Alisa Roth

The cost of oil keeps rising, but it's the gas price at the pump that consumers should be worried about, and might snuff out the economic recovery.

With oil prices at just about $103 a barrel, some members of Congress are asking President Obama to open the nation's strategic oil reserve in an effort to bring down the cost of gasoline.

Among the assets frozen by the U.S. are holdings of Libya's sovereign wealth fund. Such petrodollar funds have gained prominence in recent years.

Skilled professionals from poor Middle Eastern countries find the future is brighter abroad. But this brain drain is hurting poor countries like Jordan.

Some countries will feel higher oil prices more than others.

Rising food costs hurt poor and middle class people in the Middle East. Prices have fueled protests everywhere from Jordan to Yemen and Egypt.

A complaint of protesters across the Middle East is widespread unemployment -- even among the young, motivated and well-educated. It's causing tensions from Jordan to Egypt.

Political and economic turmoil in the Middle East is forcing American businesses to make contingency plans in a time of great uncertainty.

After an 18-day wave of demonstrations, President Hosni Mubarak hands control of Egypt to the military. Egypt's economy has ground to a halt since the turmoil started over two weeks ago.

The turmoil in Egypt continues to extend beyond the country's own borders. In Jordan, citizens are protesting President Hosni Mubarak's continuation of power. And that has added more uncertainty to business. Alisa Roth reports from Amman, Jordan.