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☆ US retail sales rose in September for the sixth-straight month
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Retail sales, which are adjusted for seasonality but not inflation, grew 0.7% in September from the prior month. Factoring in September’s 0.4% rise in consumer prices, inflation-adjusted retail sales were up 0.3% last month. From a year earlier, retail sales and food services spending were up 3.8% in September, the strongest annual gain since February. Spending grew across most categories last month, with sales at specialty stores advancing the most, by 3%. Excluding sales at gasoline stations, retail sales still advanced 0.7% last month.

Persons: ”, BIll Adams, ’, Adams, US Energy Information Administration “, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, Brian Field, Gregory Daco, ” Daco, Joe Biden, Jordan Organizations: DC CNN, Comerica Bank, headwinds, UAW, United Auto Workers, US Energy Information Administration, Hamas, University of, San Francisco Fed, “ Retail, CNN, Employers, Sensormatic Solutions, Services, OPEC Locations: Washington, Israel, Iran

☆ The Strategic Petroleum Reserve 'would be harder to use,' and the only buffer for oil markets is Middle East production, energy expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The SPR "would be harder to use" to balance a spike in oil prices, energy expert Dan Yergin said. The S&P Global vice chairman said that oil prices can spike if the Israel-Hamas war escalates. The SPR, the world's largest reserve of emergency crude oil, is usually used to stabilize disruptions in oil supply. Saudi Arabia, along with Russia, has been cutting crude oil production in an effort to eliminate price "distortions" in the market. In fact, US oil production surged to a record high of 13.2 million barrels a day earlier this month.

Persons: Dan Yergin, —, Yergin Organizations: P Global, Service, CNBC, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Energy Department, Energy Information Administration Yergin Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine, Texas, OPEC, China

☆ The US-Iran prisoner deal is a diplomatic breakthrough, but the bad blood persists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The carefully choreographed agreement was years in the making and is being seen as a major diplomatic breakthrough for the two foes. The Biden administration is unlikely to engage in “meaningful revival” of the 2015 nuclear deal, said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the Chatham House think tank in London. Production is the highest it’s been since 2018, when Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. The Islamic Republic’s oil exports have also increased, averaging 1.9 million bpd in August, Reuters reported, citing shipping firm TankerTrackers.com. “Those claiming that Biden is ignoring Iran’s exports are assuming that Biden can just shut down Iran’s exports through sanctions,” he said.

Persons: “, ”, Biden, Trump, Sanam Vakil, Ali Vaez, That’s, Ali Ahmadi, there’s, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Nasser Kanaani, Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi, ” Raisi, Trita Organizations: CNN, Five, Biden, Chatham House, Group, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Petroleum, Trump, Reuters, US Energy, Geneva Centre, Security, Islamic, Sunday, US Republican Party, US Treasury Department, NBC, Quincy Institute Locations: Iran, Qatar, United States, Washington, Tehran, East, North Africa, London, China, Islamic Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Washington ,

☆ Oil prices hit 10-month high after Libya flood catastrophe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

US oil prices popped 2.3% to as much as $89.29 a barrel, also the highest level since November. The latest rally for oil prices will continue to push up prices at the pump for consumers and add to inflation across the US economy. Gasoline prices, which lag oil prices, have edged higher this week as a result of that announcement. The EIA also raised its forecast for diesel and oil prices for the fourth quarter of this year and first quarter of next year. If these forecasts hold true, energy prices will continue to complicate central bankers’ efforts to tame inflation.

Persons: Brent, ”, Matt Smith, “, Smith Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, Americas, AAA, Government, US Energy Information Administration, Energy Department, EIA Locations: New York, Libya, “ Libya, Kpler, Russia, Saudi Arabia

☆ Labor Day weekend gas prices are near all-time highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Drivers hitting the roads this Labor Day weekend will be greeted by historically high gas prices for this time of the year. The good news is that gas prices are still well below the peak set in June 2022. Psychologically important pricesIt’s worth noting that while gas prices are high for this point of the calendar, these figures aren’t adjusted for inflation. Still, consumers are very sensitive to increases in gas prices, in part because of how visible they are. In fact, the Conference Board blamed the recent uptick in gas prices for driving down consumer confidence in August.

