National Average Price for Regular Unleaded Current: $2.166; Month Ago: $2.193; Year Ago: $2.628. National Average Price for Diesel Current: $2.377; Month Ago: $2.401; Year Ago: $2.996.

Underscoring the need for long-overdue freight rail reform, American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman urged the United States Senate to quickly confirm the nominations of Patrick Fuchs and Michelle Schultz to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved the nominations on Wednesday, April 25. “As one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the nation, the paper and wood products industry relies on the nation’s rails to move millions of tons of materials to production mills and final markets. Revoking the outdated commodity exemption policy and addressing harmful service failures and higher pricing will help ensure the accessibility of effective, streamlined and competitive rail service to our companies all rail customers. We thank the committee for its approval and urge the Senate to quickly confirm Mr. Fuchs and Ms. Schultz.”

Oil prices rose for a third straight session on Wednesday as a reported fall in U.S. inventories bolstered expectations that the long-oversupplied market was moving toward balance. Brent crude futures were up 17 cents to $50.37 a barrel by 7:05 a.m. ET (1105 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 28 cents to $48.17 a barrel. Both contracts rose to eight-week highs earlier in the session and rallied more than 3 percent on Tuesday. Click Read More below for more of the story.