Low oil prices can be a boon for smallbiz

Unless you’re a small business that’s part of the ecosystem of oil production and distribution, or is in a part of the country where oil is produced, chances are the impact of lower oil prices can be like a tax cut in which billions of dollars are left in your pocket. Here is the mostly good news.

You’ll continue to pay less for gasoline.

$2.08/Average price of a gallon of regular gasoline (4/13/16)

$2.38/Average price of a gallon of regular gasoline (4/13/15)

30 cents/Savings per gallon year-over-year

$6.00/Savings per tank full (20 gallons, year-over-year)

Source:  American Automobile Association

You’ll pay more for car insurance.

Lower gas prices typically mean more drivers on the road, and more drivers on the road increases the likelihood of accidents. And more accidents generally mean higher insurance premiums, says James Lynch, chief actuary at the American Insurance Institute.

You may be able to save some on airfares.

Lower fuel costs for airlines should, in theory, mean lower airfares.  Still, many airlines are also trying to improve their bottom lines and adding the new charges for bags and such and not necessarily passing on fuel savings to consumers. However, Delta, United, American and Southwest are offering historically low fares on some domestic routes, says George Hobica, founder of AirfareWatchdog.com.

The bottom line, then, is that lower-priced oil is generally a net positive for the economy. “As consumers begin to realize that this drop in gas prices isn’t just a one-off, more confident consumers will begin to open their pocketbooks,” Michael Hanson, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, recently told Kiplinger Finance Magazine.

 

 

 

 

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