Why Chinese Demand Drop Is Hitting Oil Harder Than Supply Cuts

Oil has cratered more than eight percent in five days, with WTI crude now at $80.36 a barrel. The usual suspects — Middle East tensions, OPEC+ meetings — aren't driving this slide. Instead, Lucas and Luna dig into a quieter force: China's economy. Fresh data shows retail sales in China posted their first drop in over three years, and the Bank of Japan just hiked rates to one percent, the highest since 1995, which is tightening financial conditions across Asia. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Iran deal threatens to add more supply to a market that's suddenly looking at weaker demand. The hosts break down why the demand side of the oil equation is finally waking up after two years of supply scares, and what it means for prices heading into the second half of 2026. #OilPrices #ChinaEconomy #CrudeOil #IranDeal #BankOfJapan #WTI #Brent #GlobalDemand #OPEC #EconomicSlowdown #RetailSales #Inflation #EnergyMarkets #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #EnergyEconomics #Macro Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo