July 3rd, 2012

Gasoline Futures – U.S. gasoline prices at the pump, headed to $4 a gallon in April, are dropping toward $3 as the July Fourth holiday approaches, giving consumers relief and a boost to President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

Retail prices have fallen 15 percent to $3.329 from a peak of $3.936 on April 4, according to Heathrow, Florida-based AAA, the largest U.S. motoring group. They’re also 6.6 percent lower than a year ago, underscoring how slowing economies are sapping demand even as an embargo on Iranian oil starts.

Republican criticism of Obama’s energy policies has faded as oil fell as much as 29 percent from this year’s high in February and stockpiles ballooned to the most in 22 years. Americans bought less gasoline in the four weeks ended June 26 than a year earlier even as prices dropped, MasterCard Inc. (MA) data show. Last month, the Federal Reserve cut its estimate for U.S. growth, Spain became the fourth euro-region country to seek an international bailout and China’s manufacturing shrank.

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