Prices

ONE of Britain’s biggest holiday park operators is offering to cover the cost of customers’ fuel to get to their sites as prices continue to skyrocket.

With oil prices hitting their highest since 2022 due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, petrol, diesel, and plane fuel costs are being passed on to consumers. 

As a result, Hoseasons is offering to pay back the money spent travelling to their sites via its newly launched ‘Fuel Cover’ scheme this summer.

It follows research which found 15.4 million Brits (28 per cent) have changed holiday plans this year due to rising costs. 

Nearly six in 10 of the 2,000 adults polled said the hidden costs of going away, including travel, fuel and expenses while there, are putting them off booking a trip this summer.

Simon Altham, chief operating officer for the brand, which commissioned the poll, said: “UK breaks remain a hugely popular option for families looking for flexibility, value and quality time together, giving people the chance to properly switch off and reconnect closer to home.

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“We know rising travel costs are becoming a bigger consideration for many holidaymakers this summer.

“Fuel, in particular, can quickly add to the overall cost of a trip, especially for families travelling during peak holiday periods.

“That’s why we wanted to help ease some of that pressure and support people continuing to take the UK breaks they were already planning this summer.”

The study also found, 7.6 million (27 per cent) of those planning a UK break admitted they would travel shorter distances for a UK getaway this year. 

Those travelling by car expect to spend an average of £68 on fuel for their next UK holiday journey.

Rising costs are also influencing where people travel, with 28 per cent now more likely to choose a UK break over going abroad.

Among those still looking to get away, 26 per cent have set a lower overall budget for their trip, while 23 per cent are looking for self-catering accommodation. 

A similar proportion (23 per cent) said they’re actively seeking cashback or money-saving deals before booking. 

Despite the financial pressures, the research carried out through OnePoll found 56 per cent of those planning to holiday this year are still likely to book a getaway this summer. 

And 61 per cent believe holiday companies need to do more to encourage people to book trips in the current climate. 

Hoseasons customers can claim back up to £75 in fuel costs through its new Fuel Cover initiative per booking between 20 May and 30 August for travel before 30 September. Bookings must be made by phone and quoting the code “FUEL75”.

Simon Altham from Hoseasons added: “Travel costs are one of the biggest considerations for holidaymakers at the moment.

“Fuel, in particular, can quickly become one of the biggest extra costs for families travelling during peak holiday periods.

“That’s why we’ve designed the offer to ease some of the pressure and help families make the most of their summer breaks.”

Japan’s stock market surges to record high on hopes of an end to US-Israel war on Iran.

Oil prices have fallen sharply amid tentative hopes for a deal to end the US-Israel war on Iran.

Brent crude, the primary benchmark for global oil prices, fell about 5 percent on Sunday as US President Donald Trump gave mixed signals on the prospects for a permanent end to the conflict.

Brent futures for July stood at $98.47 a barrel as of 01:05 GMT, down about 9 percent from a month ago but still up by more than a third compared with before the start of the war.

Japan’s benchmark stock index, the Nikkei 225, surged more than 3 percent in morning trading, hitting an all-time high after closing at a record peak on Friday.

Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that negotiations with Tehran were proceeding in an “orderly and constructive manner”, but he had instructed officials “not to rush into a deal”.

“Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump’s remarks came after he raised hopes for a breakthrough on Saturday by announcing that a deal had been “largely negotiated,” with the terms including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Fundamentally, there is no change to the underlying picture, where 10-11 million barrels per day of crude oil continue to be shut-in for every day the Strait of Hormuz remains shut,” June Goh, a senior oil market analyst at Sparta in Singapore, told Al Jazeera.

“However, markets are expecting a gush of 100 million barrels of crude oil from the stranded ships to flow out once the deal is in place.”

Goh said markets are likely to remain on edge for some time after any deal is finalised.

“Sparta estimates still about three to six months required to get everything back to status quo, including time to bring production and refineries back online,” Goh said.

Iran has effectively blockaded the strait since the start of the war in late February, disrupting about one-fifth of the global oil trade.

The US has imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports since mid-April, further disrupting commercial shipping in the waterway.

In his Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said the US blockade would remain “in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed”.

KATIE Price’s “missing” conman husband Lee Andrews may have lied to her about being detained by copying the real-life ordeal of another Brit, The Sun can reveal.

Andrews, who has a travel ban, told the glamour model he had been apprehended and shoved in a van with a hood over his head at the Dubai-Oman border.

The Dubai-based swindler, 43, also told Katie, 48, that he was being taken to a “black site” – a hidden state-run detention facility – on May 13, and they have not spoken since.

But insiders explain Andrews’s story has striking similarities to that of Brit grandad Albert Douglas, 63, who has detailed his trauma in interviews with newspapers including The Sun – and most recently The Guardian last month.

Millionaire Albert, who lived in Dubai, was arrested for financial fraud in 2019 over a bounced cheque related to his son Wolfgang’s collapsed wooden flooring business, despite having no involvement in the firm.

He was bailed but subjected to a travel ban, and then given a three-year sentence and a £2.5million fine after a court found him liable, with Wolfgang back home in the UK.

After failing in an appeal, Albert tried to flee the country in 2021. His son paid smugglers £20,000 to sneak him across the United Arab Emirates-Oman border at Al Ain in Abu Dhabi.

But soldiers caught dad-of-four Albert, pointing their guns at him, hooding him, and putting him in a van.

They then took him to an unknown location and held him in a dirty cell where he was stripped and beaten for days.

Albert spent the next four years in hellhole Dubai jails after being caged for attempting to flee the country, and he was tortured to within an inch of his life while in detention.

He was finally released last December, following an intervention from the United Nations and pressure from advocacy groups including Detained In Dubai.

After his release, he told this newspaper: “It was like a nightmare with no end.”

Sources in Dubai raised eyebrows after reading the story Andrews fed Katie.

One highly-respected businessman, who has mutual friends with Andrews, told The Sun: “Lee is the type of person to read a story and then imagine it into reality.

“There are lots of similarities between their stories.

“Lee could easily have made this all up based on Albert’s story, as it’s been in the UK press recently, and just be hiding out.”

Andrews’s dad Peter, who runs an insulation and air conditioning firm in Dubai, claimed on Saturday that his son was “OK” but that he had been arrested.

He said: “He has not been kidnapped, but he is under arrest. I don’t know on what charge.

“I’m not sure where he is being held. But he will call me later today. He is not at my house.”

