AP National Business

By SALLY FRENCH of NerdWallet “Buy now, pay later” services like Affirm, Afterpay and Klarna can sometimes provide a cheaper, more accessible version of credit. These services essentially provide customers an alternative way to pay for purchases over time without going into credit card debt or taking out a traditional personal loan. Travel purchases, such

HELSINKI (AP) — Three Latvian parties have signed a deal to form a coalition government more than two months after a general election in the Baltic country that was shaped by neighboring Russia’s war in Ukraine and economic woes. The new Cabinet will be led by Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins’ ruling center-right New Unity party,

By RONALD MONTOYA Edmunds Electric vehicles, or EVs for short, have been the hot car commodity for 2022, as their sales were up nearly 82% from 2021 and now make up 5% of the total market, according to Edmunds data. The experts at Edmunds have polled its users to figure out the top EV questions

By CARA ANNA Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Two Ethiopians have filed a lawsuit against Facebook’s parent company, Meta, over hate speech they say was allowed and even promoted on the social media platform amid heated rhetoric over their country’s deadly Tigray conflict. Former Amnesty International human rights researcher Fisseha Tekle is one petitioner

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Marta Suarez stepped in front of the white backdrop, rotated the basketball to put the logo forward and propped it against her hip. She looked into the camera and smiled, her head tilting slightly to the right. Flashes came in quick succession. Music streamed

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — U.K. inflation has eased in November but is still stuck near a 40-year high. The Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that consumer prices rose 10.7% in the 12 months through November, down from 11.1% in October. The figures offer little relief for consumers as the high

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares skidded Thursday after a retreat on Wall Street as markets registered their dismay over the Federal Reserve’s warning that still higher interest rates are in store following its latest increase. Oil prices fell while U.S. futures edged higher. Japan reported its trade deficit in

By DAKE KANG Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — China says it will stop reporting asymptomatic COVID-19 cases since they’ve become “impossible” to track with mass testing no longer required. That’s another step in the country’s uncertain exit from some of the world’s strictest antivirus policies. China last week announced its most significant easing yet of

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve reinforced its inflation fight Wednesday by raising its key interest rate for the seventh time this year and signaling more hikes to come. But it announced a smaller hike than it had in its past four meetings at a time when inflation is

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia has signed a new security deal with Oceania island country Vanuatu as part of an ongoing competition with China for influence in the Pacific. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who announced the deal, is leading a bipartisan delegation to Vanuatu and two other Pacific nations. The new security pact covers

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — The body of a 23-year-old woman has been found in the ocean off Australia after she fell overboard from a cruise ship. Crew members aboard the Pacific Explorer reported the passenger missing at about midnight, when the ship was about 43 miles out to sea from Cape Jaffa in South Australia

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Senate has approved sweeping legislation that would overhaul the state’s property insurance system, which has struggled due to insolvencies, high costs and major storms. The Republican proposal passed Tuesday comes during the GOP-led Legislature’s second special session this year aimed at stabilizing the property

By MATT O’BRIEN, BARBARA ORTUTAY and DAVID KLEPPER The Associated Press What you’re seeing in your feed on Twitter is changing. But how? The social media platform’s new owner, Elon Musk, has been trying to prove through giving selected journalists access to some of the company’s internal communications dubbed “The Twitter Files” that officials from

By JOHN RABY Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Three newspaper reporters in West Virginia say they have been fired after publicly criticizing their company’s video interview with a convicted former coal executive. Charleston Gazette-Mail reporters Caity Coyne, Lacie Pierson and Ryan Quinn confirmed their dismissals. The video feature is posted regularly on the Gazette-Mail’s

The Associated Press Stocks closed higher on Wall Street after the government reported that inflation cooled more than expected last month, cementing expectations that the Federal Reserve is about to dial down the size of its interest rate hikes. The Fed is widely expected to raise its benchmark rate a half-point Wednesday, smaller than the

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Tuesday: Photronics, Moderna rise; Joann, Trimble fall.

