Gasoline prices in the U.S. have increased by about 60 cents per gallon since the Iran war began, mainly due to rising crude oil costs. The price of crude oil makes up over half of what consumers pay at the pump, with refining, distribution, and taxes also affecting the final price.
Key Facts
Gasoline prices rose approximately 60 cents per gallon since February 28, when the Iran war started.
Crude oil accounts for about 51% of the cost of a gallon of gas in the U.S.
The U.S. produces mostly light crude oil but imports heavier crude oil for its refineries.
Refining crude oil into gasoline and other products makes up around 20% of the gas price.
Marketing, distribution, and retail costs add about 11% to the price at the pump.
Federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon; state taxes vary widely, from 9 cents in Alaska up to 70.9 cents in California.
Gas stations usually earn 30 to 35 cents per gallon but have lower margins when oil prices rise quickly.
Seasonal changes, such as switching to summer-blend gasoline, add about 15 cents per gallon during warmer months.
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Money market accounts offer higher interest rates and more flexibility than traditional savings accounts. They can be a good option for savers who want to earn more interest without locking up their money, expect interest rates to stay high or rise, or want to manage their banking with one account that also allows check writing.
Key Facts
Traditional savings accounts pay very low interest rates, about 0.38% on average.
Money market accounts currently offer interest rates similar to certificates of deposit (around 4%) but allow easier access to funds.
Unlike CDs, money market account rates can change with the market, going up or down.
The Federal Reserve has not cut interest rates since December 2025 and is not expected to do so soon.
Money market accounts allow deposits, withdrawals, and check writing, offering more flexibility than CDs or high-yield savings accounts.
These accounts are helpful for savers who want both competitive interest and easier account access.
Savers expecting rates to stay high or rise may benefit more from the variable rates of money market accounts.
Money market accounts can help simplify banking by combining saving and spending abilities in one account.
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This article explains how employers can find and keep workers who show up and do their jobs well. It suggests using employee referrals, local staffing agencies, specific interview questions, and careful reference checks to hire reliable people.
Key Facts
Unreliable workers cost businesses money through missed deadlines and unhappy customers.
Traditional hiring methods like resumes and gut feelings do not reliably predict if someone will be dependable.
Employee referrals help because reliable workers tend to know other reliable people.
Local staffing agencies can do background checks and offer temp-to-hire options to test workers before full hiring.
Behavioral interview questions that ask for real examples give better insight into a candidate’s reliability.
References should be asked specific questions about attendance and whether the candidate would be rehired.
Making reliability rewarding can help retain dependable employees.
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Emails revealed in a lawsuit show that Amazon pressures sellers to raise prices on other websites or remove cheaper products, causing prices to rise across the internet. The California Attorney General alleges that Amazon and its rivals stop matching lower prices and instead increase prices together, making consumers pay more.
Key Facts
California sued Amazon in 2022 over its influence on online prices and sellers.
Amazon allegedly works with competitors to stop price matching and raise prices on products.
One method involves Amazon proposing a price increase or pause in sales so others can raise prices too.
Amazon pressures sellers to make competitors raise prices first, then it matches those higher prices.
Another tactic is pushing sellers to remove items from cheaper websites, forcing higher prices.
Some price increases happened very quickly, sometimes within a day.
Price increases varied, from small amounts like $1.50 on pants to $15 on lamps.
Amazon also pushed for higher prices before big sales like Prime Day and Black Friday to then offer discounts from a higher base price.
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Gold is still seen as a useful asset during times of rising inflation, but its role is more complicated now. While gold can help protect against inflation, its price also depends on other factors like interest rates and global economic uncertainty.
Key Facts
Inflation in the U.S. rose by 3.3% in March, the fastest increase in almost two years.
Inflation put pressure on household budgets alongside high borrowing costs and debt concerns.
Gold is traditionally viewed as a safe asset when money loses value due to inflation.
Gold prices have been volatile recently, rising to record highs and then falling even when inflation stayed high.
Higher interest rates make other investments more attractive than gold because gold does not pay income.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates last year but borrowing costs remain high compared to recent years.
Economic uncertainty from global issues and debt concerns encourages some investors to buy gold as financial protection.
Gold’s value can benefit if inflation slows economic growth and leads to more rate cuts, but this is uncertain.
