Stocks markets will take a break today from the recent beating brought on by surging oil prices and other gloomy economic news. With all U.S. financial markets closed for the Fourth of July holiday, traders will look ahead to next week, which marks the start of quarterly earnings season.

IT'LL COST MORE TO CELEBRATE IN '08

Rising costs will make today's holiday more expensive than last year, even for those Americans who decide to avoid higher gasoline prices by grilling at home. Bread is up 16 percent, cheese jumped 14 percent, snack foods are up 7.4 percent, and ice cream gained 5.9 percent, Labor Department data show.

A refillable 20-pound propane tank costs about $20, up 10 percent from last year, said Chris Hartley, a spokesman for Blue Rhino, an East Coast distributor based in Winston-Salem.

To top off that hot dog, H.J. Heinz, the world's biggest ketchup maker, recently raised prices 4.5 percent to counter record commodity costs. And beer and ale consumed at home was 2.4 percent more expensive in May than a year earlier, government data show.

UPS OFFERS TIPS FOR SAVING GAS

By driving 2 billion miles a year, UPS has learned a thing or two about saving fuel. The world's largest package carrier operates 93,637 vans, delivery trucks, tractor-trailers and motorcycles. For Americans driving this holiday weekend, here are tips from the pros:

* Avoid left turns. UPS routes are designed to avoid left turns. Idling while waiting to turn left wastes time and gas.

* Reduce idling. UPS practices a "no idling" policy -- no matter how short a stop a UPS driver makes, the engine is turned off.

* Plan your route. For errands or trips, plan a route that doesn't backtrack. Find the quickest and most direct route with a map or Web site.

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