Medary.com

Is anybody but me suspicious that oil prices are spiking just when it seems that the American economy is slowing down?

Nope.  Others are suspicious as well--Environmental Republican:

Most economists have been saying that it's been speculation, not demand that is driving higher prices. Americans have been using less fuel of late and that alone should have reduced prices by several dollars a barrel.

I keep thinking about how George Soros broke the Bank of England.  I'm trying hard not to be a tin-foil-wearing conspiracy theorist, but dang it, sometimes it's hard.