When oil prices moved to over $30 a barrel in the mid 1980s, it was considered a significant event. It also signaled the birth of small ethanol companies in the Midwest. Many of them managed to hang around long enough to get a second wind when Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the ensuing Gulf War pushed oil prices past $40.

Crude oil has tumbled to prices not seen for five years. But Byron King says the energy industry can’t function with prices this low. Investment in the future is drying up, and so is the existing oil supply. And that’s why the long-term price trend of crude is still way up.

In the energy market Friday, oil prices went haywire, with crude for January delivery closing at $33.87/barrel, down $2.35 on its last day as front-month contract, while crude for February delivery closed at $42.36/barrel, up 69 cents. January reformulated gasoline gained 5 cents, to $0.97/gallon.

As the economic crisis continues to unfold, recently a sense of uncertainty has begun to pervade the market. Even dyed-in-the-wool risk takers admit that they don’t know what to think anymore. Inflation, deflation, recession or depression – there are so many vagaries that it appears to be anyone’s guess what will happen next.

In the energy market Friday, oil prices did turn north, but just barely, with crude for January delivery closing at $49.93/barrel, up 51 cents in its debut as front-month contract. Reformulated gasoline for January delivery rose 5 cents, to $1.09/gallon.

In the energy market Thursday, oil managed to gain a little ground, with crude for December delivery closing at $58.24/barrel, up $2.08 on its last day as the front-month contract.

In the energy market Monday, oil sank below the $60 benchmark, with crude for December delivery closing at $59.33/barrel, down $3.08. December reformulated gasoline lost 6.2 cents, to $1.3059/gallon.  Early in the day, crude had fallen to $58.32, its lowest level since February, 2007, and yesterday there weren’t enough buyers to push it back over $60.

In the energy market Monday, oil eked out a small gain, with crude for December delivery closing at $62.41/barrel, up $1.37 from Friday. December reformulated gasoline added a penny and three-quarters, to $1.3679/gallon.

In the energy market Friday, oil tumbled, with crude for December delivery closing at $63.91/barrel, down $3.90. December reformulated gasoline arrived as front-month contract by slumping 13.3 cents, to $1.3625/gallon.

In the energy market Friday, oil moved higher, with crude for December delivery closing at $67.81/barrel, up $1.85. November reformulated gasoline fell 2.57 cents, to $1.4413/gallon.