I was looking at www.watch.org and found this interesting article/stats: It can be found at the following website: http://www.gravmag.com/oil2.html

Here are some excerpts:

"Compiling a list of "largest oil companies" is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. The state-owned national oil companies operate differently from the traditional businesses we are accustomed to in the US. Also, should they be ranked by assets, by reserves, by production, or by revenue? These categories give similar, but by no means identical, lists. And are we talking about oil, or gas, or both, or oil equivalent? The following table offers one ranking, based mostly on information from the Oil & Gas Journal in 1999. For merged companies such as Exxon Mobil, I added the values for the predecessor companies. State-owned companies are marked with a star*. Public companies like Exxon Mobil only hold about 18% of the world's oil reserves; the rest is owned by nations or state-controlled companies. Source. Largest oil & gas producers in the U.S.
COMPANY WORLDWIDE OIL PRODUCTION
Million barrels per year, 1998
Saudi Arabian Oil Co.* 3028
Petroleos Mexicanos* 1278
Petroleos de Venezuela* 1258
China National Petroleum* 1168
BP Amoco + Arco 963
ExxonMobil 894
Royal Dutch/Shell 859
Nigerian National Oil Co.* 772
Iraq National Oil Co.* 770
Kuwait Petroleum* 757
Chevron + Texaco 756


The largest non-state-owned companies are ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron-Texaco. Those four companies spent more than $50 billion in capital and exploratory costs in 1998. BHP (Australia) would be next ($23 billion in assets), followed by the US companies on the list below. But there are many additional state-owned (or partly state-owned) companies that are larger than Conoco, including YPF (Argentina), Petrobras (Brazil), Elf Aquitaine (France), Total (France), ENI/AGIP (Italy), Norsk Hydro (Norway), Statoil (Norway), Repsol (Spain), Sonatrach (Algeria), Chinese Petroleum (Taiwan), and Nippon Oil (Japan), as well as those on the list above.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are more than 200 US Oil companies with more than $1,000,000 in assets. What's an oil company? Do you count just oil producers, or include exclusively refining companies? What about natural gas companies? It is difficult to keep track of all the mergers, but below left is one list by assets, as best as I could determine it from their on-line Annual Reports or other sources. Thus this info is probably 2004 data. For up-to-date information, the Oil & Gas Journal publishes all sorts of data about the top 200 oil companies. For another way of looking at it, below right is a list of the top 11 companies as ranked by estimated 2002 worldwide Exploration & Production spending, according to the Solomon Smith Barney survey. The 11 companies on this list planned to spend more than $63 billion that year.

US COMPANY ASSETS
ExxonMobil $195 billion
ChevronTexaco
... add Unocal $132 billion
$15 billion
BP $53 billion?? (US only)
($191 billion worldwide)
Shell $48 billion (US only)
($193 billion worldwide)
ConocoPhillips
... add Burlington (pending 12/05) $104 billion
$36 billion
Valero (a refining company) $33 billion
El Paso (a gas company)
(includes the former Coastal) $31 billion
Marathon $23 billion
Occidental $21 billion
Anadarko/Union Pacific $20 billion
Amerada Hess $16 billion
COMPANY Est. E&P Spending, 2002
US $$
ExxonMobil $9,350,000,000
BP $8,500,000,000
Royal Dutch/Shell $6,920,000,000
ChevronTexaco $6,180,000,000
TotalFinaElf $5,675,000,000
Conoco+Phillips $5,068,000,000
Pemex $5,000,000,000
AGIP $4,619,000,000
PDVSA $4,500,000,000
Petrobras $4,336,000,000
Petronas $3,388,000,000 "

Go figure this one.


Coury Ferguson

$2.73 in Memphis, TN for 87 octane.

Lets see in Central new York we are paying 3.00/ per gallon, I was in Ann Arbor over the weekend and the range was 2.77-2.85 per gallon, when I drove thru Canada the range I saw was .91 to 1.05 per liter (not sure what the exchange rate is). All total it took me about 45 gallons to drive over 900 miles almost would have been cheaper to fly.

