Good news from the US economy!

Good news. I just paid $2.04 for gas in Texas. You can get it for less than $2 if you have special discount cards from local retailers.

According to the experts:

"Pump prices have been falling as U.S. gasoline supplies have increased. Two major forces are at work increasing gasoline stocks, according to the latest weekly analysis by the EIA.

Part of the gains have come as refineries shut down by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have come back on line. As of last week, refiners were operating at about 86 percent of capacity. That's up from a storm-damaged low of just under 70 percent, but it's still below pre-hurricane highs of 97 percent capacity.

The EIA also noted that gasoline supplies have increased due to a surge in imports, especially from European stockpiles -- which were opened up to U.S. suppliers in response to the hurricanes' impact.
Lower crude oil prices have also helped pull gas prices lower." (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8533441/)

There is more good news. The AP reported on November 22 that:

"The National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade organization, raised its growth forecast Tuesday for the Christmas season to 6 percent from its September forecast of 5 percent.

"When we had made the forecast, Katrina had just hit," said Rosalind Wells, economist for the Washington-based trade group. "Everything looked pretty gloomy." But she said since then, she has seen strong economic indicators.

Wells cited stronger-than-expected retail sales in October and falling gasoline prices as the catalysts for upgrading the holiday forecast.

"We have so much momentum going into the holiday season, so much more than we anticipated," she noted." (AP: Holiday Sales Outlook Looking Brighter)

The US economy continues to outperform the naysayers and that's the best news!