Persons: ”, John LaForge, Andy Lipow, – can’t, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Drivers, Labor, CNN, AAA, Wells, Investment Institute, Biden, Lipow Oil Associates, US Energy Information Administration, Conference Board Locations: New York, Illinois, Washington , Arizona, California, Russia, Saudi Arabia

☆ Electric cars are breaking sales records, but here’s why they’re not replacing gas cars anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Christopher Hickey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

More shoppers are choosing electric vehicles so far this year than ever, according to vehicle sales data from Cox Automotive. While EV sales have been growing healthily for the past couple of years, that trend has accelerated this year. The electric vehicle market is entering into a transition period, she said. The average electric vehicle price in July was $53,469, according to Kelley Blue Book, versus an average price of $48,334 across all vehicles. But the number of charging stations still lags behind what is needed to support a wider-scale adoption of electric vehicles.

Persons: Cox, That’s, ”, Stephanie Valdez, Streaty, Chevrolet Bolt, Rivian, BEV, “ We’ve, ” Valdez, Price, Kelley, “ Organizations: Cox Automotive, EV, Streaty, CNN, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Tesla, Volkswagen, Valdez, US Energy, Ford, EV considerers, US Department of Energy, Alliance, Automotive, Quarterly, California Energy Commission, AAI, District of Columbia, California Air Resources Board Locations: Valdez, California

☆ Under Biden, US oil production is poised to break Trump-era records
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And yet, on his watch, US oil production is poised to shatter all-time records set during the Trump administration. If anything, the outlook for US oil production has brightened recently – in large part because oil prices have rebounded from recession fears and drillers have become more efficient. Climate vs. inflationWhen and if the oil production record falls, don’t expect any fireworks from the White House. Last week, Saudi Arabia vowed to extend its oil production cut for at least another month. It’s also true that domestic oil production -— unlike prices -— has been slow to recover from the Covid-19 crash.

Persons: Joe Biden, Trump, It’s, Biden, ”, Hunter Kornfeind, it’s, Mike Pence, Joe Biden’s, Pence, Barack Obama, “, Matt Smith, ” Biden, That’s, Kornfeind Organizations: New York CNN Business, Rapidan Energy, drillers, US Energy Information Administration, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, EIA, Exxon, Rapidan Energy Group, American Petroleum Institute, Biden, CNN, “ Locations: Saudi Arabia, Texas, Americas, Russia

☆ Incandescent light bulb ban: What you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —America’s ban on incandescent light bulbs, 16 years in the making, is finally a reality. That effectively outlaws the manufacture and sale of common incandescent bulbs, the kind you screw into the vast majority of light sockets in your home. That’s because traditional incandescent bulbs provide just 15 lumens per watt, according to light bulb manufacturer Philips. Not all incandescent light bulbs are banned as part of the new rule, according to the Department of Energy. The ban caps off a decades-long bipartisan effort to ban incandescent bulbs that started in the Bush administration.

Persons: New York CNN —, Trump, Biden, Joe Biden’s, Bush, Donald Trump’s, Obama, Republicans “, CNN’s Ella Nilsen Organizations: New, New York CNN, Joe Biden’s Department of Energy, Philips, Department of Energy, Energy Department, US Energy Information Administration, Republicans Locations: New York

☆ Wind and solar are propping up the Texas power grid amid a brutally long heat wave
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Thank wind and solar, energy experts say. “The thermal plants have bounced up and down,” Lewin told CNN, saying thermal plant outages during heatwaves have been high by Texas grid manager ERCOT’s own standards. The state is also rapidly installing battery storage, to store wind and solar energy when the sun isn’t shining and wind isn’t blowing. “I think what they’re leaving out is the intermittency of the thermal plants, they continue to neglect that,” Lewin said. That’s not to say renewables are a panacea, but the point is thermal plants are also not a panacea.”

