Chevron (NYSE:CVX) stock has also done well, rising by about 40% this year so far. Picks in our theme include oil and gas bellwether Exxon Mobil (XOM), which has gained a whopping 43% this year, and Chevron (CVX), which is up by about 23%. Inflation in the U.S. continues to surge, with the consumer price index (CPI) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics last week rising by 6.8% in November compared to a year ago.