On Thursday, when U.S. markets were closed, OPEC met in Vienna and failed to agree on production cuts to support prices. The plunge is good news for drivers at the gas pump and bad news for oil producers, especially those seeking high-cost U.S. shale reserves. Brian Yarbrough, a retail analyst at Edward Jones & Co., on how improved economic trends — including lower gasoline prices — are helping Americans this year and may boost holiday shopping. The Commonwealth Club will host a discussion of San Francisco labor history Wednesday evening, starting with the 1934 waterfront strike that shut down all Pacific Coast ports from San Diego to Bellingham, Wash. (Another West Coast maritime strike could be called this year if labor talks fail.) Panelists include historian Robert Cherny of San Francisco State, members of the Longshore union and reporter Carl Nolte of the The Chronicle.