British households are facing renewed pressure on living standards as fuel costs surge, the Fund has warned The UK is facing one of the largest economic shocks of any country from the Middle East conflict, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned, saying it is “especially exposed” to surging energy prices due to its heavy reliance on gas-fired power. Energy importers across Europe are taking the hardest hit after prices surged in the wake of US- Israeli strikes on Iran in late February