Although consumers and businesses have gotten a bit of a reprieve at the gas pump as of late, says William Patalon in Money Morning, the escalation in oil prices we’ve seen over the past year has led to some major changes in overall consumer behavior. Many car-owners have dumped their gas-guzzling pickup trucks and SUVs at the nearest used-car lot and used the proceeds to buy some gas-sipping rides.

The U.S. economy is certifiably lousy, says Lynn Carpenter in Investor’s Daily Edge. Many businesses are looking for a turnaround. There are many factors affecting the success of a turnaround. A company needs to have a clear direction of what it is and where it is going. And it needs a brand name that has not been dragged through the mud. More from Lynn…

How does the prospect of $4 a gallon gasoline sound to you? Undoubtedly, it doesn’t sound all that great. But what if I said that gasoline prices were headed for the $4 a gallon level, but once they got there, they’d head no higher?