While low wages have increased at a lesser pace in recent months, inflation seems to have dug in more socially, while the relevant match in personal value to workers seems on a downward track.

The month of August is the midpoint in the third quarter of 2022, with oil pricing as of this writing (mid-July) at $103.88 for WTI and $105.77 for Brent — still in the $100 range but down from record highs.