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The ransomware attack on the East Coast s biggest fuel pipeline could ripple across the economy for months, experts say, even if fuel starts flowing again soon. Panic buying is already pushing up gasoline prices even before the summer driving season begins, and airlines may have to get creative to avoid flight cancellations.
Colonial Pipeline 5,500-mile Texas-to-New-York conduit has been shut down since a ransomware attack hit the company on Friday. This route carries about 45 percent of the East Coast s fuel supply about 100 million combined gallons of petroleum, diesel, and jet fuel per month. While Colonial says it hopes to restore most operations by the weekend, that might be too late to avoid cascading consequences.