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The Onion plans to take temporary control of Infowars, the platform owned by Alex Jones, as his company faces bankruptcy over large defamation fines. The Onion wants to run Infowars as a parody site and share profits with families of Sandy Hook victims.
Key Facts
Alex Jones' company, Free Speech Systems, owes over $1 billion in defamation judgments related to false claims about the Sandy Hook shooting.
The Onion proposed to get a temporary license to Infowars’ intellectual property to run it as a comedy site.
The deal needs approval from a Texas judge and could start around April 30.
The Onion has hired comedian Tim Heidecker to help manage the parody site.
Profits from the new Infowars operations would go to the Sandy Hook families.
Alex Jones said he will fight the licensing proposal but plans to continue his show from a new studio and on other platforms.
A court-appointed receiver oversees the sale of Infowars' assets to pay damages to the victims' families.
Jones has appealed some court rulings but lost major defamation trials and filed for bankruptcy in 2022.
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Airlines in the UK have asked the government to relax some rules on noise, emissions, and passenger rights, and to cut taxes on flying. They are worried about rising costs and possible jet fuel shortages due to the war in the Middle East, which could cause flight cuts and higher ticket prices.
Key Facts
Airlines want the UK to suspend the emissions trading scheme temporarily to reduce costs.
They are requesting fewer restrictions on night flights to manage scheduling problems.
Airlines want fuel-related delays to be considered "extraordinary circumstances," limiting passenger compensation to refunds only.
The aviation industry fears a jet fuel shortage if supply from the Middle East is blocked or reduced.
The industry's trade group Airlines UK prepared the list of demands on behalf of major airlines like British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Virgin, TUI, and Jet2.
Airlines also want the UK to remove or reduce air passenger duty (a tax on flying) to lower prices.
There is concern about the rule that forces airlines to use their airport slots or lose them, and airlines want more flexibility on this.
International Energy Agency warned Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel left unless supply improves, risking flight cancellations soon.
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Debt relief programs can reduce or stop debt collection activities, but the time it takes varies. At first, creditors may keep contacting borrowers and sometimes increase collection efforts before negotiations begin and collections stop after settlements are reached.
Key Facts
Household debt is at a record high, with credit card balances and interest rates increasing.
Borrowers often face more collection calls and letters after missing payments.
Enrolling in a debt relief program may shift creditor communication to the debt relief company.
Creditors are not legally required to stop collections immediately after enrollment.
Collection efforts can temporarily increase within the first 30 to 90 days of debt relief enrollment.
After several months, debt relief companies negotiate settlements to stop collection on specific accounts.
The time to stop collections usually ranges from a few days to several months and depends on many factors.
Each borrower’s situation and creditor policies affect how fast collections end after enrolling in debt relief.
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Retail sales in the U.S. rose 1.7% in March compared to February, mainly because gas prices increased due to the ongoing Iran war. Gas station sales jumped 15.5%, while other stores like department stores and furniture also saw sales increases. Higher gas prices have affected consumer mood, but tax refunds and warm weather helped spending.
Key Facts
U.S. retail sales increased by 1.7% in March from February, the fastest rise in over three years.
The Iran war, now eight weeks long, caused a spike in gas prices, which strongly influenced these sales.
Sales at gas stations rose by 15.5%, the largest increase among all retail categories.
Department stores saw a 4.2% sales increase, furniture stores 2.2%, and online retailers 1%.
The overall increase excluding gas was 0.6%, supported by government tax refunds and warmer weather.
The Iran war has shut down the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off about 20% of the world’s oil supply, which raised U.S. gas prices above $4 per gallon.
Consumer confidence fell to a record low in April due to the Iran war and higher gas prices.
Rising fuel costs are expected to increase prices on many products as transportation expenses rise.
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Churchill Downs Inc. has agreed to pay $85 million to buy the intellectual property rights for the Preakness Stakes and the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes horse races. The deal allows Maryland to keep hosting the events through a separate agreement, while Churchill Downs will own the trademarks and related rights.
Key Facts
Churchill Downs will pay $85 million to buy the rights to the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes from 1/ST Maryland LLC.
The purchase covers trademarks and intellectual property, not the actual horse racing events.
Maryland will continue hosting the races under a licensing deal that includes annual payments to Churchill Downs.
