Latest news with #gas prices
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Gas prices in Massachusetts essentially unchanged from last week
State gas prices for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $3.00 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, approximately the same as last week's price, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The average fuel price in state rose about 6 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $2.88 on April 14, 2025, and as high as $3.50 on July 8, 2024. A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 14% higher at $3.50 per gallon. >> INTERACTIVE: See how your area's gas prices have changed over the years at . The average gas price in the United States last week was $3.13, making prices in the state about 4.2% lower than the nation's average. The average national gas price is essentially unchanged from last week's average of $3.12 per gallon. The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Please leave any feedback or corrections for this story here. This story was written by Ozge Terzioglu. Our News Automation and AI team would like to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Massachusetts gas prices essentially unchanged from last week: See how much here Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
4 Key Signs Gas Prices Will Spike Due to Shortages in the Middle East
A major barometer for how many Americans feel about the economy is fuel prices. Rising prices at the pump can squeeze an already tight budget. Thankfully, GasBuddy reports that gas prices have been relatively stable in recent months. Read More: Find Out: Rising conflicts in the Middle East may threaten that stability. Recent actions by Israel and Iran could directly impact what Americans pay at the pump. Here are four key signs that gas prices will spike due to shortages by oil-producing countries in the Middle East. Iran Closing the Strait of Hormuz Americans may have heard reports of Iran considering closing access to the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait provides the only route from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Iran controls the northern side of the Strait. Closing access to it could have a significant impact on the price of oil. The New York Times indicated why this would be important, noting, 'A quarter of the world's oil and 20 percent of the world's liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz, so mining the choke point would cause oil and gas prices to soar.' While most of the oil going through the Strait goes to Asia, America would feel the impact of a move with increased energy costs. Discover Next: Continued Tensions Any time military action occurs, it can lead to a potential increase in cost, particularly when commodities are impacted. Continued hostilities in the Middle East will only exacerbate the risk of increased oil prices. 'With Israel and Iran trading attacks, oil prices have surged to multi-month highs — setting the stage for additional price hikes at gas pumps across the country. As long as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the risk of further impacts on oil prices remains high,' said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in an interview with Fortune. De Haan noted Americans can expect prices to increase by $0.10 to $0.20 per gallon in the near term, if not more. 'Motorists should prepare for what will likely be modest price increases, for now, but the situation has the potential to worsen at any moment,' said De Haan. Possible Regime Change Military action typically poses a risk to the price of goods, but regime change can be even more detrimental. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had not been publicly heard from for nearly a week after the United States bombed sites in Iran. Added to that, President Trump hinted at a possible regime change. And historically, regime changes have significantly increased oil prices Regime change could send oil prices significantly higher, particularly if it results in a loss of oil from Iran. 'The main concern is any disruption to energy flows and global confidence. A complete loss of Iranian oil, which accounts for 4% of global production, could push crude to $100 per barrel,' according to J.P. Morgan. OPEC+ Cuts Production OPEC and OPEC+ countries account for roughly 60% of the world's crude oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. There have been no indications that nations will cut production in light of recent actions in the Middle East. However, any move to cut production typically results in increased costs at the pump. Worse yet, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is at historically low levels, partly due to actions taken by the Biden administration. Additionally, there are no plans to replenish it. The combination of not refilling the SPR could prove costly if OPEC does reduce production. 'The decision not to refill the emergency reserve is significant for U.S. consumers and energy security. The SPR's depleted status limits the government's ability to intervene during supply shocks or price spikes, potentially leaving American families and industries more exposed to global oil market volatility,' according to Newsweek. While gas prices have been relatively stable of late, activities in the Middle East could cause prices to spike. It's best to stay informed and identify ways to save at the pump for Americans concerned with gas costs. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 This article originally appeared on 4 Key Signs Gas Prices Will Spike Due to Shortages in the Middle East
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Someone Asked What We're Supposed To Do If A War Actually Breaks Out, And The Responses Are Both Poignant And All Too Familiar