$2.73 in Memphis, TN for 87 octane.
I should have waited. It went down to $2.66 per gallon for 87 octane by Sunday.

Jaime

Here is something about gas prices

Randy, I was just fowarded that picture by someone else. What a hoot!

We have 2.74 to 2.85 in the entire metro area (IL is higher due to increased taxes)

We're at around $3.25 for 87 octane.

We are now at $2.66 for 87 octane, but subject to change this evening

As of this morning: :mg: $3.55 for super-duper unleaded in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

In Central NY we dropped from 2.99 to 2.97/per gallon what a savings.

Randy, I was just fowarded that picture by someone else. What a hoot!

We have 2.74 to 2.85 in the entire metro area (IL is higher due to increased taxes)

I had just received it from someone in iowa and decided it needed to be shared.

I paid 2.91 a gallon this morning in Central Georgia.

in saudi arabia you will find that
you pay 0.6 $ for one american galon
and 0.7$ for britsh galon
since there is reduction in gasoline prices for 30% (yes reduction)

since price of one litre of gasoline in saudi arabia is 0.6 SAR

this is realy some thing cheap , this is why you spend most of yr life in yr car here


samer

Over the holiday weekend I was in Chicago. The northshore area (Lincolnwood) where I was at was ~$2.95 the whole time. I drove into downtown Chicago & saw one for about $3.30.

On the way home Monday afternoon I stopped just north of Indianapolis & paid $2.61! About the same Tuesday morning here, but by the afternoon it was back to ~$2.85-2.90!

All for the same fluid that was probably pumped into the ground earlier last week.

Jerry:bonk:

Saturday I paid $2.53 here, but 15 miles away it was $2.61, go figure

Saturday I paid $2.53 here, but 15 miles away it was $2.61, go figureI'm filling up near you Ralph.

Monday I paid $2.46 in Macon Georgia. Last night I paid $2.64 at the same gas station.

In Denmark - where I live - the price is roughly 9$ a gallon + we are taxed 200% on top of the price of the car. So, you wanna complain, come to rainy Denmark, we'll give you something to complain about:nopity:

Germany today: 1,309€ / l for 95 oktan :mad: (1,10 US-$ / l or 4,84 $/gallon) - ok, € is very high today. oh year, good old germany. The highest taxes around the world.

This weekend (NOTE: Premium):

$2.999 in Anna, IL
$2.749 in Mayflower (north of Little Rock), AR
$2.859 in Goodlettsville, TN
$2.979 in West Chester, OH

$ 6.46 per US Gallon ( $8.02 for a UK Gallon) in Glasgow, Scotland

The Elevator Syndrome - Things are going up!

Cincinnati (Premium) - US$ 3.269 / US Gallon

I get the South African price at ZAR 6.47 per litre, or US$0.90 per litre. But, our fuel prices are regulated in terms of gasoline but not diesel. Also, the prices are set according to exchange rates and crude prices, so the price fluctates from month to month.

For that price, I have a pump attendant who - if his boss is around -

- fills the tank
- checks tyres
- checks oil
- washes windows
- bestows best wishes on me.

So, the issue of service means it takes 6 minutes to fill, and 30 minutes for all the other service related items.

Now, the other way to look at this - I could buy a bicycle, but then I need to eat more. But, food prices are set according to delivery costs - so back to gasoline prices. Also, I am not too fit so I need to factor in medical bills. Also, the average SA driver has not quite got the idea of good driving skills, so there is also the stuntman aspect. No, its still cheaper to drive.
Funnily enough we had a fuel day a year or so ago, where the government urged everyone not to drive. Cool - except they all got driven to work for "security" reasons.