Persons: ” Michael Webber, “, Doug Lewin, Webber, ” Lewin, ERCOT’s, Mark Felix, ”, ERCOT, Lewin, that’s Organizations: CNN, Texas, “ Renewables, University of Texas, Energy Information Administration, Renewables, Energy, US Energy Information Administration, Lone Star Locations: Austin, Texas, Hill County , Texas, AFP, Gulf of Mexico

The team is pumping between 4,000 and 5,000 barrels of oil every hour, and has so far transferred more than 120,000 barrels to the replacement vessel carrying the offloaded oil, Gressly said. A potential spill from this vessel would be enough to make it the fifth largest oil spill from a tanker in history, a UN website said. The Red Sea is a vital strategic waterway for global trade. Video Ad Feedback Oil being removed from tanker near Yemen in Red Sea 02:29 - Source: CNNAfter The Safer is emptied, it must then be cleaned to ensure no oil residue is left, Gressly said. The Red Sea fisheries in Yemen could be “almost completely wiped out,” Rehkopf added.

Persons: CNN —, –, Yemen David Gressly, SMIT, Gressly, Bab, ” Gressly, “, ” David Rehkopf, ” Rehkopf, that’s, ”, Ahmed Nagi, ” Nagi, Nagi Organizations: CNN, United, Endeavor, UN, Yemen’s, HSA, FSO, Exxon, US Energy Information Administration, Systems, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Group Locations: Yemen, United Nations, Suez, Red, Alaska, Africa, Asia, Persian, Saudi, Stanford University School of Medicine . Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Brussels, Yemeni, Hodeidah

☆ Power shutoffs: Sweltering Americans have fewer protections this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Despite the growing concern of heat-related illnesses and climate change, people have far fewer protections from power shutoffs during the summer than they do in the winter. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, has about $6 billion in funds for fiscal 2023, which runs through September. The association is calling on Congress to provide an additional $3 billion for cooling assistance this summer, which would help about 6 million households. And it is asking utilities to voluntarily suspend shutoffs this summer for those behind on their bills. Florida Power & Light, for instance, has a longstanding policy that it won’t disconnect customers if it’s 95 degrees or higher.

Persons: David Konisky, ”, Konisky, Mark Wolfe, That’s, Wolfe, it’s, Bianca Soriano, Soriano Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Weather Service, Center for Energy, National Energy Assistance, Association, Energy, Indiana University, Centers for Disease Control, Income, Energy Assistance, Lawmakers, US Energy Information Administration, Louisiana —, Florida, Customers Locations: New York, United States, Washington, DC, Delaware, Nevada, Colorado , Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Florida

☆ What to know about nuclear power in the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Those developments, which might give anyone pause about the future of nuclear power, are counteracted by other headlines. The question of nuclear energy splits governmentsGermany made the decision to decommission all of its nuclear plants after disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima. Nuclear power in the USAs of 2022, about 18% of US electricity is generated by nuclear power, according to the US Energy Information Administration. First, be very carefulI talked to one nuclear expert who said the US should be slow and methodical about nuclear power and another who argued there are multiple, public misperceptions about nuclear power that should be corrected. The more circumspect voice is Rodney Ewing, a Stanford University professor and expert on nuclear waste who was chairman of a federal review of nuclear waste procedures.

Persons: CNN’s Clare Sebastian, Larry, Joe Biden, Rodney Ewing, ”, I’ve, ” Ewing, “, David Ruzic –, Ruzic, we’ve, ” Ruzic, “ It’s, it’s, Ewing Organizations: CNN, International Atomic Energy Agency, US Energy Information Administration, FirstEnergy Corp, Department of Energy, Stanford University, Bulletin, Atomic Scientists, University of Illinois, Lawmakers Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe’s, Japan, Georgia, Germany, Fukushima, France, CNN’s, China, Tennessee, California, Illinois

☆ The credit crunch is getting worse and bankruptcies are on the rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

David Tesher: Before we were forecasting a short and shallow recession, but we no longer think there’s going to be a recession. Hard decisions are being made, and that’s going to feed back into corporate growth prospects. As economic conditions slow, credit is becoming tighter and companies are defaulting at a faster pace than they have. So yes, some corporations are distressed, but this isn’t something affecting the entire market, which is what you’d associate with a broad credit crunch. Big Tech is back with a vengeanceLast year was rough for tech companies: Tech stocks fell more than 30% in 2022, while the overall market dropped 20%.