But hours later, mum-of-five Katie dismissed this as “fake news” and insisted that he has not been nicked.

And Dubai’s Criminal Investigation Department could not find a record of his arrest when we made inquiries.

Katie said: “I have spoken to the Dubai police and he definitely isn’t in jail.
“They still don’t know where he is. It is all really confusing and we just need to find Lee.

“I have spoken to his dad. It isn’t true. I don’t know where my husband is.”
Katie wed Andrews in January, just days after meeting him through social media.

He had claimed to be a multimillionaire businessman – but some of his ex-girlfriends accused him of swindling them out of vast sums of cash.
One of them, Crystal Janke, said she handed him £123,000 to invest and he promised to turn it into £1million.

Andrews was also exposed for lying about having a PhD from Cambridge University and working for The King’s Trust and the Labour Party.

He also posted AI-generated images online of himself with celebrities including American reality star Kim Kardashian and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk.

He is said to be the subject of multiple arrest warrants – including for fraud.

Meanwhile, a fresh twist in the drama emerged yesterday after Andrews’s phone was turned on – with WhatsApp messages delivering to his device.
It raises further questions over his dad’s claim that he has been arrested.

A source explained: “I had been messaging Lee and was getting no response.

“But on Sunday morning, my messages had gone from a single tick to a double – so that device is back on and being used.

“Lee has multiple phones but this is the one that is being used now.”

The development came after we told on Saturday how Andrews had followed a glamorous “biker babe” and ex-US Navy veteran called Marisol on Instagram.

She later thanked us for warning her about the grifter’s reputation and blocked him on the social media site.

LEE Andrews’ dad Peter has broken his silence on the ‘disappearance’ of Katie Price’s husband – insisting his son HAS been locked up in a Dubai prison. 

Katie, 48, last week told how she believed Lee, 43, had been “kidnapped” as a missing persons’ report was filed with the British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates city and three days ago Dubai police denied he’d been detained.

Now Peter has claimed Lee is being held by police, telling the Daily Mail: “Lee is OK. 

“He has not been kidnapped but he is under arrest. I don’t know on what charge.

“I’m not sure where he is being held. But he will call me later today.

“He is not at my house.”

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A police insider told the publication: “Lee Andrews has been arrested.”

As part of her investigation exposing Lee as a conman, The Sun’s Clemmie Moodie reported that he is laying low in a run-down villa in Dubai and hasn’t been snatched as part of a nefarious plot which wife Katie has been led to believe. 

Last night Lee made a return to social media after eight days – following a mystery woman named Marisol.

Katie is said to be disgusted and incensed after “kidnapped” hubby Lee reappeared online.

His shock return came on worried Katie’s 48th birthday. In the early hours fans spotted Andrews had added Marisol — and they alerted Katie.

It appears Marisol previously used an online matchmaking service for millionaires.

Katie’s last contact with Andrews came when he claimed he had been arrested and taken to a “black site”.

KATIE Price’s missing hubby is back online after eight days and following a “biker babe”.

Lee Andrews’ Instagram only followed Katie until early today when it added a glam US Navy veteran called Marisol.

Katie is said to be disgusted and incensed after “kidnapped” hubby Lee reappeared online.

His shock return came on worried Katie’s 48th birthday. In the early hours fans spotted Andrews had added Marisol — and they alerted Katie.

It appears Marisol previously used an online matchmaking service for millionaires.

Katie’s last contact with Andrews came when he claimed he had been arrested and taken to a “black site”.

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He has since blanked her messages.

A pal said: “Katie is incensed at what has played out.

“She is beyond furious.

“She was panic-stricken last week when Lee told her he was being kidnapped.

“She thought it was genuine.

“Now it’s all unravelling.

“Those close to her have warned it’s all an elaborate sham but Katie genuinely loves Lee.

“She was so worried and does hold out some hope he is going to reappear.

“Now she’s seen him following this woman, to say she was angry and confused is an understatement.

“The last thing Lee told Katie was that he was being bundled into a van with ties around his hands.

“Now he’s on social media appearing to be chasing other women. It’s disgusting.”

Marisol did not respond to our request for comment.

Last night she deleted a photo with friends she posted on Instagram on Thursday.

Those with knowledge of Andrews had a stark warning for Marisol.

A source said: “If she is somehow involved with Lee she needs to get out fast.

“His MO is finding women on social media then befriending them.

“It’s exactly what he did with Katie and look how that ended up.

“This Marisol appears to have used dating websites before with millionaires — so either she’s rich or she wants to meet a well-off partner.”

Dubai-based Andrews is understood to be on a travel ban.

Last month we revealed a business he was asking women to invest in was shut down in 2024.

Last week we told how he took £1,000 from The Sun’s Clemmie Moodie as part of another apparent sham investment scheme and has blanked her demands for its return.

The source added: “Women need to be aware of what Lee has done previously when it comes to taking money for investments.

“They should not give him a penny of their cash.”

Katie married Andrews days after they met in January.

His ex-fiancée Alana Percival later warned Katie off him and branded him a “narcissist”.

Last night a pal of Katie said: “She honestly thought she had found lasting love.

“She married him and got ‘owned by Lee’ tattooed on to her body.

“No matter how many times people tried to warn her about his behaviour she refused to leave him.

“Then he walked off the face of the planet.

“Now he’s back online and has started following some American bird.

“You couldn’t make it up.”

I’VE been reporting on the darker side of Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews since she married him back in January – and now believe his “kidnapping” is simply another brazen storyline he’s written to try and hoodwink her further.

And now it’s all unravelling faster than he could have imagined, with Katie finally admitting she is giving up on searching for him because (spoiler alert) she’s realised it’s all a massive lie.

For four months, I have been unravelling Andrews’ web of untruths – and it would be correct to say he absolutely loathes me now.

From day one, I have refused to let his lies get in the way of reporting the truth.

Every time a woman shared her story with me, he berated them and claimed he’d never heard of them – despite me having evidence to the contrary.

Those close to Katie have since sent vile messages to his ex, Alana Percival, who has gone through more with Andrews than I think anyone will ever know.

If she chooses one day to share the rest of her story, I would urge you to listen to her. I did, and it made me feel physically sick.

Andrews threatened that he had lodged criminal charges against me in Dubai, which would see me arrested if I ever landed in the country and said he was suing me for defamation, which, comically, he spelt “deformation”.

Andrews then bragged he was going to get me sacked before messaging me on social media with a meme calling me a “c**t.”