On the always loaded-with-inquiries subreddt r/NoStupidQuestions, Reddit user u/smilingspectre37 asked what they are supposed to do if a war actually starts. Here's what people had to say: 1."As someone who lived through the last 20-year war we were in [in the US], nothing really changes for us. For many of us, it will be far away and distant. We will complain about gas prices going up, or inflation skyrocketing, but until our friends and family come home under a flag, it won't feel real enough to care about." —u/RevBT 2."If you're in America, keep going about your day. If you're in Jordan, get out quick." —u/Monte_Cristos_Count 3."I was running a Blockbuster Video on 9/11. I live on the West Coast, so everything had already happened by 10 a.m. Pacific time. I wasn't sure if the world was going to end or not. Called my district manager and asked, 'What are we doing?' He said, 'Open the store. Business as usual. So, that's probably your answer. Business as usual." —u/NotKD35nope Related: 4."Imagine being one of the people in a city that actually has missiles being fired at it. American civilians have no point of reference for what it's like to actually live in a war zone. I say that as an American citizen with no point of reference at all. With that said, I'm still planning to have a lazy Sunday and go to work on Monday and get pissed off at the traffic." —u/awsqu 5."Gas will go up, and it will be blamed on Biden." —u/2WAR 6."You hide under a wooden desk in your classroom." —u/Brave_Smell_6981 7."You do realize that we were at war for 20 years after 9/11. You grew up in a country at war, depending on your age." —u/_ShesARainbow_ 8."Unless you're in the military, there is nothing for you to do but to keep living your normal routine. Unless there's an immediate threat to your area or an order to evacuate, life must go on. Everyone has to do their part to keep society running so that the soldiers have something to come home to." —u/Frosty_Comparison_85 Related: 9."You fire up Call of Duty and defend Burger Town." —u/Temporary_Ad_5947 10."I guess it really depends on where you live. I heard Israel is closing schools and businesses. I imagine tomorrow will be normal for most US citizens. I think COVID taught us that we don't really know how we'll handle a massive disruption and will figure it out along the way." —u/Marry_Rubyy 11."If you're in a NATO country, do the same thing you did during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars." —u/kabekew 12."The number of people who have no idea that the mainland US is pretty much unreachable by any country except Russia and maybe China is really surprising." —u/Hiredgun77 Related: 13."America's surrounded by two oceans, and there will never be boots on the ground here. Just go on about your day, the soldiers will handle everything. You won't even know a war is happening if you don't watch the news." —u/ZenkaiZ 14."Iran won't attack Americans directly, but you may suffer more 9/11 type strikes. And you have alienated all of your allies who helped you last time. Good luck." —u/Stock-Mountain-6063 15."Completely depends how bad things get." —u/hellshot8 16."On September 12, 2001, I went to school and then to work." —u/NiceTuBeNice 17."I'm from Ukraine. When the war started, my university didn't even stop lectures at first. And my uncle, with his girlfriend, was still working for their American company remotely (they had given them fewer working hours because of air alarms). Later, when attacks became more intensive, everyone's life went on hold for a certain period. However, when the situation in non-destroyed and occupied regions became more stable, everything returned to its working rhythm, albeit under the constant threat of bombs, drones, and repetitive air alarms. And this was the moment when I realized how humans survived many wars — they just never gave up. Now I'm not in my home country, but my friends and some relatives still are, and they got used to this sick rhythm of life." —u/peachymarchi 18."What do you mean by 'if?' When a sovereign nation is being blown up by another, it's a war, no matter which more palatable words politicians are slinging." —u/theschadowknows 19."Depends. Let's say it's a major war in the Middle East with Iran. You're American? You get to complain about prices going up. You're European? You experience very high inflation and a strain on the welfare system due to a huge influx of refugees. You're Iranian? You get bombed." —u/CanThisBeMyNameMaybe Related: 20."Love that Americans are finally thinking about what it might be like to live in an active warzone. Hate that y'all never considered that while you spent the last century causing it in other countries." —u/wrinklefreebondbag 21."If you have the means to avoid dense areas, then yes, you would do so. If war were to occur in my country, my family would likely relocate to my sister's farm. While we live on the outskirts of our major city, we are close enough to a regional small plane airport, which would likely be used for supply runs. Hopefully, we'll have enough time to build another house on the land before we move, but we have access to a caravan." —u/AnorhiDemarche 22."First time?" —u/thelimeisgreen 23."Whatever you do, please don't go out and buy all the toilet paper. That is so annoying." —u/manokpsa 24."Live your life and stay off of social media as much as possible." —u/Major_Enthusiasm1099 25."People in Kyiv, Ukraine are still going to work. Do with that information what you will." —u/daXypher Do you have any advice or general comments on what to do if your country is at war? Comment below. Note: Some responses have been edited for length/clarity. Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds:
Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
