almost entirely on how long the strait stays closed.The broader economic fallout of Brent crude oil price surgeThe consequences of $100-per-barrel oil reach well beyond the gas station. Goldman estimates that a sustained 10% rise in oil prices raises headline PCEinflation by about 0.2 percentage points while shaving roughly 0.1 percentage points off GDP growth.In their upside oil scenario, the bank sees headline PCE peaking at 4.5% in the spring before settling at 3.3% by year end. Goldman raised its December 2026 headline PCE inflation forecast by 0.8 percentage points to 2.9% and revised GDP growth down 0.3 percentage points to 2.2% on a Q4/Q4 basis.

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, tankers have been stranded, and Gulf producers have been forced to slow or suspend output.Kitwood/Getty Images

That combination of higher inflation and slower growth has forced Goldman to push back its Federal Reserve rate cut forecast. The bank now no longer expects a June cut, moving its first rate cut call to September, followed by a second in December. Goldman also raised its recession odds over the next 12 months to 25%.The disruption is also rippling far beyond crude oil. Qatar’s state energy firm has halted production at its two main LNG facilities following attacks on its industrial sites. Roughly 20% of global LNG passes through the Strait, nearly all of it from Qatar, according to analysts cited by Time. European natural gas futures jumped around 30% following the news.OPEC and U.S. shale can only do so muchSaudi Arabia and its OPEC+ allies still have spare capacity sitting idle, and eight OPEC+ members agreed in early March to add 206,000 barrels per day to output from April. But ramping up production takes weeks, and no amount of extra barrels fixes the problem of ships that physically cannot move through the Strait.A critical constraint further complicates the situation. The IEA estimates that about 4.2 million barrels per day of oil currently transported through the strait can be redirected via existing pipelines, leaving approximately 16 million barrels a day (per Kpler) at risk if the Strait stays fully closed, Goldman noted.U.S. shale is also running hard, with Permian basin output at record levels. But domestic production cannot offset a disruption of this magnitude overnight. Goldman’s analysts describe the current hit to Persian Gulf exports as the largest oil supply shock on record, surpassing even the 1973 OPEC embargo and the 1990 Gulf War in terms of its immediate impact on flows.Until the Strait reopens, Goldman’s message is clear. At $100 a barrel, the bank is not describing an oil-price ceiling. It is describing a floor.Related: Oil shock sends blunt message on stock market inflation risk

During my many years of reporting and writing about real estate trends and other finance topics, including mortgage rates and the housing market in general, I’ve recognized the importance of paying close attention to numbers and statistics that wildly diverge from economic norms.Real estate technology firm Zillow recently found and revealed one such fact.”A near-record (and rising) share of homeowners are turning their unsold properties into rentals,” Zillow wrote. “Properties owned by these ‘accidental landlords’ account for more of the listed rental stock than at any time since 2022 — and the trend may not have peaked yet.””As the market continues to rebalance, sellers are facing a different reality than they did a few years ago,” said Kara Ng, senior economist at Zillow. “Bargaining power is tilting toward buyers and homes are taking longer to sell, making renting out a property one way to buy time rather than compete aggressively on price.” “After all, today’s sellers are rarely forced to sell, and it appears they are often unwilling to budge off of what their heart says their home is worth,” she continued.Related: Redfin, Zillow reveal major mortgage rate, housing market changeThe measure swings sharply with the seasons and usually hits its high point in November, when many potential sellers give up as the buying season winds down. Zillow’s latest reading from October 2025 reached 2.3% — matching the October peak set in 2022 — and the all‑time high of 2.4% from November 2022 is now within striking distance.Mortgage rates reach 7-month highsMarch has been a rough stretch for mortgage rates, and since March 11, they have delivered some of the sharpest increases of the month.”During that time, our daily rate index went from 6.09% on Tuesday to 6.41% today — the highest since September 4th, 2025,” wrote Mortgage News Daily. “While that’s certainly not the fastest jump we’ve seen, it’s the worst 3-day stretch since early April, 2025.””Mortgage rates are driven primarily by movement in the bond market,” wrote Matthew Graham, Mortgage News Daily’s chief operating officer. “Like several other asset classes, bonds have not been happy about the Iran war.””This is counterintuitive for those who expect bonds to serve as a safe haven in times of uncertainty, but when war has a direct impact on inflation expectations, it’s more than enough to offset any of the safe haven benefit that might otherwise be seen.”More on mortgages, housing market:Zillow sounds alarm mortgage rates, housing marketBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices predicts housing market pivotRedfin sends strong message on mortgage ratesSam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, notes that homebuyers are still moderately in the market.“Despite the modest uptick, buyers are responding to rates in this range, with existing-home sales increasing 1.7% in February,” Khater wrote. “Purchase applications also increased this week, a welcome sign as buyers enter spring homebuying season with rates down more than half a percentage point compared to the same time last year.”