On the way into work this morning I heard that the price for a barrel of oil could go as high as $100.00. That would mean the price of a gallon of gas in the midwest USA could reach $5.00 a gallon by the end of this year. That is if we can get it. With all the conflicts around the world oil could become very difficult to get.

In cleveland,oh, there was a station at 2.99, and across the street 2.92. We drove across the street - duh. for regular.

In rochester, it's at 2.99.

On the way into work this morning I heard that the price for a barrel of oil could go as high as $100.00.
It's almost at US$80 - About US$78 right now....

I'm lucky I don't have to drive much these days. It scares me to fill my tank!

Here in Mid-Michigan price jumped from $2.99 to $3.15 for 87 octane. Filled up the work car Sunday ($2.99) and was a day late ($3.15) filling up the week-end car :(

In central Minnesota, I filled up yesterday at 2.95 :agree1: which is down from 3.05 last week :mad:

Gas station at the end of the street from our plant for 87 octane was $2.78 gal. yesterday morning, this morning $2.89. Go figure. :nope:

Over here it is,
Lead replacement petrol (LRP)...$5.806 to the US gallon.
Unleaded petrol.......................$5.486 " "
Diesel....................................$4.815 " "

:mad: :mad: :mad:

Found a Shell with pricing of $2.899 (Reg), $2.999 (mid) and $3.059 (Prem) in Alpharetta, GA and went thru SC last month and it was $2.589 (Reg), $2.689 (Mid) and $2.789 (Prem)

In Denmark the cost of gasoline is approx. 10.75 Dkr per litre. Have no idea what that comes to in gallons and dollars, but surely a LOT.

The initial question in this thread talked about not buying from EXXON and MOBIL. Well, I do not see any of these company names in Denmark, so maybe the whole country is boycotting them already :-?

Anyway, whether the price is high or low, we will choke the entire World to death in exhaust emissions or run out of the black stuff produced in the jurassic period... so problem will solve itself.

Does anyone know a good site for looking up past gas prices? Preferably by area, maybe city, and would like to go back more than a year or two, maybe into the 70's or older...

I want to use this as ammo when I get passed over for a raise again this year, I believe gas has doubled or so since 2004. :mg:

Jerry

When I moved here to SC in Dec. 1999 gas was $1.14 gal. I used to drive home every weekend for 6 months. I keep a log of gas in my van. Last year at this time I was paying $1.97 gal. Will have to look and see if I kept anything from 2004.

When I moved here to SC in Dec. 1999 gas was $1.14 gal. I used to drive home every weekend for 6 months. I keep a log of gas in my van. Last year at this time I was paying $1.97 gal. Will have to look and see if I kept anything from 2004.

Could be an interesting investment object, gasoline. Problem is that shelf life is not higher than 2 months or so...
Wonder if it was a petrol company that wrote about limited shelf life, though.

Does anyone know a good site for looking up past gas prices? Preferably by area, maybe city, and would like to go back more than a year or two, maybe into the 70's or older...

I want to use this as ammo when I get passed over for a raise again this year, I believe gas has doubled or so since 2004. :mg:

Jerry
This site may be of interest.........
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_dcus_nus_w.htm

Does anyone know a good site for looking up past gas prices? Preferably by area, maybe city, and would like to go back more than a year or two, maybe into the 70's or older...

I want to use this as ammo when I get passed over for a raise again this year, I believe gas has doubled or so since 2004. :mg:

Jerry

I did a little looking after this myself, Gasbuddy.com & GasPriceWatch.com were first in the Google search, GasBuddy seemed to work the best (GPW gave me question marks for the current price here in Cincy...)

http://zfacts.com/p/35.html have a nice chart back to the 70's averaged for the US.

There was another link that had someone's personal graph of gas prices in his area back to the 70's, very detailed. Uselessinfo.com or something, can't find it now.

Jerry

From Yahoo (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060723/ap_on_bi_ge/gas_prices):

CAMARILLO, Calif. - Nationwide gas prices hit an all-time high in the last two weeks, rising nearly 2 cents to just over $3 per gallon, according to a survey released Sunday.