The Preakness Stakes is part of the Triple Crown and is traditionally run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
This year, the Preakness will be held at Laurel Park instead of Pimlico Race Course due to redevelopment work.
The deal is expected to close after the 2026 Preakness, funded by Churchill Downs’ cash and credit.
There is discussion about moving the Preakness to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby starting in 2027 to encourage more top horses to compete.
TV rights for the Preakness are up for renewal, with networks like NBC, Fox, Amazon, and Netflix interested.
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Many companies across the United States are laying off workers this week due to economic challenges and organizational changes. These layoffs affect a range of industries, including restaurants, biotech, retail, and electric vehicles, with hundreds of employees losing jobs in various states.
Key Facts
Dozens of companies are laying off workers this week, impacting thousands of employees.
Bahama Breeze is closing 14 locations, laying off all 86 employees at one Florida site.
Albertsons will lay off up to 200 employees in Texas due to store closures.
Electric vehicle maker Lucid Group is laying off between 251 and 500 workers in California.
AI company C3.ai is reducing staff by 51 to 100 workers in California to lower costs.
The U.S. unemployment rate remains about 4.3%, despite ongoing layoffs.
Layoffs also occur at companies in biotech, marketing, veterinary care, finance, agriculture, and hospitality.
Some layoffs are linked to automation and restructuring efforts by companies.
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Mortgage interest rates have recently dropped below 6% for 30-year loans, making borrowing more affordable than in recent months. Borrowers are advised to check their credit reports, compare offers from multiple lenders, and consider locking in their rate to protect against future increases.
Key Facts
Average mortgage rate for a 30-year loan is now about 5.99%.
Average rate for a 15-year mortgage is around 5.50%.
Rates were higher at the end of March: 6.37% for 30-year loans and 5.75% for 15-year loans.
Borrowers with higher credit scores get the lowest mortgage rates.
Checking and fixing errors on your credit report can improve your credit score and lead to better rates.
Shopping around and comparing at least three lenders helps find the best mortgage deal.
A mortgage rate lock can protect you from rising rates before closing the loan.
It may still be possible to refinance for a lower rate after buying a home in the future.
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Business owners in the United States are experiencing problems with the new government website designed to refund tariffs. They report that the portal has technical glitches and is causing delays in getting their money back.
Key Facts
The U.S. government has created a new online portal for businesses to get refunds on tariffs they paid.
Business owners are reporting technical problems with the portal.
Users say the website is slow and causing delays in processing refunds.
These issues are affecting companies that paid extra import fees.
The government aims to help businesses recover costs from tariffs through this portal.
News outlet CBS News covered these reports with correspondent Shanelle Kaul.
The portal’s problems are frustrating business owners who need quicker access to refunds.
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It is usually not too late to settle a debt, but the longer you wait, the harder and more expensive it can become. Debts go through different stages—before charge-off, after charge-off, after a lawsuit, and after a court judgment—and your options for negotiating a settlement change at each stage.
Key Facts
Settling a debt early, before it is charged off, often leads to better payment terms because the original creditor still owns the debt.
After a charge-off, debts are usually sold to collectors who may be more aggressive but still allow for settlement negotiations.
If a lawsuit is filed for the debt, settlement is still possible, but you must act quickly to avoid a default judgment.
A default judgment gives creditors stronger powers, such as garnishing wages or levying bank accounts.
Even after a court judgment, you can try to negotiate a settlement, but creditors have more legal ways to collect the debt.
The longer a debt remains unpaid, the more it can harm your credit score and possibly lead to legal action.
Ignoring debt can reduce your leverage and close windows for favorable settlements.
Time-sensitive actions and responses are critical to maintaining options for debt repayment or settlement.
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The Onion has announced that it reached an agreement to take control of Infowars, the website created by Alex Jones. The deal means The Onion will manage Infowars going forward.
Key Facts
The Onion is a media company known for satire.
Infowars is a website started by Alex Jones.
Alex Jones is known for promoting conspiracy theories.
The Onion has made a deal to take over Infowars.
This means The Onion will now run Infowars.
The details of the deal were not provided in the article.
No changes to the content or direction of Infowars were mentioned.
