US embassies are warning Americans abroad as Trump threatens major strikes on Iran, then backs off — bad for anyone hoping the Middle East cools down, and a sign of a squeezed economy at home.

• US embassies told Americans overseas to stay on high alert as Trump weighed strikes on Iran's oil facilities.
• Saudi Arabia's crown prince pushed back, and Trump then canceled the attack, saying Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz and drop its nuclear program if a deal comes fast.
• Exxon and Chevron are posting bigger profits as the Iran conflict pushes oil prices up.
• At home, everyday costs are brutal — $150 stadium parking, $1,200 World Cup tickets, pricier Comic-Con — a split economy where the rich still spend and everyone else is broke.
• Homeowners associations are foreclosing on more people over unpaid dues, up 40% in two years, as money gets tighter.

Outlook: The Iran attack is off for now, but it's on-again-off-again, and the money strain on regular Americans keeps building.