With domestic gasoline demand decidedly in the doldrums and the cost of oil retreating, the national average dipped two cents since last week to $3.65. “Domestic gas demand is pretty pokey at the moment, which is often the case in the runup to Memorial Day and the traditional start of summer driving season,” said Andrew […]
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Sotomayor Asks One Damning Question in Supreme Court Homelessness Case
And like Sotomayor, the other liberal justices weren’t so impressed. The Grants Pass legal team tried to argue that homelessness is “conduct,” something someone does, rather than “status,” something that someone is. But justice Elena Kagan pushed back saying matter of factly “homelessness is a status, it’s a status of not having a home.” “Sleeping […]
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The Case for High Interest Rates
On the other hand, brilliant ideas do occasionally turn out to be right, and we can’t rule out that possibility. The MMT guru Stephanie Kelton, professor of economics at Stony Brook University and author of The Deficit Myth, made the case for rate hikes greasing the economy (and increasing inflation rather than reducing it) in a January post for […]
Read MoreIs the Recent Climb in the Price of Gas About to Stall?
Lackluster domestic demand for gasoline paired with decreasing oil prices led to the national average for a gallon of gas climbing just four cents to $3.67 since last week. With tensions running high over the past three weeks in the Middle East, the cost of oil reached the upper $80s per barrel. However, it has […]
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Reading glasses could be an economic boost to people in low-income countries
It has been estimated that more than 4 billion people across the world wear some type of glasses, with reading glasses chief among those. However, while it is no secret that glasses can help people see and read, a new study has found that reading glasses might have an economic impact too, especially in more […]
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Limitarianism: could we put a cap on extreme wealth?
How much personal wealth should one person have? Should anyone have more than £10 million in wealth? Or is £1 million too much? Those are some of the questions put forward by Dutch economist and philosopher Ingrid Robeyns in her new book “Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth”. In it, she calls for governments to cap […]
Read MoreStorm Clouds Abroad Have Gas Prices on Edge
Please note that the AAA gas report will be going on Spring Break next week and will return on April 18th. Despite ominous overseas news, a pop in domestic gasoline demand, and oil prices rising to the mid-$80s per barrel, the national average for a gallon of gas climbed just three pennies to $3.56 since […]
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The States That Are Stepping Up to Take On Child Poverty
“We have a whole bunch of work ahead of us to make sure that families are able to fully access credits like the Oregon kids credit,” said Mac Innis, expressing hope that the state might eventually set up an online portal for non-filers, similar to what the federal government set up in 2021 to help […]
Read MoreDon’t Get April Fooled by Wobbling Gas Prices
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After an early spring surge, the national average for a gallon of gas spent the past week drifting up and down by a fraction of a cent before settling a penny higher at $3.53. But the break may be temporary, as gas pump prices will likely resume a spring increase. “Uncertainty of […]
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Can This Forgotten Anti-Poverty Progam Be Saved?
“It feels like we’re putting families into an activity to meet a rate, not necessarily to help the family,” she said. “There has to be some other way that we measure the effectiveness of this program, outside of just, are they participating 30 hours a week.” Compared to other major anti-poverty programs, TANF serves relatively […]
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It’s the Biden vs. Trump Economy—and Hell No, It’s Not Even Close
The second issue is the broader comparison of the two economies. Trump’s pre-pandemic economy, as I’ve written before, was good. Trump haters can’t deny it. It wasn’t because of anything he did. He passed a tax cut for the rich. It goosed demand a little, and it did help the stock market. Median household income […]
Read MoreGas Prices March Higher with the Arrival of Spring
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national average for a gallon of gas rose 11 cents since last week to $3.52. While domestic gas demand has been lackluster, rising oil prices helped push pump prices higher. The Midwest may see a bit of a price reprieve, as the large BP Whiting refinery in Indiana is back up […]
Read MoreFilling Up Won’t Cost a Pot ‘O Gold This St. Patrick’s Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national average for a gallon of gas has been rising leisurely since last week, moving a mere two cents higher to $3.41. However, with the cost of oil crossing the $80 per barrel mark and gas demand popping with warmer temps and better weather, change may be coming to the pump. […]
Read MorePump It Up – Gas Prices Rise Ahead of Daylight-Saving Time
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 7, 2024)—Pump prices have maintained a steady march higher, rising eight cents since last week to $3.39. More expensive oil is a likely culprit, as crude accounts for nearly 60% of pump prices. The cost for a barrel of oil is edging closer to $80, about $10 more per barrel than a […]
Read MoreGas Prices Creep Ahead of Potential Leap
WASHINGTON, DC – Drivers saw gas prices creep up the final week of February. The national average for a gallon of gas is $3.31 on this leap day, 4 cents higher than it was one week ago. The upward trend is likely to continue as travelers start heading out of town for Spring Break. “We’re […]
Read MoreGas Prices Make a Pit Stop
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After suddenly spiking more than a dime two weeks ago, the national average for a gallon of gas had a calm week by remaining at $3.27. News that the large BP-Whiting refinery in Indiana, offline since early February due to power issues, is reopening soon may have contributed to easing pump price […]
Read MoreGas Prices Aren’t Showing the Love
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of barely budging more than a few cents, the national average for pump prices moved into the fast lane, surging 12 cents since last week to $3.27. A significant contributor is a shutdown at the large BP-Whiting refinery in Indiana, which has been offline for more than two weeks due […]
Read MoreRoses Are Red, Violets Are Blue – Oil Costs Tick Up and Gas Prices Too
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sticking to the slow lane since last week, the national average for a gallon of gas dipped slightly for a few days before rising a fraction of a cent higher to $3.15. However, seasonal demand trends, higher costs for oil, and routine refinery maintenance will likely push pump prices slowly higher soon. […]
Read MoreLike A Reliable Old Stove, Gas Prices Slowly Heat Up
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national average for a gallon of gas rose by a nickel since last week to $3.15. The upward trend is likely a combination of oil costs edging into the upper $70s per barrel and normal seasonal increases as winter eases and demand for gas creeps higher. “We are in that time […]
Read MoreGas Prices End Up Close to Where They Started
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After making a brief weekend trip to $3.07, the national average for gas edged higher by one penny since last week to $3.10. The meandering journey is likely caused by low gas demand countered by slightly higher costs for oil. The result is a pump price stalemate. “Like watching dogs play chess, […]
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