gasoline prices

After dropping for most of the month, gas prices are now lower in much of the U.S. than they were a year ago. That hasn't happened in more than two years, and it could be part of a larger decline in gasoline prices that could lift consumer confidence ahead of the summer driving season.

Gasoline prices climbed Friday for the 24th straight day as service stations pass along the rising cost of oil. The national average for gasoline hit $3.741 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. That's an increase of 46.5 cents per gallon since the start of 2012. Gasoline has never been so high this time of year, and analysts say it could reach a record of $4.25 per gallon by late April.

It looks like consumers are finally starting to see lower prices at the pump, with auto club AAA reporting a modest decline in gas prices this week. The drop comes after crude oil prices have fallen 20% since July. What does this mean for the economy?

If there's one good thing that came out of Thursday's dizzying market slide, it's the fact that consumers could soon feel a little less pain at the pump. Oil futures also fell along with stocks on fears of lower demand. And gasoline prices should soon follow suit.

During most of June, Western Refining followed the rest of the market down, dipping as much as 16.5%. However, its shares have since perked up -- and they have much farther to rise. The refiner is in a prime position to take advantage of a wide spread between the price of crude oil and gasoline.

We've already shared some ideas from our readers on ways to economize, squeeze extra miles out of your tank, and find surprising discounts. In the final part of this series, we'll take a peek at some of the more unusual methods that you offer for reducing pain at the pump.

Once again, gas prices are hitting the stratosphere and, once again, many are dragging out the same old suggestions for saving money at the pump. Have you found any interesting or innovative methods to save money at the gas station? Click inside to give us your feedback.

Today's sluggish housing market has little margin for error: Make an ill-conceived or poorly researched home purchase now, and you'll almost certainly pay the price later. To avoid that, make sure you have the right answers to these three questions before you buy your next home.

Americans are earning and spending more, but a lot of the extra money is going down their gas tanks. Gas prices have drained more than half the extra cash Americans are getting this year from a cut in Social Security taxes.

As soon as oil prices rise, it takes little time before drivers begin to feel the pain at the pump. But it takes far longer for price decreases to reach consumers. Here's why.