Bloomberg Surveillance · Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Hochstein links ongoing geopolitical conflicts, particularly in Iran and Ukraine, to the current volatility in energy markets and their inflationary impact on the broader economy. He emphasizes that unresolved wars are the underlying issue, driving up energy prices and affecting everything from mortgage rates to housing costs, making the current economic situation dangerous.
“As long as the war is going on in Iran, and whether there's shooting or not doesn't really matter, right? The conflict is still there. As long as the conflict in Russia-Ukraine is still going on, this problem will persist.”
“At the end of the day, it's going to drive to inflation. It goes to the bond, which is already driving the 30-year mortgage rates up, which is the housing. And that's how these prices affect the broader economy.”
“This mismanagement of the wars... in both locations is driving energy markets, which I think is very dangerous. Where we are is very dangerous for the broader economy.”