Persons: Banks, Bell, David Tesher, we’re, We’re, There’s, reevaluation, it’s, Meta, Wedbush’s Daniel Ives, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, ”, Megan Horneman, Matt Egan, John LaForge Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, P, Big Tech, Tech, Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Verdence Capital Advisors, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, AAA, That’s, US Energy Information Administration, Wells, Investment Institute

☆ Fourth of July gas prices take almost unprecedented plunge
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

During the week ending June 26, the average gas price was $3.57 a gallon, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Although pump prices have retreated from last year’s record highs, gas prices were cheaper in the summer of 2021 and certainly in 2020 when Covid-19 shut down large swaths of the economy. Pump prices plunge in Ohio, CaliforniaStill, over the past 12 months, gas prices are down in all 50 states, according to AAA. Washington recently replaced California with the unwanted distinction of having America’s most expensive gas prices. Why gas prices are downThe tumble in gas prices is an undeniable positive for consumers.

Persons: John LaForge, ”, Patrick De Haan, De Haan, “, ” Wells Fargo’s LaForge, LaForge, Wagner, Vladimir Putin’s, GasBuddy’s De Haan Organizations: New, New York CNN, AAA, That’s, US Energy Information Administration, Wells, Investment Institute, Drivers Locations: New York, Covid, Ohio , California, Indiana, Ohio, California, Illinois, Washington, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Extreme heat means two-thirds of North America could suffer blackouts this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Periods of extreme heat stress the grid by spiking demand for electricity as families and businesses crank up the air conditioning to stay cool. Power grid officials have warned that large swaths of the United States could face blackouts if it’s a hot summer. “Two-thirds of North America is at risk of energy shortfalls this summer during periods of extreme demand,” the North American Energy Reliability Corporation (NERC) concluded in its summer outlook published last month. The risk of blackouts comes into play only if there is extreme heat. But many Americans in the South and Central regions of the United States are dealing with extreme heat right now.

Persons: NERC, ” NERC Organizations: New York CNN Business, North American Energy Reliability Corporation, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, US Energy Information Administration Locations: United States, North America, Mississippi, Central, Texas . New England, Ontario, “, South, Arizona, Alabama, West Texas, Pacific Northwest, Southwest , Texas, Southeast, Texas, Nevada , Utah, Gulf Coast

☆ Biden administration to buy 3 million barrels of oil to begin replenishing emergency oil stockpile
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The Biden administration announced plans on Monday to buy 3 million barrels of crude oil, marking the start of a years-long process aimed at replenishing America’s depleted emergency oil stockpile. Faced with spiking gas prices, President Joe Biden has aggressively drained the SPR, the world’s largest supply of emergency crude oil. The SPR held about 638 million barrels of oil when Biden took office in January 2021, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Today, it is down to 362 million barrels — the lowest level since October 1983. Before announcing plans to purchase oil, the Energy Department moved to cancel 140 million barrels in congressionally mandated sales scheduled for the next several fiscal years.

☆ The US wants to cut carbon emissions from power plants. Here are the 15 states where coal is king.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden administration proposed steep pollution cuts by coal- and gas-fired power plants. Most US electricity comes from fossil fuels — the sector creates 25% of the nation's emissions. Coal is the most polluting fossil fuel, and plants have been closing over the past decade. Most of the country's more than 3,400 fossil-fuel power plants would have to nearly eliminate their planet-warming greenhouse-gas emissions by 2040 under a proposal announced by the Environmental Protection Agency last week. Coal plants could also opt to shut down in the first half of the 2030s to avoid meeting most or even all pollution caps.

