The White House stated that it is closely monitoring the attacks by the Houthi militant group on ships in the Red Sea. However, it doesn’t expect these attacks to have a significant impact on holiday prices or the availability of products. Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council, highlighted the resilience of the U.S. economy, with inflation decreasing faster than anticipated and the labor market and growth remaining solid. The administration is vigilant about potential risks, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the evolving situation in the Red Sea. The Houthi group has fired drones and missiles at international vessels in response to Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip. The White House has called for an end to these attacks and has accused Iran of being involved. Brainard emphasized that Biden’s national security team is focused on the situation in the Red Sea and is working to ensure freedom of navigation and regional security. She also mentioned that the diversion of vessels from the Suez Canal to the Cape of Good Hope is not expected to significantly affect the availability of products for holiday shopping. The administration will continue to monitor the situation.