The Associated Press Benchmark U.S. crude oil for January delivery rose $2.22 to $75.39 a barrel Tuesday. Brent crude for February delivery rose $2.69 to $80.68 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for January delivery rose 8 cents to $2.16 a gallon. January heating oil rose 12 cents to $3.09 a gallon. January natural gas rose 35

BOURNEMOUTH, England (AP) — American actor Michael B. Jordan is part of the new ownership group of Premier League club Bournemouth. The club announced Tuesday that billionaire Bill Foley’s takeover has been ratified by the league and that the “Creed” actor has a minority stake. Previous owner Maxim Demin sold his 100% stake to Black

LONDON (AP) — The European Union has moved closer to a clinching a deal over transatlantic data transfers aimed at resolving concerns about U.S. spying with a draft decision that confirms “comparable safeguards” to those in the EU, which has stringent privacy rules. The EU’s executive Commission released its draft decision approving the pact. It

By GLENN GAMBOA AP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The new CEO of FTX says the founder of the failed cryptocurrency exchange helped 1,500 Bahamian investors remove $100 million from their accounts while other customers around the world were locked out of the exchange. John Ray III called FTX’s collapse one of the worst business

BERLIN (AP) — Railway workers in Austria are set to get a significant wage increase under a deal to resolve a pay standoff that resulted in a one-day strike last month. Labor union vida and employers reached the agreement on Tuesday after several rounds of talks on pay for some 50,000 employees of about 65

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s government wants to help working parents juggle the responsibility of raising children with their jobs by giving them more time off for emergencies and those long summer breaks from school. The government on Tuesday presented the draft of a new “family law” that would increase the right to paid leave from

By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer Moderna’s stock soared Tuesday after the COVID-19 vaccine maker detailed progress in developing another potential preventive shot for a deadly form of skin cancer. The company said a melanoma vaccine it is developing with pharmaceutical giant Merck fared well in a small study of patients who have had the

By FRANCIS KOKUTSE and SAM MEDNICK Associated Press ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — The International Monetary Fund has agreed to give Ghana $3 billion to try to get the West African nation’s debt under control and restore financial stability. The announcement follows IMF officials’ two-week visit to Ghana’s capital Accra, where they discussed support for the

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer DALLAS (AP) — Aviation startup Boom Aerospace has lined up contractors to help design an engine for its supersonic plane. The company said Tuesday that Florida Turbine Technologies will design the engines, and a division of General Electric will also provide expertise. Boom says it plans to carry passengers

By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AP Education Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Mecca Patterson-Guridy wants to learn, but for some subjects, she isn’t always comfortable asking her teachers. So she has been turning to TikTok. Online, the 17-year-old high school junior in Philadelphia has found videos on social media platforms about protests over police shootings, civic engagement and

By ELIZABETH AYOOLA of NerdWallet This year has been full of economic uncertainty for many. High inflation has affected the cost of living, making housing, food and gas more expensive. Now that we’re near the end of the year, people may be setting financial goals for 2023. Consider looking at the current state of the

DETROIT (AP) — Stellantis is recalling about 1.4 million pickup trucks worldwide because the tailgates may not close completely and cargo could spill onto the road. The recall covers Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from the 2019 to 2022 model years. The company, formerly Fiat Chrysler, says it found that striker plates on the

By KEN SWEET and FATIMA HUSSEIN AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government charged Samuel Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, with a host of financial crimes on Tuesday, alleging he intentionally deceived customers and investors to enrich himself and others, while playing a central role in the

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer United Airlines said Tuesday that it ordered 100 new Boeing 787s, a large, twin-aisle jetliner, to replace planes that are nearing retirement age and allow United to expand its international flying. United also added to its order book for the smaller Boeing 737 Max, which is used on domestic

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union energy ministers have failed yet again to overcome their deep differences on a natural gas price cap that many hope would make utility bills cheaper so people can stay a little warmer during harsh winter days. The ministers emerged from their fifth emergency meeting emptyhanded

By JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s government is expecting to sign an agreement within days that will bring it closer to accessing billions in suspended European Union funding. The bloc has held up the money for more than a year over concerns of corruption and democratic erosion in Hungary. But a

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s parliament is reeling and its credibility is at stake as a corruption and bribery scandal has toppled a senior member. Several others have been relieved of their duties. Fingers are pointing at Qatari officials accused by some of trying to sports-wash the soccer World

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has moved closer to pushing through an unprecedented tax on foreign companies that want to import products that do not meet climate-protection standards that EU companies have to comply with. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism seeks to create a competitive level playing field after EU companies complained that they

By MATTHEW DALY, MICHAEL PHILLIS, JENNIFER McDERMOTT and MADDIE BURAKOFF Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists announced Tuesday that they have for the first time produced more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it — a major breakthrough in the decades-long quest to harness the process that powers the sun. Researchers

By RIAZAT BUTT Associated Press LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — No menu. No delivery. No walk-ins. Advance orders only. Explanations and instructions while you eat. Welcome to Baking Virsa, a hole-in-the-wall in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore described as the country’s most expensive restaurant for what it serves — household favorites like flatbreads and kebabs.

