https://www.siliconvalley.com/2022/07/09/fears-of-another-gas-shock-drive-biden-to-seek-price-cap-on-russian-oil-2/ > WASHINGTON — Relief at the gas pump coupled with this past week’s news that businesses continue to hire at a blistering clip have tempered many economists’ fears that America is heading into a downturn. > But White House officials fear a new round of European penalties aimed at curbing the flow of Russian oil could send energy prices soaring anew, plunging the United States and other economies into a severe contraction.