US gas prices down

US gas prices down

camarillo, calif.

The average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline has dropped about 7 cents over the past three weeks.

The Lundberg Survey of fuel prices puts the average price for a gallon of regular at $3.41.

Analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that the national average for a gallon of mid-grade is $3.57. For premium, it’s $3.69 a gallon.

Lundberg says diesel prices fell 5 cents a gallon over the past three weeks, to $3.73.

Jackson, Miss., had the nation’s lowest average price for gas at $3. Chicago had the highest at $3.78.

Ford recalls Escape crossover vehicles

detroit

Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 10,000 re- designed 2013 Escape SUVs to fix carpet padding that could get in the way of braking.

Ford says that wrongly positioned carpet padding could reduce space around the pedals and cause drivers to hit the side of the brake pedal when switching from the accelerator.

The auto maker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that dealers will remove the carpet padding and replace a console trim panel at no charge.

The vehicles were built between March 8 and June 7 at Ford’s assembly plant in Louisville, Ky. The recall will begin next Monday. Owners may call the automaker at 866-436-7332.

Merkel delays calling for quick ruling

berlin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has refrained from pressing the country’s top court to rule swiftly on Europe’s bailout pact.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble last week urged Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court not to delay a new permanent European bailout fund and budget discipline pact.

Schaeuble warned that any postponement to the country signing up to the measures could lead to market turmoil.

Merkel told German television ZDF Sunday that “the constitutional judges will take the time they believe they need.”

Vindicator wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .66, 26.84 .59

Avalon Holdings,3.9901.1401

Clear Channel, .73 64.73 .53

Cortland Bancorp, 9.55.05

Farmers Nat., .126.42 .08

First Energy, 2.20, 49.34.26

FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.60 .32

First Niles Financial, .32,8.05.00

First Place Fin., .76.01

FNB Corp., .48,11.34.26

General Motors,19.60.27

General Electric, .68,19.75.31

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 6.48.20

JP Morgan Chase, 1.20,36.072.03

Key Corp, .20,7.85.27

LaFarge, 10.41 .00

Macy’s, .80, 33.65.82

Parker Hannifin, 1.64, 73.941.69

PNC, 1.60,61.431.48

RTI Intl. Metals,22.77.50

Simon Prop. Grp.,4.00,158.561.64

Stoneridge 6.61 .24

United Community Fin. 2.74.02

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Friday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.