European Gas Pauses Rally as Surging Costs Hit Economic Output

  • Benchmark futures retreat after record settlement on Monday
  • Soaring costs heap pressure on politicians to resolve crisis

Germany is highly dependent on Russian gas to power its power plants.

Photographer: Ben Kilb/Bloomberg
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European natural gas prices are taking a breather amid further signs that soaring energy costs are crippling economic output, heaping pressure on politicians to resolve the crisis with winter just a few months away.

Benchmark futures retreated after settling at a record high on Monday. Prices are still about six times higher than they were at this time last year, with the panic spreading across nations ahead of peak winter demand.