The View From the Wall
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Gas came down this week. Kingsport is averaging $3.64 a gallon, 14 cents less than last week and 53 cents under the national average.
Want to beat that? The lowest price this week was $3.46 on West Stone Drive in Kingsport, according to GasBuddy.
A 20 gallon fill-up runs $72.80. That's $2.80 better than last week, and $21.20 more than a year ago.
November is shaping up as a three-act play.
Act one is Iran. Talks in Qatar went into a third day Sunday, and Iran now says it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 2 days instead of 7. A framework may be announced by the time you read this, or it may not.
Act two is today's election.
Act three is Nvidia's earnings on November 17. The biggest tech companies are expected to spend more than $1.4 trillion on AI in 2027, and more of it is borrowed. Wall Street wants them to show the money, and Nvidia is where it will look.
The engine's fine. Earnings are still growing, and it's not just the big guys anymore. It's the fuel and the oil that cost more. Crude's over $100, and borrowing money costs more too.
Those big companies are spending money they don't have yet. You didn't do it that way. You already showed the money.
And if all three go wrong, no deal, a messy election, Nvidia comes up short? Your plan was built for that. If they go right and this thing starts humming again, you're right there with it.
So watch the play if you like. You don't have to be in it. Go about your business. We're on the wall.
Keep the Faith. God Bless America.
Jeff
Questions? Just call Jeff! 423-247-1152
The Weekly Quiz
Last week's answer: All of the above. 4 of you got it right, and Kenneth Kelly won the drawing. Congratulations, Kenneth! His prize: A nice bag from Brighthouse!
This week's question: How much of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz?
A. 1 in 10 barrels
B. 1 in 5 barrels
C. 1 in 3 barrels
Reply to this email or give us a call with your answer. Every right answer goes into the drawing. Answer next week.
Sources: Gas prices, AAA and GasBuddy, this week as of November 1, 2026; last week as published in the October 27, 2026 edition; a year ago, same week 2025. Lowest local price, GasBuddy. Market background: Aptus Capital Advisors, The Market in Pictures (October 30, 2026) and David Wagner, Aptus Musings: Q3 2026 Earnings Preview (October 28, 2026). AI spending figure is the 2027 consensus estimate for the 9 largest cloud and hyperscale companies. Iran talks as reported November 1, 2026. Fill-up arithmetic assumes a 20 gallon tank at the Kingsport price.