The national average for self-serve regular stood at $3.0150 a gallon Friday, up 1.98 cents in the last two weeks, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations across the country.

The price exceed the previous high of $3.0117 set in September last year, analyst Trilby Lundberg said.

A gallon of mid-grade gasoline averaged around $3.12, and premium at nearly $3.22.

Nationwide, the lowest price for regular was $2.77 a gallon in Charleston, S.C., while the highest — $3.28 a gallon — was in San Diego.

This is one area where I love being below average.

Gas Prices in Central Minnesota Monday morning - $2.93

After reading the article Mark posted, I feel like I am getting a bargain.:biglaugh:

Paying $2.79 in Boise ID, at Costco. I really really hope this nudges the car makers toward smaller vehicles and eventually away from fossil fuels.
:topic: What I think is rediculous is that the Fed increases the lending rates even though we know inflation is being caused by fuel increases. I work one hour extra a week to pay for my added fuel costs which is then passing that cost onto my employer, which then is passed on to the consumer....:bonk:

:topic:

Paying $2.79 in Boise ID, at Costco. I really really hope this nudges the car makers toward smaller vehicles and eventually away from fossil fuels.
:topic: What I think is rediculous is that the Fed increases the lending rates even though we know inflation is being caused by fuel increases. I work one hour extra a week to pay for my added fuel costs which is then passing that cost onto my employer, which then is passed on to the consumer....:bonk:

Gasoline (petrol) is one thing. It's much more widespread than that. It's energy as a whole. My electric rate went up 30% 2 months ago (southern Ohio) and the electric here is all from coal. According to many news sources Russia, with what some argue has the largest undeveloped energy reserves in the world, is effectively eliminating US companies from development / investment. Google and you will find columns like this: Putin Offers Norway Cooperation in Developing Barents Sea Deposits

17.07.2006 11:05 MSK

On Sunday, July 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed that his country and Norway unite their efforts in developing the Barents Sea natural gas deposit. Barents Sea is home to the giant Shtokman field that Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom is set to develop in the near future. It also has several major oil fields, but the status of the Arctic shelf remains to be settled.

Speaking at a press conference in Strelna, near St. Petersburg, following the second day of G8 summit, Putin said, quoted by RIA Novosti: “Norwegian companies occupy one of the first positions in this region. They [the Norwegian companies] are not haughty, they work thoroughly and have developed a good infrastructure network in the area. At the same time their oil production is falling.”

And this doesn't address the Middle East situation and the situation in South America.

What my girl friend pays for natural gas has increased at least 30% (I'm almost convinced there's a pattern here...) over the last 1 1/2 years.

My only point is people are not only paying more for gasoline, but for energy in general. As far as the US goes, I predict it will become much worse over the next couple of years. As Al Jolson used to say, "Folks, You ain't seen nuthin' yet".

Gas was @2.79 gal here Saturday when I filled up.
Our natural gas rates went up 50% after Katrina, and our electric rates went up about 30%. The city sells us the utilities so I am sure the greedy hands of the administration are lining the city coffers to spend on more superficial worthless projects rather than provide needed services. Just call them to do something and you get no response. :mad:

Just spent 21 of the last 25 days (as of Sunday) away from home visiting family around the country (my family in Iowa & Wisconsin, my wife's in Oregon). Here's what we paid:

All lowest octane (85 at elevation, 87 elsewhere):

