Trump wants oil prices to hit $50 a barrel. The math doesn't work for the US oil industry.

President Trump has reportedly homed in on $50 a barrel as the price he'd like to see US oil prices trend toward, alleviating energy costs for US households. The problem for the US oil industry? That math doesn't check out. In the Permian Basin, the largest collection of oil plays in the continental US and the crown jewel of American energy, breakeven prices hover between $62 and $64, according to data from the Dallas Federal Reserve. With the price of WTI crude oil (CL=F), the US benchmark, around $57 ...