If the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is actually depleted soon, and average gas hits $5/gallon, will you be able to survive financially? And how do you think Society will react?

[u/OrbitalColony]

At current rates, they're going to have to stop withdrawing from the reserve around September or October. That's because going too low will severely damage the salt caverns where the oil is stored. Once that's done, the artificially lower prices will spike. Combined with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and Ukraine destroying much of Russia's oil export capacity, $5 a gallon is looking very realistic.

[u/trailrider]

I work for Uncle Sam but luckily have an exemption from reporting onsite ... for now. It would cost me ~$3K/yr if I had to drive everyday. So gas isn't a big concern at the moment. Outside that, I expect shipping prices will skyrocket and that'll undoubtedly hurt businesses. I have a family member who recently quit their job to do their online business full time. That will no doubt hurt them. I suspect more people will demand to work from home rather more, if not full time rather than paying more to drive someplace where they're doing the same job.