Wednesday’s business headlines

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Here’s a look at Wednesday’s business headlines.

Gas prices

Bitter infighting within OPEC and ongoing friction with allied oil-producing countries could increase prices at the pump even more.

Price Futures Group senior analyst Phil Flynn said the “power struggle” between leading cartel member Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over production levels could push gas prices to $3.50 to $4 a gallon.

U.S. gasoline consumption in the week leading up to the Independence Day holiday may have been the highest since Sept. 2019, adding signs to recovery from the pandemic travel slump.

Uninsured prices

A Wall Street Journal study of thousands of prices at hundreds of hospitals revealed that many charge top prices to patients who must pay cash out of pocket, compared with the prices the hospitals have negotiated with insurance companies.

The newly public prices allow for the first time a comparison of what deep-pocketed insurers pay hospitals versus rates that hospitals set for patients who pay cash.

Time and time again, the journal’s analysis revealed, cash payers are charged among the highest prices.

Hand sanitizer

One lot of Limar Hand Sanitizer, which was packaged in 4-oz. bottles, is being voluntarily recalled because the containers pose a risk of ingestion.

The FDA says the bottle looks too much like a water bottle and people may be confused.

The affected product has an expiration date of May 2022.

Clothing greenhouse

The production of clothing and footwear is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

A recent analysis by the U.K’s RSA, found that nearly half of the recently listed items on the biggest “fast fashion” sites were made from new plastics, like polyester, acrylic and nylon.

Clothing companies have long been looking at pineapple and nature rubber from trees to make clothes more sustainable.