Consumer news: falling gasoline prices, dangerous fire pits on the table and sales of Ford

ROCHESTER, NY – Watch for falling prices. It’s not just a Walmart slogan. It applies to the price at the pump.

The price drop continues and experts predict that this trend will continue in the coming weeks.

Gas prices

The head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy says we have seasonal trends to thank. These trends are likely to continue regardless of who wins the presidency. The truth is, the president has little control over what we pay at the pump.

The main ingredient of gas is oil. Oil is a global commodity affected by war, OPEC, climate and global demand. Here in Rochester, the price fell nearly a nickel to $3.26 a gallon, 46 cents cheaper than a year ago. Nationally, the average price is $3.05, down two cents from last week.

The cheapest gas in Rochester is $2.85 at BJ’s in Henrietta, Walmart and Costco. News10NBC’s Deanna Dewberry paid $2.99 ​​at Costco last week, even though she knows Mondays are, on average, your best days to fill your tank.

Fire pits on the table

These table-top fire pits are beautiful, but a whole group of customers say they are dangerous. They filed a class action lawsuit. It follows Colesen recalling 89,000 of its fire pits a few weeks ago. Alcohol fuels them and alcohol flames can be invisible and shoot out when the device is refilled. The CPSC says alcohol can also splash or leak, causing flames to escape from the device. The fire pits were sold at retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Wayfair.

Ford sales

It seems like a whole group of people believe that “Built Ford Tough” is more than a slogan. Company executives announced on Monday, October that sales of its pickup trucks are up more than 29% compared to this time last year. And note: sales of its hybrid vehicles increased by more than 38%. Overall, the company reports a sales increase of more than 15%. While people in Ford Country are celebrating, the numbers aren’t as good as they seem.

You’ll recall that this time last year the United Auto Workers Union was on strike, which depressed sales. Last year’s low numbers make this year look much better.

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