Ongoing conflict in Europe and the Middle East, extended production cuts by OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, and an increase in demand for heat this winter all threaten to push up prices of oil and gas. But the cost of crude oil has been largely declining since the middle of October. Oil prices sank to their lowest levels since July last week (though they ticked higher on Monday) and are sitting on the verge of a bear market, down nearly 20% from September highs. The average for a gallon of gas in the United States, meanwhile, dropped to $3.37, according to AAA. That’s down from $3.78 a year ago and $3.63 a ... (full story)