While you might be able to eliminate or limit certain trips, most Americans, outside of those who live in big cities with public transportation, have to fill their gas tanks. Even as the driver of an electric car with a small backup gas tank, I still find myself watching prices at the pump. On longer trips, especially when charging options are limited, gas stops become unavoidable, making fuel rewards more meaningful for a wide range of drivers. Only about 8% of Americans drive fully electric vehicles, ...

Market Trends & Economic Indicators - Gold prices hit a record high, up 70% this year, with 50 record highs this year [1] - Copper prices also reached a record high, increasing by 30% this year, driven by AI data center usage [2] - US holiday retail spending increased by 42% year-over-year across all payment types [3] - Gas prices hit a 4-year low average nationwide ahead of the holiday travel rush [2] - Strong GDP print of 43% leads to uncertainty about future rate cuts [5] Fintech & Investment Opportunities - Fintech valuations are reflecting a negative scenario, potentially creating investment opportunities [9] - Consumer spending is supportive during the holiday season, impacting fintech [8] - Some fintech business models, like Block and PayPal, are seen as mature [11] - Dave, a neo bank providing short-term loans, shows promise in meeting consumer financial needs [12][13] Automotive Industry & Ford's Strategy - Ford's stock is up 36% year-to-date, despite a $195 billion charge tied to EV plans [30] - Ford CEO Jim Farley highlights a shortage of 400000 repair technicians across the economy, with 6000 bays in Ford dealerships without technicians [33][38] - Ford faces a $2 billion net tariff impact, hindering further US investments [49] - Ford acknowledges that customers are not interested in $75000 EVs and is shifting focus to more affordable EVs [53][54] AI & Technology - The market is pricing in tech and the S&P at 23%, but expectations are adjusted down to 18% [16][17] - Software names like Salesforce and Intuit may benefit from AI [17] - HUT 8's deal with Enthropic and Fluid Stack, backed by Google, indicates strong demand for AI infrastructure [22] - Service Now will acquire cyber security startup Armis in a $775 billion deal to expand its cyber security offerings amid the AI boom [28]

RT Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello)Gas Prices in the US have moved down to $2.89 per gallon, their lowest level in over 4 years (note: national average).Video: https://t.co/l2FqMF7kZo ...

Core Insights - Gas prices have decreased to an average of $2.89 per gallon, marking the lowest December prices since 2020, despite increased demand due to holiday travel [1][2] Gas Prices Overview - The national average for regular gasoline fell more than 4 cents last week to $2.89 [1] - AAA described the year as "stable" for gas prices, with no significant spikes [2] Crude Oil Supply and Prices - The drop in gas prices is attributed to a significant oversupply of crude oil, with prices falling below $60 per barrel [3] - West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is trading around $56.55 per barrel, while Brent Crude is near $59.82 per barrel [4] State-Specific Gas Prices - The states with the cheapest gas prices include: - Oklahoma: $2.34 - Arkansas: $2.46 - Iowa: $2.47 - Colorado: $2.49 - Wisconsin: $2.51 [5] - The states with the highest prices include: - Hawaii: $4.43 - California: $4.33 - Washington: $3.96 - Alaska: $3.59 - Oregon: $3.57 [5] Future Projections - EIA's November Short-Term Energy Outlook predicts Brent Crude prices will decline from $69 per barrel in 2025 to $55 per barrel next year, with retail gas prices expected to hover around $3 per gallon in 2026 [14]

A record number of Americans are expected to hit the road over the December holiday period as gas prices slide to lows not seen since the pandemic https://t.co/oPKgAbkgOX ...

Gas Prices - The report addresses claims about gas prices being below $1.99 in some locations [1] - The report highlights the reality of gas prices amid an affordability crisis [1] Affordability Crisis - The report focuses on the affordability crisis related to gas prices [1]

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin stated that there is a need for a trustless on-chain gas futures market. He pointed out that while fees are low today, people are uncertain about the fee changes in the next two years. He believes an on-chain gas futures market would help address this, providing market expectations for future fees and allowing users to hedge against future gas prices, even prepaying for gas within a specific time interval. https://t.co/7SkRZRG5nt ...

Although grocery bills and holiday shopping this year are more expensive, gas prices have remained low, a trend that is expected to also slow the increase of other costs. https://t.co/2aj1vFxf8K ...

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Average US gas prices drop to $3, the lowest level since 2021. ...

Industry Challenges - California faces decisions regarding a dwindling wildfire fund and rising gas prices [1] - These decisions could potentially lead to increased costs for taxpayers [1]