The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States expanded by 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013 over the previous quarter. GDP Growth Rate in the United States is reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In a case of apparent cheerleading, when they reported the latest GDP number, the Wall St. Journal said the number was an indication that the U.S. economy ‘perked up’ in the first quarter.

Additionally, WSJ explained that the GDP’s first-quarter 2.5% tick followed growth of “just 0.4% in the fourth quarter” and said “the overall performance suggests the economy continues to expand at around 2% a year on average, as it has throughout the recovery.” ‘Recovery’… yes, that was the word they used.

Strangely, the media's words conceal what numbers reveal...

The Energy Information Administration released its weekly report on the status of petroleum inventories in the United States today.

Here are some highlights:

CRUDE INVENTORIES:
Crude oil inventories decreased by 0.3 million barrels to a total of 394.6 million barrels. At 394.6 million barrels, inventories are 12.0 million barrels above last year (3.1%) and are well above the upper limit of the average range.

GASOLINE INVENTORIES:
Gasoline inventories increased by 3.0 million barrels to 220.7 million barrels. At 220.7 million barrels, inventories are up 19.7 million barrels, or 9.8% more than last year. Here's how individual regions and their gasoline inventory fared last week: East Coast (+0.3mb); Midwest (-0.2mb); Gulf Coast (+2.2mb); Rockies (-0.2mb); and West Coast (+0.9mb). It is important to note which regions saw increases/decreases as this information likely drives prices up (in the case of falling inventories), or down (in the case of rising inventories).

DISTILLATE (diesel, heating oil) INVENTORIES:
Distillate inventories decreased by 1.1 million barrels to a total of 118.8 million barrels. At 118.8 million barrels, inventories are now 0.6% lower than a year ago. Total distillate inventories stand 0.7 million barrels higher than their year ago level.

Has the time finally come? Well, it may be too early to blow the final whistle, but gasoline spot values have eroded today, and that may pave the way for some price decreases that could show up beginning next week or even sooner.

The nation's hottest gas price markets, the Mid-continent region and Great Lakes should see some relief ahead as spot gasoline prices take a nose dive today. However, as indicated earlier, while the party may be over, tomorrow's pivotal Energy Information Administration report could upend the predicted drop in retail prices.

Used car sales are down compared to last year. But, don't expect prices to come down. Industrywide used-vehicle sales fell to 9.7 million units in the first quarter, down 6 percent from the first quarter of last year, according to Edmunds.com's Used Car Market Quarterly Report.

Of the used vehicles sold in the quarter, franchise dealerships accounted for about 2,288,600 units, 4 percent more than in the first quarter of 2012. The remaining sales were made up by independent used car dealers and private party transactions.

Believe it or not, the high prices of used cars are helping to push new car sales. New car sales gains come even as car prices bubble up near all-time highs, offset by near-historic low interest rates for new-car loans and by longer terms for them--up 72 months or more. Kelley Blue Book says the average price of a new car dipped slightly last month by a half-percent, but remains high at $31,356, up more than $150 from a year ago.

It's one thing to hear it from 'Big Oil' companies, public relations firms and others with vested interests. It's something else entirely when the International Energy Agency (IEA) bluntly says the energy boom in the U.S. will 'displace OPEC as the driver of (oil) supply growth.'

North America will provide 40 percent of new supplies to 2018 through the development of light, tight oil and oil sands, while the contribution from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will slip to 30 percent, according to the IEA.

"The supply shock created by a surge in North American oil production will be as transformative to the market over the next five years as was the rise of Chinese demand over the last 15,” the Paris-based adviser to 28 oil-consuming nations said in its latest report.

It's been a perilous week for motorists in the nation's midsection as gasoline prices have soared. There's good news: relief may soon be on the way.

Spot gasoline prices, which have a strong and direct impact on retail prices, have seemingly begun to move lower. As spot prices move lower, the decreases are passed on to wholesale channels, and finally, allow gas stations to drop their retail prices several days later.

But it all comes too late, as many areas have set all time record highs for gasoline prices. Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma have all seen new statewide record high averages in the last week. Cities breaking their all time highs include Des Moines, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Fargo, Oklahoma City, Sioux Falls, and Omaha.

Have you gotten a ticket for running a red light? If you think the 'warning' time of your yellow light ran out a bit too fast, you may be right. And you might be able to make that case in court.

Apparently, when state DOTs reduce the yellow light time, that fraction of a second produces more money for the state. Imagine that. In Florida the state raked in an extra $50 million in 2012 just by reducing yellow light times by less than half a second.

How did they do it? According to WTSP-TV's Noah Pransky, the FDOT quietly changed the state's policy on yellow intervals in 2011, reducing the minimum below federal recommendations. The rule change was followed by engineers, both from FDOT and local municipalities, collaborating to shorten the length of yellow lights at key intersections, specifically those with red light cameras (RLCs).

It was coming. Some states and cities have shattered records that have stood for nearly five years and gasoline prices skyrocket in the Midwest.

Minneapolis saw another jump over night and into today to $4.39 a gallon, beating out consistently high Honolulu by a dime! There's more bad news before the light at the end of the tunnel- more hikes may hit in the day or two ahead. But relief isn't far off- prices may peak in the next week before beginning to decline. The high prices for gasoline are sure to attract replenishment from far away. Records for gas prices are listed below.

Anybody who's looked at electric vehicles and follows the news knows that one of the big obstacles that steers buyers away has been concern about the sometimes diminishing performance of the EV batteries, and, their inability to hold a charge for as long as advertised...

Smart USA has come up with a novel solution to alleviate those concerns.

According to AutoNews.com, Smart is now allowing buyers and lessees to rent the battery -- and lower the purchase price or monthly leases -- in the ForTwo Electric Drive coupe that went on sale this week.

OUCH. That's really all I can think of when I see gasoline prices in the Midwest. We've sent warnings to motorists via Facebook, alerted you via e-mail, and prices continue to rise.

Minnesota and the Twin Cities both hit all time record highs today. Pump prices have never been higher in these two areas. More bad news for motorists: several states may soon join Minnesota in breaking records last set in 2008.

At risk for possible record high gasoline prices in the next week or two: Iowa, Kansas, parts of Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Already shattering records in Minnesota, motorists are in lines dozens of cars deep, compounding the problems that brought the high prices: tight supply.

The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that all states lower the blood alcohol level that constitutes drunk driving.

NBC News reports that currently, all 50 states have set a BAC level of .08, reflecting the percentage of alcohol, by volume, in the blood. If a driver is found to have a BAC level of .08 or above, he or she is subject to arrest and prosecution.

The NTSB recommends dropping that to a BAC level of .05. Will it improve driver safety and reduce alcohol consumption? They're betting it will.

If you're one of the relatively few Americans driving an electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid, your purchase of gasoline has been minimal, and therefore, the federal and state fuel taxes you pay don't come close to covering the maintenance needed to cover the cost of highway infrastructure readily available to you.

Many states are looking to increase that revenue because of the decline in federal gas taxes that was supposed to be earmarked for repairs to roads, bridges and the Interstate highway system.

EV owners have been immune from the cost but that's about to change. Washington state is assessing a $100 annual tax for residents driving certain electric vehicles (EVs), an effort to recoup some of the money lost to those who drive zero-emission vehicles.

While the typical resident pays roughly $182 per year in state gas taxes, the EV owner is still better off, and that's an imbalance that some are trying to address.

The Energy Information Administration released its weekly report on the status of petroleum inventories in the United States today.

Here are some highlights:

CRUDE INVENTORIES:
Crude oil inventories decreased by 0.6 million barrels to a total of 394.9 million barrels. At 394.9 million barrels, inventories are 13.2 million barrels above last year (3.5%) and are well above the upper limit of the average range.

GASOLINE INVENTORIES:
Gasoline inventories increased by 2.6 million barrels to 217.7 million barrels. At 217.7 million barrels, inventories are up 13.4 million barrels, or 6.5% more than last year. Here's how individual regions and their gasoline inventory fared last week: East Coast (+1.8mb); Midwest (-0.9mb); Gulf Coast (+1.8mb); Rockies (+0.1mb); and West Coast (-0.1mb). It is important to note which regions saw increases/decreases as this information likely drives prices up (in the case of falling inventories), or down (in the case of rising inventories).

DISTILLATE (diesel, heating oil) INVENTORIES:
Distillate inventories increased by 2.3 million barrels to a total of 119.9 million barrels. At 119.9 million barrels, inventories are now 0.1% higher than a year ago. Total distillate inventories stand 0.1 million barrels higher than their year ago level.

Motorists in Chicago have long been accustomed to the largest red light camera network in the United States, but today they finally have more sticks to throw at city politicians after an audit argued the program is based more on revenue than safety.

Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, who began a four year term in 2009, blasts the program, "our audit uncovered little evidence that the overarching program strategy, guidelines, or appropriate metrics are being used to ensure the [Red Light Camera] program is being executed to the best benefit of the City or the general public."

In an open letter to the Mayor, City Council, City Clerk, City Treasurer, and residents of Chicago, the Inspector writes:

CDOT was unable to substantiate its claims that the City chose to install red-light cameras at intersections with the highest angle crash rates in order to increase safety. Neither do we know, from the information provided by CDOT, why cameras in locations with no recent angle crashes have not been relocated, nor what the City’s rationale is for the continued operation of any individual camera at any individual location.

Funding for Virginia's transportation infrastructure planning has hit a sizeable roadblock.

James A Cales, Jr., a Portsmouth Circuit Court judge in Plymouth VA, has ruled that public-private partnerhips there, as defined by the state's Public Private Transportation Act of 1995, are unconstitutional. He said the 1995 law involves an unconstitutional delegation of power to the executive branch.

And that means you can't keep the fruit from that tree too. Cale ruled against proposed tolls on the Norfolk-Portsmouth tunnels under the Elizabeth River.