3 reasons California's green energy campaign is dying on the vine
California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom's presidential aspirations are Washington's worst-kept secret. More than three years before the next election, he's on the campaign trail in South Carolina, protesting immigration raids on cannabis farms and even politicizing the Second Family's visit to Disneyland. Before Newsom gets anywhere near Washington, he must "confront his California problem," as even Politico observed. Blessed with incredible natural resources, the Golden State has the highest living costs in the nation. Nowhere is this trend more evident than in energy, where there is a direct correlation between Newsom's wrong-headed policies and overall unaffordability. Here are three examples. At $4.51 per gallon, California drivers already pay the most at the pump — that's 45% higher than the national average, which hit a four-year low during the recent Independence Day holiday and kept dropping. As bad as that sounds, the pain is only just beginning. On July 1, motorists were hit with another 1.6-cent gas tax, and overall gas taxes are expected to cost the average household $612 over the course of the year. A separate $0.05-$0.09 tax increase is expected not far behind. Newsom's office touted the decline in gas prices by issuing a press release bragging about it. Sadly, the latest gas tax could pale in comparison to other factors. Industry experts are projecting a gallon of gas potentially reaching $8 in the aftermath of California refinery closures. For crude oil to become a usable petroleum product like gasoline, it must go through the refining process. Earlier this year, the Phillips 66 refinery in Los Angeles and the Valero refinery in Benicia announced plans to close by 2026, taking nearly 20% of the state's total gasoline production with them, not to mention hundreds of jobs. The trend is part of a sad and steady decline directly attributed to increasing red tape and regulations. During the 1980s, under the presidential administration of its former governor Ronald Reagan, California had as many as 43 operating refineries, a number that plummeted to just 14 last year, a drop of 67%. This is not for lack of resources. In fact, California has the fifth most oil reserves in the nation, outpacing places like Colorado and Oklahoma more often associated with the industry. Newsom has denigrated the oil and gas industry as the "polluted heart of this climate crisis." He accused them of "lying and gouging Californians" and blamed them for "more kids getting asthma." Along the way, he pursued policies aimed at making his state "carbon neutral" by 2045. That's political speak for ending oil and gas entirely in favor of "cleaner" forms of energy like wind and solar, which are unreliable, untested and often rely on products from China (where roughly 80% of the world's solar panels are manufactured). A lynchpin of Newsom's scheme was forcing drivers into electric vehicles. By 2035, less than a decade from now, 100% of vehicles sold in California were to be electric under a Newsom administration mandate that the U.S. Senate thankfully overturned in May. As painful as the edict would have been for California's nearly 40 million residents, the shockwaves were set to extend far and wide. As many as 13 states were on a track to follow where California was leading. To his political credit, Newsom appears aware of the unpopularity of some of his policies. He went on Turning Point USA President Charlie Kirk's podcast and turned heads by calling the concept of biological men competing in women's sports "unfair," but that demonstrates the power the green movement. Newsom is far more likely to flip-flop on cultural issues than admit the green agenda is failing his state. In the aftermath of President Donald Trump making the rollback of the EV mandates official, Newsom's administration immediately took legal action and signed an executive order "doubling down" (his words) on his commitment to the nonsensical plan. At the heart of the dissatisfaction with the Biden years was inflation and high costs of living, making it the top priority for more than six in 10 voters. Making energy expensive made life expensive and Americans could not afford another four years of Biden/Harris energy policies. Newsom's stubborn commitment to the failed green agenda, which has failed California spectacularly, should send his White House bid sputtering before it gets out of the starting gates.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Average price for gallon of gas in Massachusetts holds steady. What the statistics show
State gas prices for the second consecutive week reached an average of $3.00 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, approximately the same as last week's price, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The average fuel price in state rose about 6 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $2.88 on April 14, 2025, and as high as $3.50 on July 8, 2024. A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 14% higher at $3.50 per gallon. >> INTERACTIVE: See how your area's gas prices have changed over the years at . The average gas price in the United States last week was $3.13, making prices in the state about 4.2% lower than the nation's average. The average national gas price is essentially unchanged from last week's average of $3.12 per gallon. The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Please leave any feedback or corrections for this story here. This story was written by Ozge Terzioglu. Our News Automation and AI team would like to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Bay State drivers paying about 14% less for gas compared to last year Solve the daily Crossword
