gallup

We may be living in difficult economic times, but a little more than half of all Americans are still considered to be thriving, according to a Gallup analysis.

Consumers are hunkering down for a whole lot more pain at the gas pump. Gallup reports that nearly half of Americans say they expect to pay at least $4 a gallon for gas at some point this year, or nearly 50 percent more than what we were shelling out a year ago.

More importantly, 31% of workers say they are completely satisfied with the amount of money they earn. That ties the highest level of satisfaction since Gallup's study began in 1989.

Western Refining Inc. is shuttering its Bloomfield refinery and consolidating the operations of its two northwestern New Mexico plants at its Gallup refinery in a move the company says will save $25 million per year.