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Stocks rose Wednesday in Asia after a rally on Wall Street spurred by news that inflation in the U.S. cooled more than expected last month. The 7.1% consumer price index reading for November raised hopes Tuesday for easing pressure on the economy ahead of an interest

By ZEN SOO Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader says its government will push Google to display China’s national anthem as the top result in searches for the city’s anthem instead of a protest song. John Lee, Hong Kong’s chief executive, said Tuesday it was “technically possible,” although he said Google had

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — Most small SUVs flunked the latest frontal crash tests done by the insurance industry, but oddly enough, they’re just as safe as they were before. That’s because the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety updated the test so it places more emphasis on keeping back-seat passengers safe.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation in the United States slowed again last month in the latest sign that price increases are cooling despite the pressures they continue to inflict on American households. Consumer prices rose 7.1% in November from a year ago, the government said Tuesday. That was down sharply

BEIJING (AP) — Some Chinese universities say they will allow students to finish the semester from home in hopes of reducing the potential for a bigger COVID-19 outbreak during the January Lunar New Year travel rush. It isn’t clear how many schools were taking part. But universities in Shanghai and nearby cities said students would

By MATT O’BRIEN and BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writers Elon Musk’s Twitter has dissolved its Trust and Safety Council, the advisory group of around 100 independent civil, human rights and other organizations that the company formed in 2016 to address hate speech, child exploitation, suicide, self-harm and other problems on the platform. The council had

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The former CEO of failed cryptocurrency firm FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been arrested in the Bahamas at the request of the U.S. government, U.S. and Bahamian authorities said Monday. The arrest was made Monday after the U.S. filed criminal charges that are expected to be

By JOHN FLESHER AP Environmental Writer TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Four Native American tribes in Michigan have agreed with the state and federal governments on a revised fishing policy for parts of the Great Lakes. The tentative deal covers sections of Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior included in an 1836 treaty that

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Four new cases of bird flu at Iowa turkey farms in the past few days will push the number of birds slaughtered nationwide this month to limit the spread of the virus up to nearly 700,000. The latest cases announced by the Iowa Department of

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida lawmakers have advanced sweeping GOP legislation intended to shore up the state’s struggling home insurance market in the year’s second special session devoted to the topic. In the session that began Monday, legislators discussed a proposal that would create  a $1 billion reinsurance fund, reduce

The Associated Press Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a busy week when central banks are likely to unload the year’s final barrage of interest rate hikes. The S&P 500 rallied 1.4% Monday. On Wednesday, markets expect the Federal Reserve to announce a more modest increase to rates than it has

DETROIT (AP) — A government report says fuel economy for 2021 model year vehicles in the U.S. stayed flat with 2020 as people continued to buy less-efficient trucks and SUVs. The fleet of new vehicles got 25.4 miles per gallon (10.8 kilometers per liter) for the model year, while greenhouse gas emissions dropped slightly to

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The House Financial Services Committee plans to hold a hearing into the collapse of crypto exchange FTX on Tuesday, but its star witness will be missing. Sam Bankman-Fried was scheduled to testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee, along with the company’s current

The Associated Press Benchmark U.S. crude oil for January delivery rose $2.15 to $73.17 a barrel Monday. Brent crude for February delivery rose $1.89 to $77.99 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for January delivery rose 2 cents to $2.08 a gallon. January heating oil rose 17 cents to $2.97 a gallon. January natural gas rose 34

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday refused a request from tobacco companies to stop California from enforcing a ban on flavored tobacco products that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in November. R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies sought the high court’s intervention to keep the ban from taking effect by Dec. 21. There

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s foreign secretary says he’ll travel this week to Washington, D.C., in an effort to resolve a dispute over imports of genetically modified U.S. corn. The trip planned for Friday comes before a scheduled visit next month to Mexico City by U.S. President Joe Biden. Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Monday

