News Brief · Global · Published 23 Aug 2026, 12:10
EIA expects Brent oil to ease from about $85 as supply recovers
The August outlook links oil supply, inventories and geopolitical disruption to the energy costs faced by households and firms worldwide.

The US Energy Information Administration forecast Brent crude at about $85 a barrel in the third quarter of 2026 and around $69 in 2027 as inventories rebuild.
What happened
The monthly outlook revised the expected path for global energy markets, incorporating supply disruption, recovery and the effect of inventories on future prices.
Why it matters
Oil prices feed into transport, production and household energy costs, affecting inflation, real income and trade balances differently across countries.
Economic context
Forecasts are highly uncertain because geopolitical events and producer decisions can change supply quickly, while demand depends on global growth.
Key data
- brent_2027
- about $69 per barrel
- brent_q3_2026
- about $85 per barrel
Related coverage
Euro-area households lowered near-term inflation expectations
The ECB survey shows how consumers see future prices, incomes and spending, expectations that can influence wage demands and present behaviour.
Read brief →Fed minutes explain the debate behind July's rate decision
The detailed record shows how US policymakers assessed inflation, employment and the risks around keeping monetary policy restrictive.
Read brief →UK July inflation release updates the cost-of-living picture
The latest consumer-price data show where household costs are changing and give the Bank of England new evidence on inflation persistence.
Read brief →UK factory-gate prices reveal pressure moving through supply chains
July producer-price data show how manufacturers' input and output costs may feed into consumer inflation, margins and business decisions.
Read brief →Official housing release tracks rents and house prices across the UK
The August housing release connects changing rents and property values to affordability, regional inequality and household spending power.
Read brief →China's retail sales growth slowed to 0.6% in July
The weak monthly reading underlines the challenge of strengthening household demand in an economy long driven by investment and exports.
Read brief →