GAS PRICES KEEP TUMBLING: “Gasoline prices continue to tumble briskly, dropping Monday to a U.S. average of less than $2.50 a gallon for the first time since March. Service stations even are beginning old-fashioned gas wars to avoid losing customers to price-cutting rivals.”

And, strangely, Bush’s poll numbers are up.

UPDATE: John Wixted is skeptical of claims that Bush’s approval is tied to gas prices, and says it’s something else: “as concerns about the war and immigration go up, Bush’s approval rating goes down.”