How does OPEC affect the US Economy?

The Middle East has always been a large proportion of US crude oil imports.

Therefore, when the OPEC was introduced and as the oil prices sharply rose, the US import spending on crude oils also increased by a substantial amount.

This, in effect would mean that petro prices would increase and since petro is essential in transportations/industrial productions, you would expect a sharp increase in average price in the economy (inflation).