Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. <\/p>\n
Chevron Corp.’s Chief Financial Officer Eimear Bonner has forecasted a gradual but eventual drop in U.S. gasoline prices as the situation in the Middle East stabilizes. <\/p>\n
Bonner, addressing criticism from President Donald Trump, told CNBC on Thursday that energy companies are making every effort to rectify the situation, but warned\u00a0that it would take time\u00a0for fuel prices to decrease.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
“It’s\u00a0going to take time, though.\u00a0There is a lag between\u2026oil prices and\u00a0reductions in oil prices and\u00a0when that shows up at\u00a0the pump, but we expect\u00a0that prices will come down\u00a0as things continue to normalize,” Bonner said. <\/p>\n
Don’t Miss: <\/p>\n
The CFO was asked whether large energy companies could do more to bring down gas prices in the short term. “\u2026majors are\u00a0doing everything that we can.\u00a0I’ll talk for Chevron, and we’re growing this year. We’re\u00a0going to grow production at\u00a07% to 10%,” Bonner responded. <\/p>\n
Bonner said Chevron continues to optimize its operations despite the conflict, emphasizing the company’s commitment to maintaining reliable energy supplies. <\/p>\n
Experts Explain Gas Price Lag <\/p>\n
Bonner’s comments come in the wake of Trump’s directive to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate oil companies for failing to reduce gasoline prices in line with declining crude oil costs. Trump accused oil companies of overcharging customers by not adjusting their pump prices in accordance with the significantly lower prices they are paying for oil. <\/p>\n
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said major oil companies such as Chevron, Exxon Mobil Corp., Shell Plc, and BP Plc should do more to lower fuel costs, arguing that gasoline prices should be around $2.25 per gallon and are currently too high. <\/p>\n
Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time<\/a> <\/p>\n The national average for regular gasoline currently stands at $3.918 per gallon, down from $4.515 a month ago, but still significantly above last year’s $3.224 average, according to AAA data. <\/p>\n At the time of writing, Brent crude oil price was trading 0.78% lower at $72.50 per barrel, while the WTI crude futures were trading 1.02% lower at $69.62 per barrel. <\/p>\n Nobel laureate Paul Krugman outlined a “well-documented pattern” in how fuel markets respond to international shocks, explaining the lag in the decrease of pump prices. He argued that gasoline prices typically rise rapidly when crude oil prices spike during a crisis but fall much more slowly after crude prices decline. <\/p>\n Story Continues <\/p>\n At the same time, Karen Young of Columbia University told CNBC that lower crude oil prices do not immediately translate into cheaper gasoline, as pump prices are also influenced by taxes, refining and distribution costs, and typically take weeks to adjust. <\/p>\n Image via Shutterstock <\/p>\n Read Next:\u00a0 <\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry. <\/p>\n Arrived <\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly. <\/p>\n BluSky AI <\/p>\n The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. <\/a>For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible. <\/p>\n ARK7 <\/p>\n Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities.<\/a> By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds. <\/p>\n Immersed <\/p>\n Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing<\/a>. Known for its AR\/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing. <\/p>\n Miso Robotics <\/p>\n Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations.<\/a> As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service. <\/p>\n Vinovest\u00a0 <\/p>\n Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000<\/a> \u2014 sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you. <\/p>\n FarmTogether <\/p>\n Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000<\/a> \u2014 fully managed, with no landlord headaches. <\/p>\n EquityMultiple\u00a0 <\/p>\n For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000<\/a>,<\/a> with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Fundrise <\/p>\n Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate<\/a> and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth. <\/p>\n American Hartford Gold <\/p>\n