The Market Hasn't Moved This Year. Should Investors Be Worried?

By Jennifer Saibil – Mar 17, 2026 at 11:00AM ESTKey PointsThe market had been holding steady as investors eye fluctuating interest rates and rising oil prices.Higher oil prices could lead to rising costs across industries -- and even a recession.Holding great stocks through market volatility is key to investing success.The S&P 500 index had been roughly flat year to date until oil prices started surging, and it's now sloping downward. Prior to the war with Iran, the stagnant market was more about the macro-economy. The job market remains tight, inflation is still higher than the Federal Reserve wants it to be, and interest rates are still on the way down. On the plus side, the American consumer is proving to be resilient, and many retailers are demonstrating strength. However, rising oil prices are dampening the market's mood. Is it time for investors to worry? Image source: Getty Images. Oil prices, the market, and the economy Higher oil prices affect the economy at large, as many companies use oil at some point in their operations. Higher costs lead to lower profits. And since electric vehicles have yet to fully catch on, higher prices at the pump mean less disposable income for other purchases. It's easy to see why the market doesn't like them, though investors who own oil company stocks like Chevron aren't complaining. As the war goes on, the path toward lower oil prices becomes more prolonged, which means the potential disruption to the economy does, too. This is a cycle that has happened many times in the past, with strong repercussions, including recessions. Another potential consequence of increasing oil prices is higher inflation, since higher costs across industries mean higher prices on goods.

The Federal Reserve has been balancing bringing down interest rates with avoiding a recession, and this new development could upend the plan. Economic volatility could send the market down further. ExpandSNPINDEX: ^GSPCS&P 500 IndexToday's Change(0.31%) $21.01Current Price$6720.39Key Data PointsDay's Range$6713.19 - $6754.3052wk Range$4835.04 - $7002.28Volume940M The path to investing success There are a few things to keep in mind as an investor. One is that higher oil prices don't always lead to a bear market or a market crash. There are many moving parts that will affect how this plays out, including whether or not the war ends quickly. More importantly, even if the market does crash, that's part and parcel of how the market works. There have been crashes before, as well as corrections and bear markets. The best chance of investing success is buying great stocks and sticking with them no matter what's happening in the market. Historically, the market has always bounced back and gone on to reach new highs, like it did last year. Over the past 30 years, which includes crashes and recessions, the S&P 500 has gained 1,700%, making it one of the safest wealth-generating machines on the planet. To answer the original questions, investors shouldn't be worried as long as they've built a diversified portfolio of excellent stocks, including resilient anchor stocks and dividend stocks, and they can hold through market volatility.Read NextMar 17, 2026 •By Ben GranVWOB or BND: Which Bond ETF Should You Buy?Mar 17, 2026 •By The Motley Fool TeamStock Market Today (LIVE): Nvidia Stock Up On GTC News, Markets Rally Despite Oil Hitting $101Mar 17, 2026 •By Sean WilliamsThe S&P 500 Just Sounded an Alarm That History Strongly Suggests Investors Don't Take LightlyMar 17, 2026 •By Matt Frankel, CFPThe Boring Strategy That Builds $1 Million PortfoliosMar 17, 2026 •By Neil PatelThe Best S&P 500 ETF to Invest $500 in Right NowMar 17, 2026 •By Ben GranVYMI: Could This International ETF Make You a Millionaire?About the AuthorJennifer Saibil has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering the consumer goods and financial sectors since 2019. She previously worked in the financial sector and has written for other finance publications. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Yeshiva University and a master’s degree in public administration from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.TMFanibird