I replied, “Likewise,” because he really is.

Now Katie has finally admitted she’s given up on “searching” for her husband, and I know it is because she’s finally realised this entire “kidnapping” scenario is just another part of Andrews’ elaborate lies.

Over the past few days, I have taken numerous calls from people all over the world who wanted to share their experiences of Andrews.

People have claimed to me that Andrews owes millions to businesses from failed schemes and warned there are more women who willingly handed over cash to receive nothing in return.

The “kidnapping” scenario is worthy of a Hollywood film script.

But it’s not unusual for wrong ‘uns who, after realising the jig is up, introduce an elaborate narrative to try and distance themselves from the chaos they’ve left in their wake.

In my opinion, the events of the past seven days are all a narrative being spun by Andrews to be parroted out by Katie, whose friends insist has nothing to do with his lies.

Now she’s reached the end of her patience.

“Katie knows something isn’t right about this scenario deep down,” a friend told me.

“Lee was active on WhatsApp two days after he told her he was going missing. She has heard nothing and has just been ghosted.

“She was so panicked at the start, but now it’s become a drain on her. The people around her have warned that this isn’t normal and that it all seems a bit suspect.”

In my opinion, Andrews has been laying the groundwork for his exit from Katie’s life for some time.

Some weeks ago, a contact of mine was gossiping about Andrews and his seemingly endless stream of fibs – including that he’d boasted to Katie he was an international arms dealer.

I’d never heard that porker before, and I laughed as I regaled a story his ex-fiancee, Alana, who bravely spoke out to warn Katie off Andrews back in January, had told me about Andrews telling her he had worked for MI5.

Much like his now-debunked claims from his fictional CV, including that he worked for the Labour Party and was the Director of Philanthropy at the King’s Trust, I laughed it off and forgot about it.

But after seeing the messages Andrews sent Katie, where he claimed he had been kidnapped and taken to a “black site”, to me, it suddenly all started to make sense.

In my opinion, Andrews’ MO is twisting narratives in a bid to make out he is something he plainly isn’t.

Suggesting to Katie and others that he works in a more than shady industry as an arms dealer to me suggests he was laying the foundations that he worked in a dangerous underworld.

So when Andrews suddenly walked off the face of the earth on Thursday after telling Katie he had been arrested and was being taken to a “black site” – the name given to clandestine state-operated detention centres – naturally, she would believe it.

My esteemed boss Clemmie Moodie persuaded Katie to share the final desperate texts she received from Andrews in The Sun newspaper – and to me, his messages bear all the hallmarks of a man trying to pen a story with a better twist than some of Agatha Christie’s greatest works.

“Katie was basically told by Lee that he was involved in all sorts of business, and not all of it was savoury,” my contact explained.

“He told her he was an international arms dealer. It was something he openly boasted about.

“Lee made her think he had his fingers in all sorts of pies.

“So when he spun her a story about being kidnapped, she fell for it. Because, as far as Katie is concerned, this is the kind of world Lee has connections with and operates in.

“Now with everything that is coming out, she’s realising she may have been played for a fool.”

Far from being kidnapped, I firmly believe Andrews is now simply hiding out in Dubai – a country he cannot leave because, as Katie herself confirmed, he has a travel ban… even though Andrews went on to deny it.

Clemmie’s work uncovering his scam first hand, and the pressure piled upon him by the thousands of people invested in this story, has backed Andrews into a corner..

He initially managed to shrug off the criticism.

But after he publicly humiliated Katie live on Good Morning Britain, and she publicly turned on him for the first time, I believe Andrews realised he had entered uncharted waters and knew it was time to get out.

Katie has not heard from Andrews since the early hours of Thursday morning, when the live location he shared with her on WhatsApp turned off – along with, it seems, the phone he used to contact her.

But I know Andrews uses multiple phones, and we know he was online and using one of them on Saturday evening.

Today, an even wilder twist – with Andrews going back on Instagram to follow another woman – adds to my theory.

Andrews had an escape route planned. And now he’s out – he’s moving on to someone else.

This man is in hiding, and he will stay there for as long as it is physically possible.

I’m not sure even Andrews, who probably could get a PhD in deception, could lie himself out of this one.

As someone who is “not the best person with bugs and stuff,” Stephanie Bernaba never imagined herself becoming an outdoorsy mom.

But the mother of three is getting more daring as gas prices and other travel costs make vacations more expensive. Bernaba, 47, has been steering her family toward local beaches, bike rides and hiking trails near their home in coastal Rhode Island instead of the faraway trips they once took.

“I’ve been trying to do more of that because one, it’s quality time. Two, it’s fresh air. And three, we’re not spending an arm and a leg,” she said.

That kind of calibration is shaping the summer travel season, which gets its traditional start in the U.S. with the long Memorial Day holiday weekend. Higher fuel prices resulting from the Iran war and other inflationary pressures are making most forms of travel costlier as people in many parts of the world form their plans.

The U.S. Travel Assn. expects annual travel spending to grow by a modest 1% this year, powered largely by domestic leisure travel despite the FIFA World Cup giving soccer fans from other countries a reason to visit the U.S. Airfares have climbed around the world along with the price of jet fuel as the war constrains global oil supplies.

Sticking closer to home may not cushion the sticker shock. The nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimated Americans would collectively spend an extra $3.5 billion on gasoline over the holiday weekend. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. was $4.56 on Thursday compared to $3.18 a year ago, according to the motor club AAA.

Other travel expenses have gone up too. The latest consumer price index showed airfares were 20.7% higher in April from a year earlier, the cost of intracity transit, such as buses and subways, rose 5.6%, lodging cost 4.3% more, and eating out got 3.6% pricier.

Changing travel patterns

Despite elevated prices, industry forecasts suggest Americans still want to get away, even if it means replacing long trips with long weekends, choosing destinations closer to home and finding ways to cut costs by cooking meals or using buses and trains instead of driving.

AAA predicted that 45 million U.S. residents would travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday. The Transportation Security Administration said it expects to screen 18.3 million passengers from Thursday to next Wednesday.

Many households are planning summer vacations but making tradeoffs such as shorter trips or cheaper lodging, according to Bank of America analysts. Mastercard said in a recent report that consumers appeared increasingly focused on value and were adjusting their destinations and timing instead of not going away at all.

“Generally, it’s certainly more of a demand reshuffling than a demand softening,” David Tinsley, a senior economist at Bank of America Institute, said.

