According to recent statistics, U.S. motorists have responded to record-high prices at the pump by driving less. Any hope that this cutback will significantly restrain global oil prices is misplaced, however: fundamental factors of supply and demand in the world economy will keep oil costly for years to come. The hope that a cutback in driving by U.S. motorists will significantly restrain globa…

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Gas prices have plunged below 4 bucks a gallon, but this is no time to breathe a sigh of relief and say that the worst is over.

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Heres good news at a time we could all use it: Seat-belt use has climbed to an all-time high across the nation, while highway deaths are at five-decade lows.

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Despite the dismal economy, motorists may want to take to the road this summer. The federal government says gasoline prices are expected to stay relatively low.

Crude oil futures plunged Monday, the first day the oil markets had a chance to react to last Friday s new grim demand outlook from the International Energy Agency. In the morning, oil fell more than 6%, to below $50. By midday, crude futures were still down 4%, to just over $50 a barrel.

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It s another weird day on the oil markets. U.S. crude-oil inventories are growing even bigger than last week, which was already almost a 16-year high. With so much unneeded oil, prices cratered? Wrong.

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* Ken Knepper: Some risky business on the sidewalk (Kenneth Knepper, Community News Publishing)

Its been cold here in the Midwest. By that, I dont mean theres been a nip in the air. Instead, its felt more like a fully toothed Tyrannosaurus rex bite in the air.

* Newlook Butlins: what no knobbly knees? (George Pitcher, Telegraph)

I’ve never worn a Butlins red coat. Nor have I had the honour of a Pontin’s blue coat. From unreliable memory, I think I wore a rather unpleasant brown utility coat, like Ronnie Barker’s in Open All Hours , when I worked at a holiday camp in the Seventies.

It s another weird day on the oil markets. U.S. crude-oil inventories are growing even bigger than last week, which was already almost a 16-year high. With so much unneeded oil, prices cratered? Wrong.

Read the whole article

* Ken Knepper: Some risky business on the sidewalk (Kenneth Knepper, Community News Publishing)

Its been cold here in the Midwest. By that, I dont mean theres been a nip in the air. Instead, its felt more like a fully toothed Tyrannosaurus rex bite in the air.

* Newlook Butlins: what no knobbly knees? (George Pitcher, Telegraph)

I’ve never worn a Butlins red coat. Nor have I had the honour of a Pontin’s blue coat. From unreliable memory, I think I wore a rather unpleasant brown utility coat, like Ronnie Barker’s in Open All Hours , when I worked at a holiday camp in the Seventies.

The rally in world stock markets continued into a fifth week Monday, with Hong Kong’s index the star performer amid ongoing hopes that the worst of the global economic downturn may have run its course.Investors remained buoyed by last week’s apparently united Group of 20 meeting in London and some tentative signs that the severity of the recession in the U.S. may be easing, despite Frida…

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