Oil company profits boom as Americans reel from high fuel prices

ExxonMobil posts second-quarter profits of $17.85bn - four times last year's figure - with Chevron making $11.62bn

The US's biggest oil companies pumped out record profits over the last few months as Americans struggled to pay for gasoline, food and other basic necessities.

On Friday, ExxonMobil reported an unprecedented $17.85bn (14.77bn) profit for the second quarter, nearly four times as much as the same period a year ago, and Chevron made a record $11.62bn (9.61bn). The sky-high profits were announced one day after the UK's Shell shattered its own profit record.