For the Bernaba family, that has meant trading a big vacation for a shorter trip nearby this summer. Their scaled-back itinerary still is pricey: more than $400 for a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard for their car and passengers, and about $800 a night for each of the two hotel rooms the family of five needs.

Another family that had planned to join them backed out after seeing the price tag.

“The pinch is being felt all the way around,” Bernaba said.

Analysts have increasingly described travel spending as “K-shaped,” with higher-income households continuing to spend while lower-income families pull back or opt out entirely. Bank of America said lower-income households were significantly more likely to report having no summer travel plans this year.

Travelers are confronting other stressors besides cost.

Airlines around the world have canceled flights and trimmed routes to save on fuel and operating costs, leaving passengers with fewer options. Recent U.S. government shutdowns — which caused major flight disruptions and long security lines — are likely still fresh in travelers’ minds. The conflict in the Middle East and broader geopolitical tensions add another layer of concern, especially for those considering trips abroad.

The various factors impacting travel right now have made planning trips more mentally taxing and may be pushing people toward simpler and more accessible vacations that feel easier to manage, said Marta Soligo, a tourism sociologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“The keyword here is unpredictability,” Soligo said. “Tourists don’t like unpredictability.”

Quality over quantity

Jim Wang, a personal finance blogger who lives in Maryland with his wife and four children, said his family’s original plan to travel to Spain to see a full solar eclipse in August began to unravel once they looked at the logistics.

Beyond thousands of dollars in airfare, the trip would have required multiple connecting flights, plus a car rental to reach northern Spain, where the path of totality is expected to pass.

“It’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I want to see the eclipse that much,’” Wang said.

Instead, Wang’s family plans to head this summer to the Lake Tahoe area straddling California and Nevada, where they can stay at a relative’s cabin for free, hike and enjoy a slower pace with limited cellphone service. His wife’s parents and sister expect to join them.

“We’re still going to travel. It’ll just be different,” Wang said. “The vacations are no longer as grand for the adults. But for our kids, it’s still exciting.”

Nancy McGehee, a Virginia Tech hospitality professor who studies consumer behavior, said travelers are increasingly focusing more on the “why than the where” when it comes to vacations.

“What we’re seeing is people are saying, ‘All right, we can’t do that big splashy trip we wanted to do, but what else can we do?’” McGehee said. “It’s more quality over quantity that we’re seeing people go for.”

Back in Rhode Island, Bernaba has accepted that travel may look different for her family for a while.

“I think that’s probably why my mind has gone to doing more nature-y things,” she said. “Let’s learn how to use the earth to enjoy ourselves because that’s not going to cost as much money.”

Yamat writes for the Associated Press.

AUGUST flights don’t come cheap, but there are some serious savings to be found this summer as airlines slash prices to entice Brits who’ve been nervous about booking because of the Iran war.

Sun Travel has worked with Skyscanner to find some of the cheapest flights that are actually during the school holidays – with some as little as £23 each way.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Working with Skyscanner, Sun Travel has crunched the numbers and discovered where Brits can find the cheapest flights that are actually in the school summer holidays.

Some destinations have dropped prices significantly since last summer including favourites like Venice and Nice.

Starting with Venice, an economy return flight starts from £46pp in August this year – which is down by 14 per cent from August 2025.

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Famous for its waterways, the beautiful city is one of the most visited in Italy.

And if you travel out of the city, there are charming Italian seaside villages peppered along the Adriatic coast.

Don’t forget to stop by Burano an island in the Venetian Lagoon with pretty rainbow-coloured fisherman’s houses.

A little closer to home, return flights to the French city of Nice start from £48pp – which is a decrease of 19 per cent.

The city is perfect for Brits as it can be reached in as little as two hours and August has highs of 27C so it’s perfect for basking on its pretty beaches.

From Nice, it’s an easy train ride along the Cote D’Azur to some of France’s most beautiful seaside towns like Cannes, Villefranche Sur Mer and Antibes.

Return flights to the German city of Berlin start from £49pp this summer which is 10 per cent less than last year.

The city has plenty of history as well as vibrant murals and nightlife.

And while it isn’t very close to the seaside, Germany and neighbouring Switzerland which is easily reached by train, have stunning countryside and lakeside retreats that are the perfect temperature in mid-summer.

Although, just an hour’s drive from the city centre is Großer Wannsee – it’s a large lake and is actually considered one of ‘Europe’s largest inland lidos’.

It’s a popular summer swim spot and place for a summer daytrip.

When it comes to the flights with the biggest drop in prices return flights to Cape Town in South Africa are down 20 per cent with an average price from £689pp.

It’s not the warmest time of year to visit Cape Town, but in August visitors can enjoy whale-watching and views of Table Mountain.

It’s also one of the cheapest bucket list destinations, with everything from safari to vineyards and stunning seaside towns all easily reached from the South African capital.

Another destination that Skyscanner recommends as being cheap with affordable flights is Dortmund in Germany – with an average flight of £72.

The German city is famous for its football culture and highlights its huge Signal Iduna Park and the exhibits at the German Football Museum.

Thanks to its location, both Munster and Dusseldorf are around an hour in each direction by car for those who fancy other city daytrips.

Meanwhile, in the Calabria region in southern Italy, you’ll find the port city of Crotone – where return flights start as little as £62pp.

It once a Greek colony that was the home of Pythagoras.

Visitors should head to Crotone’s harbour which is central to the city and a lively spot for local seafood markets and restaurants.

The Old Town is the spot for nightlife too, with plenty of bars and a pint can be picked up for only €3 (£2.59).

It’s known for its floating fortress off Capo Rizzuto.

Prices correct at the time of publication

STILL looking for the dream holiday? This little-known website sells incredible breaks by TUI at lower prices.

From beautiful European islands to city adventures and even the Caribbean – make sure to check out this website first to save your pennies.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

HolidayHypermarket has some huge discounts on breaks to destinations across the globe from Spain and Greece, all the way to Mexico and Thailand.

It might seem underhand but actually the website is owned by the TUI Group which is why it has access to deals with reduced rates and discounts.

If you’re looking for a break that’s great value, there are deals from as little as £175per person – or £43pppn.

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FREE and cheap family days out and activities across the UK for May half term

For this price, you can jet off to the beautiful Greek Island of Kefalonia at the Pericles Hotel for four-nights with bed and breakfast on June 21.

It includes return flights from Bournemouth Airport, baggage and transfers.

