energy prices

Cheaper Gas Lowers U.S. Consumer Prices 0.3%

The seasonally adjusted consumer price index dropped 0.3 percent in November from October, the Labor Department said Friday. Gas prices fell 7.4 percent, the steepest drop in nearly four years. That offset a 0.2 percent rise in food prices.

Oil Prices Retreat to Near $85 a Barrel Thanks to Plentiful Supply

Ample supplies helped send oil prices down to near $85 per barrel on Friday.Benchmark oil for December delivery was down 80 cents to $85.25 a barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil hasn't been that low since July 10.

Chevron Strategist: Era of Cheap Natural Gas Will End Soon

Right now, with the spread of fracking technology, America is in the midst of a natural gas boom that is keeping prices for the fuel low. But according to a key strategist at Chevron, the era of an abundance of cheap natural gas in the U.S. will be short-lived.

Home Heating Costs Set to Spike as Winter Gets Back to 'Normal'

Unlike last year, which for much of the nation featured "the winter that didn't come," this year is expected to bring only slightly warmer-than-usual temperatures and a record high for home heating oil prices. And that's bad news for one region of the country in particular.

Higher Gas Costs in August Push Consumer Price Index Higher

More expensive gas drove up consumer prices in August by the most in three years. But outside of energy costs, inflation was tame. The CPI rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% last month, the first increase since March and higher gas prices accounted for 80% of the increase.

Consumer Prices Hold Steady for Third Time in Four Months

U.S. consumer prices were unchanged in July from June, as a small drop in energy costs offset slightly higher food prices. The consumer price index hasn't changed since March, evidence that the weak economy is keeping inflation in check.

Is President Obama Trying to Kill King Coal?

Republican lawmakers are alleging that the EPA's new greenhouse gas regulations would kill the U.S. coal industry by making it too expensive to build new coal-fueled power plants. But even if that's true, how will it impact you?

Is U.S. One Step Closer to Tapping Oil Reserves?

President Obama on Wednesday appeared to raise the possibility that the U.S. would release oil from its strategic petroleum reserve to provide relief to Americans struggling with high gas prices. But is now the right time?

How Much Should You Worry About Inflation?

The inflation bells are ringing. You've seen the jump in prices at the grocery store, and, maybe more significantly, at the gas pump. But are these price hikes a sign that inflation is about to take off, or are they just temporary increases?

How Your Portfolio Can Profit From Higher Oil Prices

Skyrocketing prices don't have to bring only pain. Investors can also find some relief with investments that can benefit from oil's recent -- and likely future -- increases. Here are some ETFs and mutual funds worth considering, based on performance, risk and cost.

Oil and Food Prices Keep Rising, but It's Not Time for the Fed To Act

Unrest across the Middle East is pushing high oil prices higher, and that's having a cascade effect that feels a lot like inflation as these higher prices bubble through the economy. Still, that's not enough reason for the Fed to battle inflation by starting to raise rates.

Inflation Could Be a Lot Higher Than We Think

The Fed's next consumer price report out Thursday is likely to show a scant 0.3% rate in January. So why does it feel like prices everywhere are climbing noticeably? A different way of measuring inflation from MIT's Billion Prices Project provides an answer.