Evanston, WY (Maverik, June 29 & July 9): $2.599
Rock Springs, WY (Flying J, June 29): $2.689
Cheyenne, WY (Sinclair, June 30 & July 9): $2.699
North Platte, NE (June 30): $2.999
Omaha, NE (July 1): $2.879
Elk Horn, IA (July 1): $2.699
Cedar Rapids, IA (July 2): $2.769
Janesville, WI (July 5): $2.959
Williamsburg, IA (July 5): $2.859
Lee's Summit, MO (July 6): $2.899
Lawrence, KS (July 7): $2.859
Abilene, KS (July 8): $2.799
Vona, CO (July 8): $2.999
Rawlins, WY (July 9): $2.819
Ogden, UT (Costco, July 14 & 23): $2.709
Boise, ID (Costco, July 15 & 23): $2.799
Pendleton, OR (July 15): $2.979
Salem, OR (Costco, July 17): $2.849
Salem, OR (Costco, July 22): $2.859
Sisters, OR (July 22): $3.029

Total miles driven: 5,449
Total paid for gas: $883.27

Over here in the UK, it would have cost me about $1040. Recent price hike means diesel is now over £1 a litre.
But what's the alternative when public transport is expensive, unreliable and long winded! Example, commute to work in my car, 45 minutes, or catch the bus, onto a train, and 15 minute walk takes about 1hr 50m. And the first bus is 7.50am, so I get to work late about 9.40am. Bah, humbug!
Paul

okido US, here's your wake up call, with some maths as well ;-)

1 litre = 0.26417203728418464 gallon
1 euro = 1.25 dollar-ish

I pay 1.43 euro/liter, which is a real bargain.

This comes down to 6.77 $/gal :notme:

Just spent 21 of the last 25 days (as of Sunday) away from home visiting family around the country (my family in Iowa & Wisconsin, my wife's in Oregon). Here's what we paid:

Total miles driven: 5,449
Total paid for gas: $883.27

I estimated you probably used about 300 gallons of gasoline. If that is about right than you only got 18 miles to the gallon. A vehicle getting 25 mpg would have used only 218 gallons or 27% less gasoline. If even only half the people in the U.S. reduced their gasoline usage by that much, oil and gasoline prices would fall significantly. It was done once before in the 70's and 80's but it does not appear that $3 gasoline is high enough cost to cause that change. We don't need government mandates or higher taxes but a personal decision to change our habits. Everyone gripes about the cost but so far there are not enough people taking individual action to make a difference. It may take more than $4 per gallon and it will go that high without a change in usage.

Bill Pflanz

I estimated you probably used about 300 gallons of gasoline. If that is about right than you only got 18 miles to the gallon. A vehicle getting 25 mpg would have used only 218 gallons or 27% less gasoline. If even only half the people in the U.S. reduced their gasoline usage by that much, oil and gasoline prices would fall significantly. It was done once before in the 70's and 80's but it does not appear that $3 gasoline is high enough cost to cause that change. We don't need government mandates or higher taxes but a personal decision to change our habits. Everyone gripes about the cost but so far there are not enough people taking individual action to make a difference. It may take more than $4 per gallon and it will go that high without a change in usage.

Bill Pflanz

Only a statistician would come up with this. Thanks Bill, impressive.

It gets down to Supply and demand. I believe about 2-3 months ago some people in Florida decided to boycott the purchasing of gasoline for a day to see if they could change the cost of gasoline, but as we can see, it didn't help much.

What happen to the $0.169-$0.259 cents a gallon when I was going to school (but wasn't old enough to drive). I know this is dating me but that is ok.

Only a statistician would come up with this. Thanks Bill, impressive.

And here I thought I was normal and not like those degreed statisticians. :confused:

The 16-25 cents is before my time also but not by much. When I learned to drive in 1967, gasoline was leaded (if you have to ask then you are young) and cost $0.33. My summer job paid minimum wage of $1.25 so gasoline was expensive. My first car was a 1964 Impala that was built like a tank and got about the same gasoline mileage.

Here are some other numbers courtesy of the Dept of Energy. The first oil embargo occurred in 1973-74 and gasoline jumped from 39 to 53 cents. I graduated with my chemical engineering degree and started working for an oil company in 1975. In 1976, unleaded gasoline was introduced and cost $0.61. I personally benefited from the oil embargo and tightened environmental laws because of the high demand for refinery engineers. The Iranian crisis of 1979 raised the price to $0.90 and the next oil crisis in 1981 increased it again to $1.38. I was driving a Toyota by then that got 30 miles to the gallon.