Guests can take a dip in the pool with a beautiful mountain backdrop and in the evening, hunker down in one of its cosy rooms.

Directly with TUI, it’s slightly more expensive at £180pp.

City breaks with HolidayHypermarket start from £145per person.

At this price, you can jet off to Krakow for a three-night stay at the Leone Aparthotel.

It’s found near the historic Old Town Square and is the ideal base for exploring the Polish city.

Highlighted as one of their best and latest all-inclusive packages is a seven-night break to Hotel Meridian in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria.

The hotel has incredible views across the coastline as it’s one of the tallest buildings in the area and there’s a swim-up bar.

The outdoor pool has a section for children, and there’s a top-floor terrace to enjoy sunset during the evening before heading out to enjoy the Sunny Beach nightlife.

The deal on HolidayHypermarket is for two adults departing Newcastle Airport on June 11 for an all-inclusive break and is priced at £528pp.

In comparison, the same package holiday on TUI’s official website is £543.12pp.

If you’re looking to escape the UK in the next few days, then there is a tab for that with last-minute holidays from as little as £330pp – or £47.15pppn.

This is for a seven-night stay at the Sunrise Blue Magic Resort, also in Bulgaria.

It has two swimming pools, a buffet and lobby bar for the evenings with plenty of entertainment.

Directly with TUI, the exact same break comes in at £343.17pp.

Sun Travel spotted one of the most luxe places with a low price tag, which is Hotel Tour Khales in Tunisia, and can be booked from £558pp.

The hotel has a swimming pool and is just steps away from a private golden beach on the edge of Sousse.

There’s an infinity pool, enormous spa, fitness sessions and a tennis court.

Guests can laze about on cabanas by the poolside and enjoy evenings on balconies looking out either at the gardens or beach.

Departing on November 20, it’s for two adults across seven nights from Gatwick Airport.

Long-haul holidays include to far-flung destinations like Thailand, Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Some of its lowest all-inclusive offers to Jamaica includes a break to the Samsara Cliff Resort.

The hotel is found in Negril at the top of its cliffs and has direct access to the seafront.

You can definitely make the most of the all-inclusive break at its restaurants that specialise in Jamaican food – and there are plenty of rum cocktails too.

As for entertainment, during the week, there’s a live reggae band, and in the evening head over to the sister hotel – Legenda Beach Resort – for more.

For two adults, a seven-night stay departing Manchester Airport on June 3 starts from £931pp.

Directly with TUI, this break costs a little more at £950pp.

HolidayHypermarket has offers on both Marella and TUI River Cruises too.

Prices correct at time of publication.

There are big savings on flights to Spain, Portugal, and more

A major airline has said it is reducing some of its flight prices by more than a fifth as it celebrates a huge 22 year in the skies.

Wizz Air said today, Tuesday: “We’re turning 22. Celebrate with us: up to 22% off ALL flights”. The Budapest-based airline flies to tens of destinations across Europe, from an array of UK airports including London Luton, London Gatwick, Liverpool John Lennon, and more. There is a catch on the savings, though, as flights must be booked before 11.59pm tomorrow, May 20.

Terms and conditions further stipulate that the discount applies only to the fare, excluding any administration fees. Flights within the deal depart between today, May 19, and October 30, 2027. Wizz Air added: “Promotion does not apply to group bookings.”

At the time of publication, we found return flights to Palma de Mallorca in June, from London Luton, from £31.80 per person. You can also get return flights to Bratislava from £30.24, or to and from Alicante from £31.80.

Looking ahead to the summer holidays, there are return flights to Palma de Mallorca from £40.81 in August, to Barcelona El Prat from £43.38 per person, and flights to and from Valencia from £45.04 per person.

If you’d prefer to travel from London Gatwick, there are return flights next month to Malaga from £31.80, to Valencia from £35.70, and to Faro from £47.72 per person. And in August, Gatwick passengers can fly to and from Faro from £56.94, Valencia from £58.64, and Malaga from £66.46.

IF you’re looking for an all-inclusive, sunny week away with a price tag that feels like a typo, we’ve got you covered.

Egypt has seen a fall in tourism due to the Iran war – despite it not being affected by the conflict.

In response, tour operators are dropping prices of all-inclusive holidays – with some savings racking up to over £2,000.

Egypt is a top pick when it comes to budget-friendly holidays, offering high-end feel hotels with private beaches for very affordable prices.

Despite the rock bottom prices, these deals feature everything from sprawling resorts with 31-slide water parks, to romantic hotels where you can snorkel tropical waters or dine under the stars.

These resorts prove you don’t need to fork out the cash for an all inclusive week away.

Read more on Egypt holidays

SHEIKH OFF

Egypt holiday resorts drop prices with mega cheap deals as Brits avoid it

TRAVEL ADVICE

Is it safe to travel to Egypt right now? Latest holiday and flight advice

So whether you want to bag a last-minute break for June or secure some winter sun while the prices are low, here are the hottest Egypt holiday deals to book now.

New Badawia Resort, Sharm el Sheikh

This resort in Sharm el Sheikh is an ideal spot to soak up the Egyptian sun, with a vibrant strip of bars and restaurants on your doorstep.

Here there’s a sprawling outdoor pool area, complete with a separate section for children and a sun terrace lined with loungers to top up your tan.

There’s activities from table tennis to traditional live evening entertainment, and with the all-inclusive package covering your buffet meals and local drinks, you can leave your wallet in the room.

Loveholidays offer a week-long all-inclusive stay from November 30, including return flights from London Gatwick, for £289pp.

Tivoli Hotel Aqua Park, Sharm el Sheikh

This luxurious four-star stay in Sharm has two huge pools dotted with parasols and loungers, giving you plenty of spots to sunbathe.

When it comes to things to do, kids can make a splash in the aqua park or try out archery, whilst adults will enjoy a pamper at the on-site spa and relaxing yoga classes.

Nearby you can enjoy the nightlife of Naama Bay, or stroll the quaint streets of the Sharm Old Market and Sharm Old Town.

Loveholidays offer a week’s all-inclusive stay from June 11, including return flights from London Luton, for £409pp.

Empire Beach Aqua Park, Hurghada

The vibrant, palm-lined terraces of Empire Aqua Park make a stay at this sprawling resort feel like a tropical island escape.

There’s plenty to keep everyone entertained, including an action-packed kids club and all-singing, all-dancing evening entertainment program.

This resort has three outdoor pools and also boasts its own private beach, where you can try beach volleyball, diving or simply lay back and relax.