Real estate technology company Zillow reports a large increase in accidental landlords.TheStreet

Zillow reveals metros with highest and lowest share of accidental landlordsThe metros with the most accidental landlords are generally those where the buyer pool is thinner. Zillow’s Market Heat Index shows these markets leaning toward buyers: listings sit longer and sellers are more likely to trim prices. Notably, seven of the top 10 are in Texas or Florida.Metros with the highest share of accidental landlordsDenver (4.9%) — Denver has the largest share of accidental landlords among major metros.Houston (4.2%) — Houston follows closely, with a sizable portion of homeowners renting out properties unintentionally.Austin (4.1%) — Austin also shows a high rate of owners who became landlords by circumstance rather than choice.San Antonio (3.9%) — San Antonio’s share is similarly elevated, reflecting softer buyer demand.Portland (3.7%) — Portland has a notable concentration of accidental landlords.Tampa (3.7%) — Tampa matches Portland, with many owners renting out homes they initially meant to sell.Miami (3.5%) — Miami’s share remains well above the national average.Dallas (3.4%) — Dallas also sees a significant number of homeowners renting out properties unexpectedly.Jacksonville (3.3%) — Jacksonville’s share is slightly lower but still among the highest nationally.Nashville (3.2%) — Nashville rounds out the top 10 with a substantial accidental‑landlord presence.(Source:Zillow)Metros with the lowest share of accidental landlordsProvidence (0.6%) — Providence has one of the smallest shares of accidental landlords in the country.Boston (0.6%) — Boston matches Providence with an equally low rate.New York (0.7%) — New York also sees very few homeowners renting out properties unintentionally.Hartford (0.8%) — Hartford’s share remains well below 1%.Buffalo (0.8%) — Buffalo shows a similarly low rate of accidental landlords.Milwaukee (1.2%) — Milwaukee’s share is modest but slightly higher than the Northeast metros above.Chicago (1.3%) — Chicago has a relatively small portion of accidental landlords.Philadelphia (1.4%) — Philadelphia’s share remains low compared with most large metros.Cleveland (1.5%) — Cleveland’s rate is still among the lowest nationally.Richmond (1.5%) — Richmond ties Cleveland with a similarly small share.(Source:Zillow)Related: Zillow predicts mortgage rate, housing market change

Sneakerheads have a lot to celebrate today. During its Q4 FY2026 earnings call on March 12, Dick’s Sporting Goods revealed that its Fast Break stores are here to stay. “This is the evolution of the 11-store pilot we discussed last quarter,” Dick’s Sporting Goods Executive Chairman Ed Stack told investors. “Based on the strength of the pilot results, we’ve already expanded Fast Break to an additional 10 stores… and we’re very pleased with the strong early performance.” “Now looking ahead, we’re excited to rapidly scale Fast Break by back-to-school 2026,” Stack continued.Fast Break stores are a product of Dick’s 2025 acquisition of Foot Locker. The existing locations are stocked with footwear and limited apparel options, similar to the Foot Locker stores of yore, but in a more streamlined fashion.“The improvement is coming from the basics: clearer storytelling, better presentation, and a more focused assortment where we removed roughly 30% of the styles on the shoe wall that were unproductive and eliminated the run-on sentence that we’ve been talking about that was not showing the customer what product was important,” Stack told investors.Dick’s Sporting Goods acquisition of Foot LockerIn September 2025, Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) completed its acquisition of Foot Locker and its portfolio of brands. “We are very enthusiastic about the future of Foot Locker,” Stack said in a statement at the time. Even with that enthusiasm, Stack acknowledged that it would take a good deal of work to return Foot Locker to profitability. One major impediment has been Foot Locker’s large amount of unproductive inventory. At the end of Q2 FY 2025, the company reported having $1.709 billion in merchandise inventory, up 3.7% year over year. More retail:Costco shares surprising plan to add more storesTarget makes bold change to win back customersKohl’s CEO tells customers major revamp is on the wayPost-acquisition, Dick’s has slowly been dealing with that excess of inventory, selling much of it at a discount through its Going, Gone! stores.“Our first priority was to clean out the garage, starting with addressing unproductive inventory,” Stack told investors earlier this month. “The team moved quickly and decisively to get this done, and we’re pleased to report that the inventory cleanup is now essentially complete.” “We were able to recover a higher cash amount by putting it through the DICK’S value chain than if we sent that out through a jobber,” he continued. “We’re really well-positioned. This inventory at Foot Locker is probably cleaner than it has ever been. That should bode well for our margins and our sales going forward.”

