Oil

The slowdown in China and turmoil in stock and currency markets is making investors nervous, including in oil markets.

Gas prices have plunged in recent months – a decline that has occurred alongside a drop in the price of U.S. crude oil.

Oil prices ended 2018 lower for the first time since 2015.

Prices fell below $2 in nearly 20 percent of U.S. states.

Both oil benchmarks are down more than a third this quarter.

Oil prices fell to their lowest in almost 18 months this week.

In oil, and in markets in general, it is perception and not necessarily reality that drives prices.

Both crude benchmarks are down roughly 40 percent from highs touched in October.

The closest of the 10 oil discoveries Exxon has made off Guyana's coast is 110 kilometers (68 miles) away from where the incident took place.

Political turmoil triggered by the partial shutdown of the federal government is also adding to market concerns.

OPEC and other large oil producers agreed earlier this month to cut their combined crude output by 1.2M barrels per day.

Both benchmarks are down more than 35 percent from their recent peaks in early October.

Cheap oil prices will backfire on consumers and drillers.