Loveholidays offer a seven night all-inclusive stay from December 5, including return flights from London Luton, for £379pp.

Falcon Hills, Sharm el Sheikh

With its whitewashed walls, blue decor and bursts of pink bougainvillea, this charming hotel feels like a slice of the Greek islands dropped onto the coast of the Red Sea.

This family-friendly spot is in the El Hadaba district, a calmer area of Sharm, perfect for those who want a laid-back holiday feel.

Fill up on a varied buffet breakfast in the morning before securing a spot on a lounger by one of two pools, whilst kids are kept busy in the kids club.

Rooms are spacious and traditionally-decorated, some of which open straight out to the sun terrace, so you’re only steps away from the pool.

On the Beach offer a seven night all-inclusive stay from October 31, including return flights from London Gatwick, for £455pp.

Lemon & Soul Makadi Garden, Makadi Bay

The Instagrammable Lemon & Soul Makadi Garden is a stylish pick on the crystal-clear coast of Makadi Bay.

Here there’s plenty of bright, citrus-y yellow, orange and lime-coloured decor that makes the resort feel fresh and modern.

Order some all-inclusive cocktails from the beach hut on the hotel’s stretch of private sand, or try snorkelling in its waters to spot tropical species.

On the Beach offer a seven-night all inclusive stay from June 3, including return flights from Birmingham, for £460pp.

Parrotel Lagoon Resort, Nabq Bay

This mega family resort has a pool so huge that its got its own island bar in the middle of it.

There’s also a huge on-site water park with 31 slides to keep kids entertained, plus a heated pool and wave pool.

For food and drink, there’s three main restaurants as well as several snack bars and even a piano bar, where you can unwind with a drink in-hand and listen to live music.

On the Beach offer a seven night all-inclusive stay from June 11, including return flights from London Luton, for £495pp.

JAZ Neo Sharks Bay

The affordable yet glamorous JAZ Neo Sharks Bay is highly-rated across review sites, and it’s clear to see why.

Inside you’ll find sleek gold, bronze and cream-coloured lounging areas, hanging lanterns and spiral staircases. Rooms are just as stylish, with deep-red, velvet details.

The hotel even puts out romantic tables for two beside the glowing pool at night, where you can dine together under the stars.

This four-star spot even has its own private, parasol-lined beach where you can soak up the sun or make a splash in the Red Sea.

Set yourself up on a poolside lounger for the day, or if you’re feeling active you can grab a workout in the fitness centre.

On the Beach offer a week’s all-inclusive stay from June 11, including return flights from London Luton, for £480pp.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Round-trip train tickets brought down to $98 from $150, and bus fares to cost $20 instead of $80, state officials say.

Local governments in New Jersey and New York have reduced the cost of train and bus tickets for commuters travelling to the states’ joint World Cup venue during the tournament.

New Jersey Transit train tickets to the MetLife Stadium, renamed New Jersey New York Stadium for the FIFA World Cup, will now cost $98 as opposed to the earlier price set at $150 for a return fare, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced on Wednesday.

“Ahead of NJ Transit World Cup train tickets going on sale tonight, NJTRANSIT is lowering ticket prices to $98 without New Jersey taxpayer money,” Sherrill wrote in a social media post.

The move followed intense backlash from local and international football fans planning to attend World Cup games at the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the tournament’s final will be held on July 19.

The $98 fare, which will be charged during the World Cup matches hosted in New Jersey, is still significantly higher than the regular fare of $13 for the 29km (18-mile) round trip from New York City’s Penn Station.

When the $150 fare was announced, Sherrill defended it by suggesting the upcharge was necessary to ensure that her state’s commuters were not stuck with a “tab for years to come” for hosting the World Cup on its return to the United States for the first time since 1994.

NJ Transit officials said it would cost $62m to transport fans to and from the stadium over the duration of the tournament and outside grants had defrayed only $14m of those anticipated expenses.

“This isn’t price gouging,” NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said last month. “We’re literally trying to recoup our costs.”

Meanwhile, the cost of taking a shuttle bus from New York City to the World Cup venue has also been reduced.

“The cost of shuttle bus tickets to and from matches will be reduced from the initial $80 round-trip price to $20,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on the same Wednesday.

The move from the NYNJ Host Committee offers some respite for fans who would have already spent thousands of dollars on attending a World Cup game, largely due to the exorbitant match ticket prices, international and local airfares, and visa costs.

The host city officials said 20 percent of bus tickets for each match will be reserved exclusively for New York state residents. The remaining tickets will be available for all match-going fans.

The US is cohosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada. It begins on June 11.

Industry leaders have not ruled out fuel shortages this summer

Airlines will not be able to continue “absorbing the cost” of disruption caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the long term, according to the director general of the International Air Transport Association. Willie Walsh told the BBC there was no need to panic over potential jet fuel shortages, but warned rising fuel prices would inevitably feed through into higher ticket prices.

He said: “There’s just no way airlines can absorb the additional costs they’re experiencing. There may be some instances where airlines will discount to stimulate some traffic flow… but over time it’s inevitable that the high price of oil will be reflected in higher ticket prices.”

While Mr Walsh did not think there would be widespread cancellations, he added: “I think the concern will be that if sufficient alternative supply isn’t sourced, there may be some shortages when we get into the peak summer period.”

Last week, British Airways’ parent company IAG warned its profits will be hit as it expects to spend about two billion euro (£1.72 billion) more than planned on fuel this year. Chief executive Luis Gallego said IAG does not believe there will be “any interruption for the summer” in terms of jet fuel supplies.

Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said summer holiday plans will not face major disruption because of shortages. She revealed that more fuel has been imported from America, and UK refineries have upped their production.

The Government has also introduced a temporary rule change allowing airlines to group passengers from different flights together onto fewer planes to save fuel. It comes amid data that showed airlines have increased the number of flight cancellations for May.

Aviation analytics company Cirium said that as of Tuesday, airlines have axed 296 departures from UK airports this month, equivalent to 0.75% of the total. That is up from 120 cancellations six days ago.

Figures for the peak summer months show week-on-week schedule reductions are currently limited. The number of outbound flights planned for June is 48 lower than a week ago, after 0.2% of flights were cancelled.

For July the week-on-week reduction is 31, while the figure for August is just four. Airlines avoid being liable for compensation if they axe a flight with at least two weeks’ notice, meaning they can delay decisions on summer cancellations and still avoid payouts.

