Investors are wondering if the recent drops in the U.S. stock market are simply part of a correction or if they're the start of a deeper decline.

Some analysts blame the Dow Jones' fall of more than 200 points Tuesday on poor earnings. Others say investors are anxiously waiting to find out who's going to win the White House.

Some worry that stocks could fall further in the months ahead. But others disagree, noting that the market often goes down sharply in October. They expect it to come back later in the year.

Meanwhile, the United States may be on its way to becoming the top oil producer in the world.

High prices and new drilling methods have led to a rapid increase in American oil production. In fact, it's gone up every year for the last four years.

The country is projected to hit 11.4 million barrels a day next year, just below Saudi Arabia's output of 11.6 million.

And Citibank forecasts that the United States could reach 13 to 15 million by 2020, possibly making North America "the new Middle East."

U.S. imports of oil could fall by half by the end of the decade.