Crude-oil costs are a bigger slice of the prices American consumers pay for petrol: lower sales taxes and fuel duties mean swings in oil markets have a bigger effect on pump prices.

ECONOMIST: Debt and deflation

And after decades in which we have done little to increase the efficiency of cars and trucks, we've raised fuel economy standards to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while helping folks save money at the pump.

WHITEHOUSE: Investing in Clean, Safe Nuclear Energy

Smaller entrepreneurs hack into pipelines to siphon off oil, which is turned into fuel in bush refineries, while bigger operators weld taps onto pipelines with generators to help pump thousands of barrels of oil into barges.

ECONOMIST: The Niger Delta