The price of jet fuel has more than doubled since the start of the war in the Middle East, as Iran continues to have a stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. A Government spokesperson said: “UK airlines are clear that they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel.

“Aviation fuel is typically bought in advance and airports and suppliers keep stocks of bunkered fuel to support their resilience. We continue to work with fuel suppliers, airports, airlines and international counterparts to keep flights operating.

“We are also consulting on measures to help airlines plan realistic flight schedules which will avoid last-minute disruption and protect holidays.”

easyJet boss has hit out at a new rule expected to come into force

Passengers flying within Europe could soon see a significant shift in baggage rules, and travellers are being put on notice.

At present, those travelling on basic fares with easyJet, as well as with Ryanair, are restricted to one small personal item, with any extra luggage attracting additional fees. Following changes to EU regulations, Ryanair was required to enlarge the maximum dimensions of its personal bags last year. The revised rules permit passengers to carry hand luggage measuring up to 40 x 30 x 20cm, a 20% boost from the former 40 x 20 x 25cm restriction.

easyJet’s personal bag specifications already complied with these requirements, meaning no adjustment was necessary. And now further EU regulatory shifts could enable travellers to bring both a cabin bag measuring up to 100cm and a personal bag without incurring additional charges.

In February, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to grant all passengers the entitlement to carry a small case in addition to the complimentary under-seat bags currently allowed. The Parliament’s proposal would give passengers the right to bring on board, at no extra charge, one personal item (such as a handbag, rucksack or laptop) and one small piece of hand luggage with maximum combined dimensions of 100cm (length, width and height) and weighing up to seven kilos.

The proposed reforms, which must receive approval from the European Council before becoming law, would apply to all travellers flying to or from an EU airport on an EU-based airline. This directly affects the overwhelming majority of short-haul flights departing from the UK.

While this may seem like a positive development for passengers, easyJet has slammed the proposals to enforce free additional baggage as a “lunatic idea”. Chief executive Kenton Jarvis insisted that granting all passengers the right to extra free carry-on luggage would be “crazy” and “terrible for the consumer”.

The easyJet boss described it as “politicians completely not understanding their subject and getting involved with things they shouldn’t”, adding: “There just isn’t the space in the cabin, so that’s another lunatic idea. We would go back to the days of having to offload cabin bags and put them in the hold – it was one of the number one causes of delayed boarding in the old days.”

Baggage fees accounted for a significant portion of easyJet’s more than £2.5bn in annual income from extras, or ancillary revenue, “and that would have to be passed on” through increased fares for all passengers, he warned.

May 12 (UPI) — Prices for consumer goods rose faster than expected in April, with food and energy prices driving the spike, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, after rising 0.9% in March, the BLS said. Over the past 12 months, the all-items index increased 3.8% before seasonal adjustment.

The energy index rose 3.8% in April, which was more than 40% of the increase. That put the 12-month rise at 17.9%. The gasoline index rose 28.4% annually.

Airline fares rose 2.8%, making the 12-month rise at 20.7%, CNBC reported.

Food prices rose 0.5% for the month. The price of food at home rose 0.7%, which is the biggest monthly rise since August 2022, CNBC reported. The price for food away from home increased 0.2%, the BLS said.

When excluding energy and food, prices rose 0.4% in April. Those prices are calculated from household furnishings and operations, airline fares, personal care, apparel and education. That number puts inflation higher than the 2% goal set by the Federal Reserve, with the monthly rate at its highest since January 2025.

But the index for new vehicles, communication and medical care decreased in April. New vehicles and communication declined 0.2%, while medical care declined 0.1%. Used vehicle prices stayed flat.

Workers are feeling the pinch, too, as real average hourly wages dropped 0.5% for the month and 0.3% annually.

“Inflation is the key drag on the U.S. economy now,” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, CNBC reported. “This is hurting Americans. There is a real financial squeeze underway. For the first time in three years, inflation is eating up all wage gains. This is a setback for middle-class and lower-income households and they know it.”

Whether the Fed will lower interest rates in the wake of rising inflation is a concern for economists.

“Given that inflation is heading in the wrong direction and the labor market is holding up, it’s very unlikely that the Fed will be able to lower interest rates any time soon, and it’s possible that we may start pricing in rate hikes for next year,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management, CNBC reported.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Appealing to voters’ anxieties about the soaring cost of living is central to Democrats’ messaging in their hopes of big wins in this year’s midterm elections. In Oregon, a question on the primary ballot is complicating that strategy.

The Democratic-controlled Legislature raised the state gas tax and a range of fees last fall as a way to pay for road improvements and plug a hole in the state’s transportation budget. Republicans responded with a petition to repeal the increases, leading to a referendum that will land before voters just as the Iran war is causing the price of gas to skyrocket around the United States.

“It is a hell of a time to be raising gas taxes on people,” said Jeanine Holly, filling up her tank on a recent morning in Portland.

The gas tax repeal on the state’s May 19 primary ballot comes amid widespread disruptions in the oil industry from the war with Iran started by Israel and President Trump. Discontent is high among U.S. consumers across the political spectrum, with the price of gas topping $4.50 a gallon nationally on Friday and averaging about 80 cents more per gallon in Oregon.

The referendum will give voters a chance to weigh in on a hot-button issue hitting them directly in the pocketbook at a time when prices remain elevated for everything from housing to groceries. Nationally, Democrats have focused on the affordability concerns similar to those that helped propel Trump to victory in 2024. Some of their candidates have even proposed ways to cut taxes as a way to promote their agenda and counter a traditional GOP strategy.

“It’s difficult to imagine a worse situation for … a gas tax increase than right now in American politics,” said Chris Koski, professor of political science and environmental studies at Portland’s Reed College.

Republicans sense an opportunity

Republicans wasted no time in appealing to voters after the Legislature and Democratic governor signed off on the tax increase, which also included a higher payroll tax for transit projects and a boost in vehicle registration and title fees.

They needed 78,000 voter signatures to qualify the referendum for the ballot. They quickly got 250,000.

“That is a remarkable number,” Republican strategist Rebecca Tweed said.

Republicans in Oregon have countered Democrats’ affordability messaging by portraying the tax and fee increases as further fueling the high cost of living.

“Do Oregonians want to pay more? The answer is no,” said GOP state Sen. Bruce Starr, who helped lead the referendum campaign. “Everything they’re looking at is expensive.”

