Fuel is simply one component of what it takes to run the world. But it's the only one the general public goes nuts over. I don't see people gnashing their teeth over the large jumps in steel prices over the last year. Those prices ripple through the economy just like gas prices do.
People don't generally consume steel in bulk in the course of their daily lives, they do fuel. Steel is used to produce products consumers buy but is rarely bought directly by consumers (products made of steel are usually long lasting, not used up daily, as well). Fuel is used directly by consumers on a daily basis as well as being used to produce products consumers buy. Concerns over the price of raw materials which are not directly purchased by consumers are usually expressed as concerns about inflation in general.