Robert Rapier
Editor-in-Chief at SHALE Oil & Gas Business Magazine
Chemical engineer writing about energy and investing. I primarily write for Forbes and Investing Daily. Did not pay to keep my legacy blue check.
Articles
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3 days ago |
investingdaily.com | Robert Rapier
Recently, I found myself in a familiar back-and-forth—one I’m sure many of you have heard lately. The question: Is the S&P 500 wildly overvalued? And more specifically, is it setting us up for a major correction? The case some people make sounds simple: the S&P’s current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is well above historical averages. Therefore, they argue, we’re in a bubble. You can see this in the graphic below.
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4 days ago |
forbes.com | Robert Rapier
If you've filled your tank in California lately, you've felt the sting—gas prices there aren't just high, they're consistently the highest in the nation. As of April 14, 2025, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in California was $4.67—more than 55% above the national average. In some counties, including Mono and Alpine, prices exceed $5.80 a gallon. That’s nearly 90% more than what drivers are paying in states like Texas or Mississippi.
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1 week ago |
energycentral.com | Robert Rapier
Not long ago, falling oil prices were widely celebrated in the United States. Cheaper gasoline meant more disposable income for consumers, lower transportation costs for businesses, and a boost to sectors that rely on oil as an input. But in 2025, that simplistic view no longer holds up. The economic equation has changed—dramatically. In 2005, the U.S. was importing a staggering 12.5 million barrels of oil and finished products per day.
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1 week ago |
investingdaily.com | Robert Rapier
When you hear that China or Japan is “dumping U.S. debt,” it may sound like an abstract talking point. But for investors, it can have important implications. The U.S. government borrows money by issuing Treasury bonds, and foreign governments are among the largest holders of that debt. China holds close to a trillion dollars’ worth. Japan holds even more.
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1 week ago |
oilprice.com | Robert Rapier
The United States' shift to a net oil exporter means that falling oil prices now negatively impact trade and can signal economic trouble, unlike in the past when lower prices meant savings on imports. Current drops in oil prices are often due to anticipated recession rather than an abundance of cheap energy, indicating a potential economic downturn and impacting energy sector investments.
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RT @lsteffy: @RRapier again proves why he's a leading voice of reason on energy issues. This problem applies to much more than just energy,…
I guess I am living through historical times right now in Phoenix. I got up to mow the lawn before 7 a.m., and it was already 95 degrees.
It was a visit to Phoenix on a 115 F day that inspired the opening paragraph of my new book The Heat Will Kill You First: "When heat comes, it’s invisible. It doesn’t bend tree branches or blow hair across your face to let you know it’s arrived. The ground doesn’t shake." 1/3
A Firsthand Account Of Phoenix’s Record-Breaking Heatwave via @forbes https://t.co/Yps5BCjZrJ
