The Cheap Days at the Gas Pump Are Over

Editor's note: Over the past few days, we've been sharing insights from our friend and colleague Marc Chaikin – the founder of our corporate affiliate Chaikin Analytics and the creator of the Power Gauge system. In today's essay, Marc's colleague Briton Hill – the newest analyst at Chaikin Analytics – shares a warning for consumers. […] Not rendering correctly? View this e-mail as a web page [here](. [Empire Financial Daily] Editor's note: Over the past few days, we've been sharing insights from our friend and colleague Marc Chaikin – the founder of our corporate affiliate Chaikin Analytics and the creator of the Power Gauge system. In today's essay, Marc's colleague Briton Hill – the newest analyst at Chaikin Analytics – shares a warning for consumers. But at the same time, it's a trend that could lead to big gains in a specific group of stocks in the months ahead... --------------------------------------------------------------- The Cheap Days at the Gas Pump Are Over By Briton Hill --------------------------------------------------------------- [The EV Story No One's Telling]( Forget batteries, energy storage, charging stations, chips, and everything else you've heard about Electric Vehicles... because the biggest EV story everyone's missing is THIS. It's a brand-new asset that the International Monetary Fund claims should rise 24,900%. [Just click here now to find out how to stake YOUR claim in this secret asset today](. --------------------------------------------------------------- This winter, Americans enjoyed a reprieve at the pump... Gasoline prices surged last summer. The national average eclipsed $5 per gallon in June for the first time ever. But the average price plunged to around $3.10 per gallon by December. That's a nearly 40% drop in about six months. Don't expect the relief to last, though. In fact... it's already reversing. You see, starting in late 2021, the U.S. government dipped into its strategic oil reserves to push down gas prices. It hoped to help Americans make ends meet as inflation remained a threat. It worked. But now, we're about to face the consequences... Oil reserves are now at their lowest levels in nearly 40 years. And that's leading to serious consequences for Americans and the energy industry as a whole. First, look at this chart of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve... It's clear that the U.S. government dramatically drained our reserves to keep prices down. Now, it has no choice but to replenish them. The government started this process in December. And since then, gas prices are already up 11%. As I said, the average price of regular gasoline was roughly $3.10 per gallon in mid-December. Today, the average price is near $3.50 per gallon. This trend likely won't change any time soon, either... Spring is here. Oil demand typically peaks in the summer. Peaking demand means higher prices – especially with reduced supply. And don't forget the political instability in oil-rich countries like Russia. To make matters worse, the U.S. won't be able to dip into its reserves like it did last year. So you might want to keep some extra cash as the weather gets warmer. If you're planning to do a lot of driving this summer, it could be more expensive than you think. --------------------------------------------------------------- Recommended Link: ['$12 Million Interview' Coming Offline April 3]( After months of negotiations and a $12 million deal... Whitney Tilson's interview with this man is finally possible. But due to the nature of the opportunity this man presents, this presentation will be pulled offline April 3, 2023. [Click here now to watch it while you still can](. --------------------------------------------------------------- But this shift will likely create a big opportunity for oil and gas companies... So far, the current administration has made life difficult for domestic oil producers. But even the strictest policies can reverse course if times get too desperate... It happened recently when China caved to COVID-19 protesters and reopened for business. And if gas prices surge high enough this summer, the U.S. government could give in, too. The U.S. government could provide relief for U.S. oil prices and replenish its oil reserves at the same time with one simple move... bringing back domestic oil production. Specifically, I'm talking about reopening closed pipelines and refineries. Given the circumstances, this move seems inevitable. Without more domestic production, the prices at the pump will soar this summer. And the government knows it. With that in mind, we should keep our eyes on oil and gas "picks and shovels" companies. These companies build pipelines and supply refining equipment. And their businesses will soar if the government allows more domestic production to drive down gas prices. Today, the Power Gauge is watching this potential opportunity... At Chaikin Analytics, we use the Power Gauge to zero in on the most important details for an investment's performance. It's a set of tools that combines 20 factors into a simple rating: bullish, bearish, or neutral. Our system rates the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Fund (XES) as "neutral+" today. Despite some recent technical weakness, the Power Gauge detects "very bullish" factors in the fund's favor. Eight of its holdings are rated "bullish" or better. And none are "bearish" or worse. These companies will thrive if the U.S. government ramps up domestic oil production again. And given the dire situation with our reserves, it's likely only a matter of time. So keep these companies in mind during the months ahead. Regards, Briton Hill March 30, 2023 Editor's note: In a special event earlier this week, Briton joined Marc to issue a big warning in the wake of a rare signal flashing in the markets. This signal has only occurred a handful of times in the past 72 years... indicating that a big shift is likely coming. Find out what it could mean for you and your money in 2023 by [clicking here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- If someone forwarded you this e-mail and you would like to be added to the Empire Financial Daily e-mail list to receive e-mails like this every weekday, simply [sign up here](. © 2023 Empire Financial Research. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, copying, or redistribution, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from Empire Financial Research, 1125 N. 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