Job Losses, Housing Demand, Oil Markets - Midterm Blowout Coming

Mr. Mister, Bon Jovi, Bruce Hornsby

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Vacation is OVER !

BREAKING - US JOB LOSSES 92,000

WSJ Article - U.S. Lost 92,000 Jobs in February The new numbers show the job market is struggling across a broad range of sectors; unemployment ticked up slightly

Topics

1. Virginia is for Gambling Lovers - Phones

2. Housing prices DROP - Supply or Demand?

3. Health Care - Higher Ed - Local Government Costs to increase

4. Budget Conference - Data Centers vs Va Clean Economy Act

5. Oil Markets - Venezuela & Iran supply hurting China

6. WSJ - Venezuelan Oil Cargoes Are Surging at an Opportune Time American fuel makers are gobbling up Venezuela’s heavy crude even as the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran have stalled global oil shipments

7. Midterm route in the offing for the GOP

8. Gerrymandering Update

   Heavy Crude and U.S. Refining Economics

   U.S. energy markets reflect a mismatch between the oil America produces and what many of its refineries were built to process.
   

   The shale boom produced large amounts of light sweet crude, but many Gulf Coast refineries were designed decades ago to run
   heavy crude from places like Venezuela, Mexico, and Canada.
   
   Heavy crude is thicker and contains more sulfur, so it typically sells at a discount compared to light oil.

   
   Complex U.S. refineries use specialized equipment to convert this cheaper crude into fuels and industrial products.

   
   The price difference—known as the heavy–light spread—allows refiners to turn discounted inputs into high-value outputs.
   
   Heavy crude also produces important by-products that support both the U.S. and global economy, including diesel for freight
   transport, jet fuel for aviation, petrochemical feedstocks used in plastics and manufacturing, lubricants, and asphalt for
   roads and infrastructure.
   
   When reliable heavy crude supplies are available, refineries can operate more efficiently, increasing fuel production and
   helping stabilize energy markets.

   Key Points

   • Many U.S. refineries are built for heavy crude.

   • Heavy oil sells at a discount to light crude.

   • The heavy–light spread improves refinery economics.

   • Heavy crude produces diesel, jet fuel, petrochemical feedstocks, lubricants, and asphalt.

   • Efficient refining helps support supply chains and stabilize fuel prices.

   Local Realtor Shares Information on one Zip Code

   

Fall/Winter demand softened, but has picked up in last several weeks.

Texas and North Carolina

Midterm Turnout - Electoral Blowout Coming

Has it REALLY BEEN FORTY YEARS????

Yup - that’s just The Way It Is