Why Gasoline Is Above 4 Dollars While Core Inflation Is Cooling

The national average for regular gasoline just crossed $4.00 a gallon, up from $3.85 a week ago. Yet core inflation — which strips out food and energy — is actually edging down. In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the disconnect: why oil prices are surging (WTI crude hit $84.40, Brent $87.00 while futures jumped over 7% this week) while other prices moderate. They trace the culprit to OPEC+ production cuts and refinery constraints, then examine what $4 gas means for consumer spending, summer travel, and the Fed's next move. With the 10-year breakeven inflation rate slipping to 2.26%, markets seem to be looking through oil's spike. But for households budgeting at the pump, the pinch is real. Is this a temporary blip or the start of a sticky energy-led inflation wave? No hot takes — just the economics of why your gas bill and the CPI report are telling different stories. #GasPrices #Inflation #OilPrices #CrudeOil #WTI #Brent #CPI #CoreInflation #FedPolicy #OPEC #SupplyCuts #Refinery #ConsumerSpending #EnergyEconomics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #July2026 Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo