OIL SHOCK LIFTS U.S. INFLATION OUTLOOK — GOLDMAN Goldman Sachs raised its U.S. inflation forecast and cut its 2026 growth outlook, warning that higher oil prices linked to the Iran conflict are the main economic risk. The bank expects Brent crude to average $98 in March–April, potentially $110 if flows through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted for a month, before easing to $71 by Q4 2026. Goldman now sees headline Personal Consumption Expenditures price index at 2.9% and core PCE at 2.4% by end-2026, while GDP growth is cut to 2.2%. With inflation stickier, the bank expects the Federal Reserve to delay its first rate cut to September.(*Walter Bloomberg)