Ben Ferguson (3:36)
You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Good Black Friday. So nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got a big economic story for you. And it deals with affordability and major changes that have come under the Trump administration in less than a year of being in office. So why are the Democrats all about doom and gloom and what are the facts actually saying about prices, especially as so many are spending big bucks today. And we've got the good news for you. But first, did you see that gold just hit an all time new high of over $4,000 an ounce. And if you hear that, you're like, are you kidding me? And oh, you're thinking, gosh, I missed my opportunity. Well, I don't know if you missed your opportunity, but my friends at Kurt Elliott Precious Metals, they can answer that question for you. You also may not be paying attention to the incredible gains with silver that are happening right now as well. And that's why I trust the guidance of the team at Kirk Elliott. In fact, I literally just got a hundred ounce bar of silver the other day. And the reason why is because after I talked to the team at Kirk Elliott Precious Metals, they let me understand exactly where I could have a big upside in investing in silver. Now the other part that I love about them is this. They have transparent pr. There are a lot of gold companies that you'll hear about if you listen to talk radio or podcasts or watch tv. But do they tell you how the pricing actually works? Well, at Kirk Elliott, they're real simple, just 8% when you buy and zero commissions when you sell with no hidden fees ever. That is the other reason why I recommend them to all of you. They also don't sell you quote, rare coins or precious coins that you pay insane markups on and then when you go to sell them, find out they're really not worth that much. They are a bullion only approach. They focus on investment grade metals. No overpriced collectibles, no gimmicks. That means you get more gold or silver for your money at fair value when it's time for you to sell. So if you're ready to find out if gold and silver is right for you and your portfolio, then call them and get a plan. You can Visit them@kepm.com Ben that's K-E P M.com Ben or 720-605-3900 at 720-605-3900 Kirk Elliott, precious metals online@kepm.com it's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one, there's a word that a may have heard. Affordability. It is the obsession word of the Democratic Party right now, something they never mentioned when Joe Biden was president of the United States of America. Instead, they lied to you and said that there was no such thing as inflation, that it was transitory and that things were, quote, getting better and gas prices really weren't that bad. Well, now they're wanting Americans to believe that the economy is a disaster and they're trying to blame Donald Trump for everything. So let's talk about the facts of where we were a year ago compared to now, specifically around Black Friday and holiday travel. For Thanksgiving travelers, there's a bit of good news. Let me say that again, a bit of good news for you at the pump. Gas prices are holding steady, a far cry from the sticker shock of recent years. Gas Buddy is now forecasting a national average $3 and 2 cents per gallon over the holiday, matching, yes, a low price that we needed desperately to help Americans. And we also now know that there's other things that are really exciting. Thanksgiving gas prices. This is the lowest we've had since the pandemic when the national average hit $3.39 a gallon in 2021 and $3.56 a gallon in 2022. Gas prices are coming down and for many drivers, the national stability is showing up Locally as well. Nearly 30 states now boast average prices of under $3 a gallon, from Colorado to New Hampshire to Georgia. According to AAA. Oklahoma tops the list with an average of just $2.50 a gallon. That is a welcome number on many gas station signs for consumers. Now, at the other end of the spectrum, where liberals are in charge, you've still got pain at the pump with overregulation and taxation. Let me give you an example of that. California is now topping the list as the most expensive state when it comes to buying a gallon of gasoline. When you look at Oklahoma, a conservative state with not a lot of regulation to make prices skyrocket in certain blends they demand to protect the environment. Right, because of global warming. Well, compare it to what they're paying in California. It is $4.63 per gallon, compared to just 250 a gallon in Oklahoma. Hawaii is actually cheaper, and that's not something you hear about very often, as Hawaii is one of the most expensive places to just get gasoline, too. It is now less expensive to buy a gallon of gas in Hawaii than it is with all the regulations on gasoline in California. Hawaii at $4.47 a gallon, compared to 463 in California. Washington state, another liberal bastion of, well, socialism. They now are at $4.18 a gallon. And rounding out the top 10 are Nevada at 384 a gallon, Alaska at 375 a gallon, Arizona at 337 a gallon, and three states tied at 329. Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Illinois. Meanwhile, the most affordable gas can be found in conservative states. Oklahoma at $2.57 a gallon, Mississippi at $2.61 a gallon, and Louisiana at $2.65 a gallon. Those states then follow other conservative states. Tennessee at 266 a gallon, Arkansas at 267 a gallon, Texas at 270 a gallon, Kansas at 271, Missouri at 273, Alabama at 273, and Kentucky at 274 a gallon, you notice the trend here. Where there are conservative states, there are lower prices. And when you have the most radical liberals, where what are their prices? Almost double what is being paid in conservative states. AAA anticipates that nearly 82 million Americans will journey at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday, 1.6 million more than last year, marking a record high for Thanksgiving travel. Now the revelation comes. The Trump administration is pushing ahead on energy dominance independence. It's a key pillar of President Donald Trump's economic and national security agenda. And while Thanksgiving marks the year's busiest travel stretch, it isn't the only time drivers have caught a break. This Labor Day, motorists saw the lowest gas prices in a half a decade. So this is not just one blip on the map. It's a clear trend because of the president of the United States of America putting Americans first. Which also brings us to what's about to happen with U. S holiday spending. How do Americans actually feel about the economy and where we are right now? U. S. Holiday spending, we're now being told, is expected to top $1 trillion for the first time ever. I want you to take a listen to what they had to say about the holidays and shopping patterns this year on Fox Business Channel. Despite concerns about the economy, people are still looking to spend. Jerry Willis has the numbers. She joins us now. Hey, Jerry.