Under the legislation, Oregon’s gas tax would rise from 40 cents to 46 cents a gallon. That would make it tied with Maryland for the eighth-highest gas tax of any state when factoring in other state taxes and fees, according to figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

At the Portland gas station, Michael Burch said he used to spend $70 to fill three-quarters of his pickup truck’s tank, but now pays $80 for just over half a tank.

“I’m sick and tired of taxes,” the 76-year-old retiree said. “Gas is certainly dampening the spirits and the coffers of folks that aren’t as well off.”

Hannah Coe, a 30-year-old student, said she was not sure how she would vote on the primary ballot referendum.

“I think I would be in favor of it if it was going to go to the things that it was saying it was going to go to, such as fixing our roads,” she said. “I also kind of feel like that’s just a grab at trying to get more money from the people who live here.”

Democrats blame the Iran war

Oregon Democrats spent much of last year fighting to pass a transportation funding bill to help raise money for services such as road paving and snow plowing. The debate came amid projections of declining gas tax revenue as more people adopt electric, hybrid and fuel-efficient cars.

They finally passed a narrower version of their plan during a special session called by Gov. Tina Kotek.

She recently acknowledged the challenging timing of the referendum.

“Certainly, the conversation at the ballot this year … is a tough sell right now, because I think everyone is feeling a pinch on their household budgets,” she told reporters.

But she and other Democrats said the root cause of the jump in gas prices is Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran. She suggested the federal government consider reducing the federal 18-cent-a-gallon gas tax if it wants to provide relief at the pump for Americans.

Some Oregonians are receptive to the Democrats’ reason for passing the legislation last year. Kurt Borneman, 68, said he would support the gas tax increase, even though he’s now paying at least $10 more to fill up his tank.

“I realize that money’s tight and roads need to be improved,” he said at the Portland gas station. “I want less government, but I also want nice roads.”

Democratic state Rep. Paul Evans said his party lost the battle over how to frame the gas tax increase to the public. So far, there has been no organized effort from Democrats and their allies to oppose the ballot referendum.

“When anything is reduced to, ‘Do you want a tax or not?’ Most people are going to say no,” he said. “The messaging got away from us, and it became focused upon the price instead of the value.”

Rush writes for the Associated Press.

Senator Hawley plans legislative action supporting President Trump’s bid to waive the petrol tax amid rising consumer costs.

United States President Donald Trump said he will cut the 18-cent federal tax on petrol to offset surging prices that have continued to soar after his comments that the US ceasefire with Iran is on “life support”.

On Monday, Trump said he would suspend the petrol tax, but did not specify an end date.

“Yup, we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in,” Trump told CBS News.

Trump later told reporters that he would waive the tax, which generates $2.5bn in funds used for US roadway infrastructure, “till it’s appropriate”.

The US administration hinted at the idea on Sunday, when US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the NBC News programme Meet the Press that the White House was considering suspending the tax.

While the Republican president claimed he would waive the tax, that is not within the White House’s authority. Suspending a federal tax requires an act of the US Congress.

However, key Trump ally Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, said on the social media platform X that he would introduce legislation on Monday to do that.

In March, Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, proposed suspending the tax until October.

“I anticipate it would pass, but there could be a procedural delay. It also suggests that President Trump doesn’t see a quick end to the reduced volumes and is trying to cushion the American consumer,” Rachel Ziemba, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Al Jazeera.

“The impact could be greater in states that have also reduced their own petrol taxes and could reinforce differentiation between petrol prices by region.”

US states also tax petrol, with Indiana, Kentucky and Georgia moving to make cuts to give consumers some relief at the pump.

Petrol prices have continued to climb since the initial strikes of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28. The average price for a gallon (3.78 litres) of regular petrol is $4.52, according to the American Automobile Association, which tracks daily petrol prices, compared with $2.98 when the strikes first began.

However, news of the stumbling ceasefire has sent oil prices surging. Brent crude futures were up $3.17, or 3.13 percent, at $104.46 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $98.32 a barrel, up $2.90, or 3.04 percent. Brent reached a session high of $105.99 and WTI hit a peak of $100.37.

On Wall Street, stocks for oil and gas giants are trending upward. Shell was up 1.6 percent in midday trading, Exxon rose 3.1 percent, BP gained 2 percent, and Chevron climbed 1.7 percent.

Airline bailout?

Trump was also asked by CBS on Monday whether a bailout was planned for the airline industry, which has taken a hit since the war on Iran began.

The president told the outlet that a bailout had not “really been presented” and that “the airlines are doing not badly”.

However, earlier this month, budget carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations after 34 years. Court documents said the airline shut down because of “recent geopolitical events resulting in a massive and sustained increase in fuel prices”.

That comes as other major US carriers raise prices. In April, United Airlines said it would raise fares by 20 percent amid a surge in jet fuel costs.

May 8 (UPI) — Consumer sentiment in the United States has hit another record low as Americans worry about the cost of life as gas prices continue to rise amid the war in Iran.

A monthly University of Michigan survey found that consumer sentiment dropped 3.2% in the last month — from 49.8 to 48.2 — and was down 7.7% over the course of the year, the university’s Institute for Social Research said on Friday.

Joanne Hsu, director of the university’s Surveys of Consumers, said that consumer sentiment is “essentially unchanged” from April, while the current economic conditions survey dropped 9% because of high prices affecting personal finances and whether people will make major purchases.

The decline in the current economic conditions survey was down nearly 19% from last year.

She pegged the survey results to the effects of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, and specifically the widespread effects that Iranian and U.S. blockades of the Strait of Hormuz have had on the global economy.

“Taken together, consumers continue to feel buffeted by cost pressures, led by soaring prices at the pump,” Joanne Hsu, director of the survey, said in an analysis.

“Middle East developments are unlikely to meaningfully boost sentiment until supply disruptions have been fully resolved and energy prices fall,” she said.

Hsu noted that, in the surveys, “about one-third of consumers spontaneously mentioned gasoline prices, and about 30% mentioned tariffs.”

The index of consumer expectations did, however, show a 0.8% gain from last month, and is up 1.3% over last year.

May’s consumer sentiment survey is the lowest going back to 1952 — April also set a record — although markets did not react significantly after the institute published its preliminary data for this month’s surveys.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday also released its April jobs report, which showed that the economy gained 115,000 non-farm payroll jobs — more than double what Wall Street expected — but down from the 185,000 added in March.

For the 12 months ended in April, BLS noted that net payrolls were relatively unchanged.

The unemployment rate for April was unchanged from March at 4.3%.