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The UK government plans to allow electric vehicle (EV) owners without off-street parking to charge their cars at home by running cables through a special paving gully without needing planning permission. This change aims to make home EV charging more accessible and affordable, helping households reduce their use of fossil fuels amid rising energy costs.
Key Facts
New UK rules will let EV owners without driveways charge cars from power inside their homes by using a cable through a pavement gully.
This change will remove the need for council planning permission for these cables.
About half of UK councils currently allow cross-pavement charging with permission, but this new plan removes that barrier.
Home charging is cheaper than public charging because home energy VAT is 5%, while public charging VAT is 20%.
The government will also ease installation rules for solar panels and heat pumps to help cut energy costs.
Demand for solar panels, heat pumps, and EVs has sharply increased due to concerns about rising fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict.
Sales of electric cars and related equipment have risen significantly this year, with electric car prices falling below petrol car prices for the first time in the UK.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband emphasized the need to accelerate clean energy adoption to reduce dependence on unstable fossil fuel markets.
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The UK government will appeal a tax tribunal ruling that says VAT on public electric car chargers should be 5%, not 20%. Currently, electric car drivers pay more VAT at public chargers than at home, and the ruling could lower their costs and encourage more use of electric vehicles.
Key Facts
A London tax tribunal ruled that VAT on public electric car chargers should be 5%, the same as at home.
The UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs, is appealing against this ruling.
The higher 20% VAT on public chargers adds about £85 million a year in extra tax revenue.
This extra tax could rise to £315 million by 2030 as electric car use increases.
About 40% of UK households cannot charge cars at home and rely on public chargers.
Charge point companies say the current VAT difference makes public charging more expensive and slows the switch from petrol to electric cars.
If the appeal fails, other operators plan to claim refunds for VAT overpaid in past years.
The case focuses on how the VAT law defines electricity use for “domestic use” under certain limits.
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The U.S. government is refunding over $166 billion in tariffs from President Donald Trump’s import taxes after a Supreme Court ruling. These refunds go to businesses that paid the tariffs, not directly to consumers, so prices for shoppers may not drop quickly or widely.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court struck down many tariffs from President Trump’s 2025 import tax policies.
The government will refund over $166 billion to businesses that originally paid these tariffs.
Only about 56,500 out of 330,000 importers have registered for refunds totaling $127 billion so far.
Businesses usually passed tariff costs to consumers through higher prices.
Consumers are not directly receiving these refund payments.
Some companies, like FedEx, say they may return tariff-related charges to customers.
Most companies are not required to lower prices after getting refunds.
Experts say price decreases are possible but not guaranteed and may take time.
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The UK and EU are close to agreeing on new rules to ease trade barriers on farm products after Brexit. This deal would reduce paperwork, stop physical checks on food, and help exports like Scottish seafood, but some customs forms would still be needed.
Key Facts
The UK and EU are finalizing a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to lower trade barriers on agricultural products.
The agreement would end physical checks and veterinary certificates for farm goods, saving exporters money.
Scottish exports like langoustines and oysters could increase because quicker shipping will preserve freshness.
Food labeling that says “Not for EU” may no longer be required, easing distribution.
Some paperwork, such as customs and VAT forms, will still be necessary.
Labour proposes "dynamic alignment," meaning the UK would follow current and future EU farm product rules.
An alternative discussed is “mutual recognition,” like deals New Zealand has with the UK, which would avoid dynamic alignment.
The UK has strong trade leverage since it imports a lot of EU farm products but exports less to the EU.
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A Treasury review suggests that Northern Ireland’s government could have an extra £3 billion a year for public services by raising property taxes, introducing water charges, and reducing the number of public sector workers. The report also says ending equal pay for Northern Ireland public workers compared to other UK regions could save a large amount of money.
Key Facts
The review was done after Northern Ireland overspent by £400 million last year.
Northern Ireland’s public sector has more workers than England’s, costing more money.
Reducing public workers to the size of England’s could save nearly £400 million a year.
Ending “pay parity” (equal pay for public workers in Northern Ireland) could save up to £2.5 billion annually.
Raising property taxes to match England’s council tax could bring in over £400 million per year.
Introducing water charges of about £465 per household could raise an additional £357 million.
The review was done by the UK Treasury alone after the Northern Ireland Department of Finance withdrew.
Pay parity issues have caused strikes and industrial actions in Northern Ireland’s public sector.
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