Low on Sugar

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According to a Wall Street Journal report, food manufacturers are warning of shortages if the Obama administration doesn't ease import restrictions. However, the American Sugar Alliance disputes the claims and accuse the food manufactures of "crying wolf" when their will be a surplus predicted by USDA. Sugar prices are inflated by demand in Brazil for ethanol fuel and poor harvest in India.

Spending less money

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Prices are rising and making it difficult to pay for food, gas and utilities. Recession, stagflation or an economic depression? Regardless, many "working class" people are responding to these challenging times by cutting luxuries and delaying major purchases and travel.

Record prices for gasoline

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Crude-oil inventories, growing demand and refinery capacity are driving the market. Refineries always perform maintenance in the spring which is compounding the problem .