Persons: Biden, it's Organizations: Service, Environmental, Agency, EPA, Biden, US Energy Information Administration, West Virginia —, Missouri —, Wyoming, Kentucky —, Utah —, Indiana —, Dakota —, Nebraska —, Montana —, Wisconsin —, Colorado —, Mexico —, Arkansas —, Michigan —, Minnesota — Locations: Mexico

☆ Winter heating costs likely won't be as high as feared
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Heating your home this winter likely won’t burn quite as big a hole in your wallet as initially forecast. Still, costs are up across the board compared to last winter — nearly 26% and 14.5% for heating oil and natural gas, respectively, and 10.5% and nearly 9% for electricity and propane, respectively. “You’re still paying more, but not as much more,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program are projected to reach their highest level in more a decade, Wolfe said. To help its residents cope with the high heating costs, Maine started sending $450 energy relief payments on Monday.

☆ Chef Alison Roman loves her induction stove. Twitter has so many questions.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Those questions and comments rolled in for the celebrity chef Alison Roman on Wednesday after she tweeted that she owns an induction stove "by choice." Induction units are five to 10% more energy efficient than conventional electric stoves, and three times more efficient than gas stoves. Copper or aluminum cookware won't work on an induction stove — magnetic metals like cast iron and some stainless steels are best. The majority of US homes already use conventional electric stoves, while about 38% use gas stoves, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The Inflation Reduction Act authorized an $840 rebate for low- and middle-income households that don't already have an electric stove.

☆ Republicans went after BlackRock and sustainable investing in 2022. Meet 12 officials crusading against 'woke capitalism.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

A group of vocal conservative officials are criticizing aspects of ESG investing. Players in the ESG ecosystem, like S&P Global and BlackRock, the world's largest money manager and an influential proponent of ESG investing, are often the subject of their critiques. Instead, officials often paint large financial firms' ESG strategies as functions of left-leaning agendas. Here are key GOP players who are taking aim at ESG investing. Abbott, who is seeking reelection in November, was early to denouncing ESG investing.

☆ Heating bills are getting expensive for Americans as winter storm lands a punch
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Even before this historic winter storm emerged, experts warned home heating costs would jump this winter to the highest level in more than a decade. The cost to heat homes is expected to be 35.7% higher this winter than the 2020-2021 winter, the report said. More than 100 million people across the United States are under winter weather and wind chill alerts. But the heating bills will only get more expensive if the winter proves to be colder than expected. New England is especially vulnerable to severe winter weather, in large part because of constraints on pipelines sending natural gas into the region.

☆ UK tries to shore up energy supply with US deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN Business —Britain has agreed a new energy partnership with the United States that aims to end its reliance on Russia and lower soaring energy costs. He said the aim was to double the amount of liquified natural gas (LNG) the United States exports to Britain compared to 2021 levels. The initiative with the United Kingdom comes nine months after the United States agreed a deal with the European Union to increase LNG shipments to Europe. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the United States became the world’s largest exporter of LNG in the first half of this year. Under the new partnership, the United States will aim to export “at least” 9-10 billion cubic meters of LNG via UK terminals.

☆ Meet 12 Republican officials crusading against BlackRock and ESG investing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

☆ Everything you want to know as OPEC+ agrees to cut oil production
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-06 | by ( Hallam Bullock | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

OPEC+ agreed to cut production. But the group — which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia — agreed Wednesday to slash daily oil production by 2 million barrels, in a bid to send crude prices higher. But OPEC+ defended their decision, saying it was in response to "uncertainty that surrounds the global economic and oil market outlooks." At a news conference after the meeting, the Saudi energy minister added: "We would rather be pre-emptive than be sorry," the New York Times reports. The country's deputy prime minister, Alexander Novak, said the EU's plan could lead to Russia temporarily cutting oil production further — a move that would see crude prices rise, and gasoline follow.

☆ Adam Kinzinger warns that a GOP-led House could try to impeach Biden every week
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Adam Kinzinger said a GOP-majority Congress might try to impeach the president every week. "That's going to look like child's play in terms of what Marjorie Taylor Greene is going to demand of Kevin McCarthy," Kinzinger said, referring to the House Minority leader. "They're going to demand an impeachment vote on President Biden every week," he quipped. Kinzinger appeared to be referring to how Greene, a right-wing lawmaker from Georgia, has made impeaching Biden part of her official platform. "I think it'll be a very difficult majority for him to govern unless he just chooses to go absolutely crazy with them," said Kinzinger, referring to his far-right GOP colleagues.

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