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press One of Pennsylvania’s largest drillers will be allowed to extract natural gas from underneath a rural community, after being banned for a dozen years because of accusations it polluted the water supply. The state Department of Environmental Protection has quietly lifted its long-term moratorium on gas production in Dimock. The

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — USA Today’s weekly chart of top-selling books is on indefinite hiatus after the newspaper’s parent company Gannett laid off the editor in charge of compiling it. Gannett laid off hundreds of staffers earlier this month, including Mary Cadden. A newspaper spokesperson said Monday further updates

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal government has announced another $325 million for agricultural projects that are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The latest list of 71 recipients for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Climate-Smart Commodities program primarily involve small and underserved farmers and ranchers. The payments follow

BERLIN (AP) — The Group of Seven leading economies have created an open and international climate club in which countries are to cooperate in the fight against global warming. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Monday after a video conference with other G-7 leaders that the climate club “is not intended to be a G-7 initiative;

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union foreign ministers have imposed new sanctions on clerics, senior officials and top state media employees in Iran over the government’s brutal crackdown on protesters. The EU ministers also targeted experts they believe are linked to supplying Russia with explosive drones to use in its war

Microsoft is taking a roughly 4% stake in the operator of the London Stock Exchange, which has agreed to spend at least $2.8 billion in cloud-computing services from the technology giant. That spending commitment will be spread out over 10 years, according to the terms of the deal announced Sunday by Microsoft. The London Stock

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Still eager to hire, America’s employers are posting more job openings than they did before the pandemic struck 2½ years ago. Problem is, there aren’t enough applicants. The nation’s labor force is smaller than when the pandemic struck. The reasons vary — an unexpected wave of

By HAVEN DALEY Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Dave Chappelle asked the crowd at his comedy show to “make some noise for the world’s richest man.” They did. Lots of booing. It was a rather uncomfortable appearance for Elon Musk, Twitter’s new owner, at Chappelle’s show with Chris Rock on Sunday night at the

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer Electric vehicle maker Rivian is setting aside its planned partnership with Mercedes-Benz to produce electric vans in Europe so that it can focus on its existing commercial and consumer business. California-based Rivian said Monday it was putting on “pause” the memorandum of understanding that was signed between the American

By MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Airplanes flying into Orlando International Airport on Monday were encouraged to top off at airports they were coming from after recent bad weather prevented the delivery of reserve jet fuel. Those delays have prompted fears that visitors could face delays. Airport officials on Monday said there

By COURTNEY BONNELL Associated Press The heads of the International Energy Agency and European Union’s executive branch say the 27-nation bloc is expected to weather an energy crisis this winter. But they say Europe needs to speed renewables to the market and take other steps to avoid a potential natural gas shortage next year. Russia

BERLIN (AP) — The German government says it will provide Kenya with 112 million euros to help the East African nation close the gap to 100% renewable energy and produce hydrogen. Kenya already gets about 90% of its electricity from renewable sources. It aims to phase out entirely the use of fossil fuels for electricity

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Grilling company Weber is being taken private in a deal valued at about $3.7 billion. Investment funds managed by BDT Capital Partners LLC will buy all of the outstanding shares of Weber Inc. that they don’t already own for $8.05 per share. Weber’s board has approved the transaction, which

The Associated Press The Labor Department issues its November snapshot of inflation at the consumer level Tuesday. The Federal Reserve delivers an update Wednesday on its campaign to bring down inflation by raising interest rates. The Commerce Department releases its November tally of U.S. retail sales Thursday.

DETROIT (AP) — Subaru is telling the owners of nearly 272,000 SUVs in the U.S. to park them outdoors due to the risk of a fire. The company is recalling the 2019 through 2022 Ascents after getting reports of two fires with no injuries. Subaru says a bolt that holds the ground terminal of a

By KIMBERLY PALMER of NerdWallet A record number of young adults are moving back home to live with their parents, thanks to the high cost of housing, inflation and remote work options. The arrangement can give young adults a much-needed financial boost, but it can be a drag on their parents’ finances. That’s why experts

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — German automaker Mercedes-Benz is investing 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in a electric van plant in Poland. The company’s head for van operations said Monday that the plant in the southwestern Poland town of Jawor will be Mercedes-Benz Group A.G.’s first in Europe devoted to making electric delivery vehicles. He says