The latest reports that I see indicate that we are close to the inflation adjusted price of the early 1980's. I have not seen adjustments for improved gasoline mileage but I bet we are probably still lower on a per mile cost. I drive a truck now and have backslid on mileage.

Bill Pflanz

I estimated you probably used about 300 gallons of gasoline. If that is about right than you only got 18 miles to the gallon.

That's probably pretty close, I haven't calculated it yet. We drive a 1998 Mazda MPV, it has 4wd with good clearance for exploring Utah's backcountry, a third row so we can fit in 2 kids and a dog (when we go to Oregon - the dog loves the coast), plus the third row can be removed for extra cargo space when we took back baby things for my brother's family in Iowa - including a saucer, indoor swing and a bouncy seat.

A vehicle getting 25 mpg would have used only 218 gallons or 27% less gasoline.

If anyone knows of a vehicle with 4wd, good clearance, removable third-row seating and gets 25 mpg, I'm all ears. We bought the MVP used in 2002 for $11,000.

I've been looking for something to switch to when the MPV wears out (they don't make this style anymore - the MPVs since 2000 are just mini-vans) but with the criteria needed, I'm not even worried about gas mileage.

For commuting I drive a 1995 Civic that averages about 37 mpg.

Duh... After one year: Gas prices up 30% and oil company profits are up 30%. Congressman looking into it (http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060728/NEWS01/60728035) - will get back to us when the check is in the mail...

Spurred by reports that gasoline prices and oil company profits have gone up more than 30 percent from a year ago, Indiana House Democrat Leader B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend) today asked Attorney General Steve Carter to investigate the possibility of gas price gouging in Indiana.

In a press release, Bauer said Carter should consider going to Gov. Mitch Daniels to declare a state of emergency in order to give the attorney general added powers to prosecute particularly outrageous examples of gouging. In a letter to Carter, Bauer said his request was spurred by complaints he has received from constituents upset about gas prices that have gone over the $3 per gallon mark in recent days. Gasoline prices and oil company profits have increased more than 30 percent from a year ago, according to reports.

“People are finding it difficult to afford to fill up their vehicles so they can get to and from work,” Bauer said. “It is hard to listen to their concerns, then read newspaper accounts that tell us that the total earnings among the five largest oil companies have gone up more than 30 percent from a year ago.”

Yep! Over $3 - Monday, July 24, gas in my town ran $3.10 to $3.12; today, July 29, no station within a ten mile radius is less than $3.25.

A little more nostalgia to echo Bill Pflanz:
In the late 50's, gas ran between $0.20 and $0.25 (about the same price as a pack of cigarettes then.) Today (July 2006), cigarettes and gas are still priced at par with each other ($3.25) at my local station!

Of course, a 1957 Corvette was less than $4,000 [sticker price]:rolleyes: Wheelbase: 102"
Height: 51.5" Over Hardtop
Width: 70.5"
Tire Size: 6.70x15"Track: 57" Front / 58.8" Rear
Length: 168"
Curb Weight: 2,849 lbs.
Plant: St. Louis