Dick’s Sporting Goods will make its Fast Break stores a permanent part of its lineup.Getty Images

Dick’s continues to expand its fleet New Fast Break stores aren’t the only Dick’s locations set to open this year. In 2026, the company said it has plans to open 14 new House of Sport and 22 Fieldhouse locations. These experience-oriented stores, replete with amenities like turf fields and rock walls, have been wildly successful for the retailer.“House of Sport and DICK’S Field House remain two of our most powerful and long-term growth drivers, and we will continue expanding these formats with discipline,” Chief Financial Officer Navdeep Gupta told investors. Related: Bath & Body Works makes big change customers will notice right awayThe expansion plans don’t end there. Approximately 15 Golf Galaxy Performance Center locations will open in the calendar year, as well as at least one new distribution center.Interestingly, Dick’s executives say they have plans to open some of these locations in malls. While other retailers such as Bath & Body Works are consistently closing their in-mall locations thanks to declining foot traffic, the sporting goods company is taking another route.The mall locations may not be a bad bet. According to data from Placer.ai, indoor malls have begun to regain momentum, with visits increasing by 5% in February 2026 year over year. Outlet malls are doing even better, with foot traffic increasing by 7.3% in the same time period.The “momentum may reflect a broader shift in how outlet centers are positioning themselves,” Placer.ai’s report said. “Rather than serving solely as transactional shopping destinations, some are expanding their food and experiential offerings to encourage longer, more social visits.”Perhaps the new Fast Break stores will be able to capitalize on this shift, turning around Foot Locker’s fortunes once and for all. Foot Locker outlookDuring March’s earnings call, executives made three significant predictions regarding Foot Locker’s future:In 2026, Dick’s Sporting Goods expects Foot Locker to deliver growth and comp sales of between 1% and 3%.Foot Locker is expected to generate an operating income of between $100 million and $150 million.Back-to-school 2026 is expected to be the sales and profitability inflection point for Foot Locker.Related: Why Dick’s Sporting Goods has thrived while rivals fail

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealHaving fun in the sun is the best part about the warmer months, but between hiking, fishing, swimming, kayaking, travelling, and relaxing, our skin is exposed to a lot of sun. Protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays can be one of the best ways to prevent premature aging, sun damage, and skin cancer, and while sunscreen is super useful when it comes to staying protected from the sun, it can be easy to forget to reapply, or it doesn’t work as well during water sports or occasions like hiking, where you’re just sweating too much for it to stick. In these instances where you’d like to enjoy being in the sun instead of worrying about sunburns, the Zity Sun Hoodie 3-Pack is a perfect solution. They’re lightweight and offer UPF 50+ protection to keep your skin safe during all your fun outdoor adventures. Thankfully, shoppers can save 74% on the original price of $76 for this 3-pack, paying less than $7 for each hoodie.Zity Sun Hoodie 3-Pack, $20 (was $76) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?While wearing a long-sleeve shirt in the sun may seem counterintuitive, these sun hoodies provide high sun protection with quick-dry material that keeps you cool. The advanced breathable construction ventilates body heat and provides airflow, while also staying soft and featuring a comfortable four-way stretch that moves with you, no matter what your day entails. The material is also wrinkle-resistant and machine washable, and it includes a hood to protect your neck and ears.Related: Walmart’s effortlessly cool denim jackets are a spring wardrobe staple, starting at just $17The UPF 50+ sun protection makes these hoodies perfect for any outdoor activity, and the 3-pack allows you to pack an extra to change into if you want something fresh for pizza on the patio after a long hike. They feature a tagless design that prevents irritation, and could even be worn in the water during paddleboarding or water skiing. The versatility is endless, from afternoon walks, to vacation boating, to gardening and mowing the lawn. Details to knowSizes: Choose from Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large, and 3X-LargeColor: They offer tons of color combinations, with blue, gray, white, and black being included in the best deals. Material: This sun hoodie is 100% polyester.”I was very happy with these. I used them on a recent trip. I like having the hoods to block the sun on my neck. Better than a hat,” said one buyer.Another reviewer said, “It’s surprisingly comfortable and easy to wear, especially if you like performance-style fabrics. The material feels very similar to a workout shirt or a rash guard. It is thin, breathable, and clearly designed for warm weather. The hood is functional without feeling bulky, and the fabric dries quickly if you sweat. Comfort-wise, they feel good against the skin and do not trap heat as much as thicker hoodies.”Shop more dealsRoadbox UPF 50+ Fishing Sun Hoodie, $13 (was $14) at AmazonRoadbox UPF 50+ Hoodie with Mask, $13 (was $15) at AmazonRyly 2-Pack Sun Shirt, $24 at AmazonThe Zity Sun Hoodie 3-Pack offers a quick and easy way to stay protected from the sun year-round. The high protection, thin, quick-dry material, and convenient hood make it great for everything from gardening to boating. Shoppers can save 74% at Amazon and get this pack for just $20.