By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer Amgen is spending more than $26 billion to dive deeper into rare disease treatments with a deal for drugmaker Horizon Therapeutics. The biotech drug developer said Monday that it will pay $116.50 in cash for each share of Horizon, which makes a treatment for thyroid eye disease that generated

NEW YORK (AP) — A joint venture between General Motors and South Korean battery company LG Energy Solution has closed on a $2.5 billion federal loan to help finance three lithium-ion battery cell plants in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan. The Department of Energy awarded the loan to the venture, which is called Ultium Cells. The

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Tuesday as the Federal Reserve and other central banks prepared for the year’s final barrage of interest rate hikes. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.3% to 27,925.38 while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 0.6% to 19,572.66. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200

By HOPE YEN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare for the District of Columbia and other major cities that public transit was a lifeline for essential workers and that even modest fares could be a burden to them. So the nation’s capital is introducing a groundbreaking plan: It will begin offering

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s Orion capsule made a blisteringly fast return from the moon Sunday, parachuting into the Pacific off Mexico to conclude a test flight that should clear the way for astronauts on the next lunar flyby. The incoming capsule hit the atmosphere at Mach 32,

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Before the pandemic, Cheryl Woodard used to take her daughter and her friends to eat at a local IHOP in Laurel, Maryland after their dance practice. But now they hardly go there anymore because it closes too early. “It is a little frustrating because it’s

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A Tokyo company aimed for the moon with its own private lander Sunday, blasting off atop a SpaceX rocket with the United Arab Emirates’ first lunar rover and a toylike robot from Japan that’s designed to roll around up there in the gray dust.

By JOE McDONALD Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — Facing a surge in COVID-19 cases, China is setting up more intensive care facilities and trying to strengthen hospitals as it rolls back anti-virus controls that confined millions of people to their homes, crushed economic growth and set off protests. President Xi Jinping’s government is officially committed

NEW YORK (AP) — Twitter is once again attempting to launch its premium service, a month after a previous attempt failed. The social media platform said it would let users buy subscriptions to Twitter Blue to get a blue check mark and access special features starting Monday. The company owned by billionaire Elon Musk has

By KEN MILLER Associated Press The survivor of a shooting at an Oklahoma marijuana farm that killed four people has been arrested after being released from a hospital. Court documents show Yifei Lin was arrested after the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics filed notice to seize the farm it alleges was operating under an illegally obtained

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Over the grinding wail of a chainsaw pruning trees, Oleh Braharnyk recalls how his crew sprang into action in Kyiv a week earlier to repair power lines downed by Russian missiles and keep electricity flowing to his beleaguered fellow Ukrainians. Braharnyk, an electric company foreman, knows

By KANIS LEUNG Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court sentenced a pro-democracy media tycoon to five years and nine months in prison on Saturday over two fraud charges linked to lease violations, the latest of a series of cases against prominent activists that critics say are aimed at crushing dissent in

By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut’s first retail recreational cannabis sales will begin as soon as Jan. 10. State regulators announced Friday that nine medical marijuana operators have successfully completed the steps needed to expand their businesses to include the new market for adults 21 and over. As many as 40

By The Associated Press This week’s new entertainment releases include an album from rapper Ab-Soul, the irreverent shoot-’em-up video game “High on Life” and rising comedian Atsuko Okatsuka debuts her first HBO comedy special called “The Intruder.” David Letterman travels to Ukraine to sit down with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a special one-off episode of

The Associated Press Wall Street closed lower after a report showed inflation is slowing, though not by as much as hoped. The S&P 500 fell 0.7% Friday, marking its first losing week in the last three. The weakness came after the U.S. government reported that prices at the wholesale level were 7.4% higher in November

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Friday: Chewy Inc., up $1.68 to $43.65. The online pet store surprised investors by turning a profit in the third quarter. Broadcom Inc., up $13.64 to $544.72. The semiconductor maker reported results that beat analysts’ estimates and issued a better-than-expected forecast. DocuSign

The Associated Press Benchmark U.S. crude oil for January delivery fell 44 cents to $71.02 a barrel Friday. Brent crude for February delivery fell 5 cents to $76.10 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for January delivery rose 1 cent to $2.06 a gallon. January heating oil fell 9 cents to $2.79 a gallon. January natural gas