1957 Options:
Code / Description / Quantity [sold] / Price
2934 / Base Corvette Convertible / 6,339 / $3,176.00
101 / Heater / 5,373 / 118.40
102 / AM Radio / 3,635 / 199.10
107 / Parking Brake Alarm / 1,873 / 5.40
108 / Courtesy Lights / 2,489 / 8.65
109 / Windshield Washers / 2,555 / 11.85
276 / Wheels 15x5.5" / 51 / 15.10
290 / Whitewall Tries / 5,019 / 31.60
303 / 3-Speed Manual Transmission / 2,886 / 0.00
313 / Powerglide Transmission / 1,393 / 188.30
419 / Auxiliary Hardtop / 4,055 / 215.20
426 / Power Windows / 379 / 59.20
440 / Two Tone Paint / 2,797 / 19.40
469A / 283ci 245hp Engine 2 4bbl. Carbs / 2,045 / 150.65
469C / 283ci 270hp Engine 2 4Bbl Carbs. / 1,621 / 182.95
473 / Power Operated Folding Top / 2,682 / 139.90
579A / 283ci 250hp Engine Fuel Injection / 182 / 484.20
579B / 283ci 283hp Engine Fuel Injection / 713 / 484.20
579C / 283ci 250hp Engine Fuel Injection / 102 / 484.20
579E / 283ci 283hp Engine F.I. & Fresh Air Intake / 43 / 726.30
677 / Positraction Rear Axle 3.70 / 327 / 48.45
678 / Positraction Rear Axle 4.11 / 1,772 / 48.45
679 / Positraction Rear Axle 4.56 / Unknown / 48.45
684 / Heavy Duty Racing Suspension / 51 / 780.10
685 / 4 Speed Manual Transmission / 664 / 188.30
So - what experienced the greatest inflation - Gasoline? Cigarettes? or Corvettes?

Petrol in Adelaide, Australia

Peaks at AUS$1.45 a litre

Of course about half is govt taxes.

I agree, abbout a 30% rise here in the UK over the last 12 months.
Paul

latest in the Scottish highlands is 99.9p/liter. or £4.50/gallon ($8.42 at todays rate) and the price is the same for both diesel and unleaded. i hate to think what it is further north than inverness :mg:

In Austria we are at € 1.275 per litre and reached an all-time-high:
http://www.bmwa.gv.at/BMWA/Service/Benzinpreismonitor/aktuelle_treibstoffpreise/default.htm

this means (if I am right), a gallon costs 6.17 USD! :truce:

For those who can read german, here is a table with the prices since 1998:http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/download/document/SUPER_Mail.pdf

In Portugal now we have 1,4 € per litre in gasoline 95 octane
And 1,1 € / Litre on diesel.
The “good” thing is that almost 75% of these prices are taxes, and another “good” thing is that oil companies here do it always the same way. When oil goes up, they immediately rise the prices up, but when oil goes down it never goes down.
The government finds this prices rise politics very good, because they need the money... :notme:

Differences in V-6's
2003 - Chevy Blazer - 12.7 mpg - 4.3 L
1997 - Pontiac Bonneville - 20.2 mpg - 3.8 L
The Bonneville does get more highway use.
Thats average over 3 years...

Here in Ukraine we pay around 0.87 USD per 1 litre of 95.

I saw that Marc posted some information on how the hurricane outlook is effecting crude oil price futures. In central Ohio, we started seeing a significant downward trend in gasoline prices last week even without the hurricane effect. I just bought gasoline today for $2.48 per gallon down from $3.03 just a few weeks ago. There are indications that gasoline inventories are seasonally high as people drive less and it is driving down the price. Is anyone else seeing similar declines in their area?

Bill Pflanz

Gasoline has dropped here in Georgia to $2.69-$2.71 per gallon for unleaded regular.

In Oklahoma; down was 2.99/gal, today 2.69/gal.

$2.70/Gal this morning. Is anybody understand the fluctuation. A pipeline burst in Alaska, prices go down.........ANYBODY??????????

Last week here was $2.85, now $2.62.
Just think, we may be happy to see it go to $2.50:tg:

Is that the strategy by the big oil refiners?

Yeah in central New York we are down to 2.97 a gallon. :lmao:

$2.70/Gal this morning. Is anybody understand the fluctuation. A pipeline burst in Alaska, prices go down.........ANYBODY??????????

It is called supply and demand. Right now there is plenty of gasoline production and people drove less rather than paying $3 per gallon. Ford has already announced that the demand for low mileage trucks and SUVs is down significantly from last year.

The pipeline in Alaska did not burst. There was a 250 gallon loss (which is relatively insignificant) due to a corrosion leak. The pipeline will be at 50% of capacity for weeks not months in order to fix the line. The loss of crude oil production was less than 1% of the overall demand. Future prices did go up for a short period of time but that is market speculation.

Bill

On auto tour through southeast USA Aug 1-21 with typical gas prices ranging from $2.72 in Southern Indiana to $3.02 in Florida for regular unleaded (most in $2.80 to $2.92 range), except home town (far north suburbs of Chicago), where price has fluctuated from $3.09 to $3.17.

Tennessee, Georgia, & Kentucky were all $2.80 to $2.89 range regardless of small town or "big" (Chattanooga).

Last week here was $2.85, now $2.62.
Just think, we may be happy to see it go to $2.50:tg:

Is that the strategy by the big oil refiners?


I saw 2.49 on Sunday in Akron, OH. On Monday, I saw 2.35 in Cambridge OH. WooHoo:agree1:

...except, I use premium, so I still paid 2.69...

Nice! NY is still around 2.70 for regular. I paid $3.35 for 93 octane for my firebird last week. It hurt, but he's worth it. It's down to about $3.10 today.

I just got back from a weekend event I worked in Indianapolis. When I left here in Cincinnati, gas was about $2.57.

Filled up in IN on Friday & coming back on Sunday, both times about $2.69 or so.

Topped off the rental yesterday to return, in NKY, and it was about $2.60.

Saw it this morning on the way to work in Cincinnati, it was $2.49.

Whatever, it's all too expensive...
Jerry:rolleyes:

$2.70/Gal this morning. Is anybody understand the fluctuation. A pipeline burst in Alaska, prices go down.........ANYBODY??????????

Yes - It's closing in on the november elections in the US... :rolleyes:

I wonder what prices will be a year from now...

......
PLEASE HOLD OUT UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO BELOW $1.28 - $1.29 AND KEEP THEM DOWN. THIS CAN REALLY WORK!

If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention

It fluctuates up here in Toronto .83 cents to .98 cents in a day.. and that's per liter (1 gallon is 3.785 liters) (1.00 US = 1.11 CAN)

This notice has been kicking around for a while 2 - 3 years I think...
:2cents: that is why I ride my motorcycle because i'm :mad: with the gas price. Wait a minute I enjoy biking, sorry it's been a long day

Here in Massachusetts a "good" price (i.e. everyone goes there) is $1.71 / gallon. Typical that I've seen lately however is $1.76. :mad: :mad:

Yes - It's closing in on the november elections in the US... :rolleyes:

I wonder what prices will be a year from now...

I don't think that oil companies factor politics into their pricing decisions. There have been enough congressional committees on Big Oil and price fixing over the years that they know that it is not going to impact how they set prices.

As far as a year from now.... if there are no major hurricanes in the Gulf Coast next year, no new Middle East crisis effecting crude oil and people continue to conserve and buy better mileage cars, I think 2006 prices may have been the peak for now. There are enough risks that forecasting with certainty is not possible. BTW crude oil futures fell below $70 today.

Bill Pflanz

The numbers show the major increases in prices have been refinery related, not cost per barrel, and the record profits of the last couple of years have paralleled refinery price increases, so to some degree I agree. I also think that, in the US and abroad, there is a lot of anger and backlash putting pressure on politicians to 'do something'.

<tinfoil hat on>I think that 'something' is a bunch of rich people taking a break in their profiteering in part in response to politicians (many of whom are friends in one way or another) screaming.<tinfoil hat off>

In the long term, I think the US will have a harder time with supply issues as Russia and China position themselves. W Joseph Stroupe wrote a good article (Russia spins global energy spider's web (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/HH25Dj01.html)) which looks into the future. The long term, there are significant changes in the wind.

Here in Massachusetts a "good" price (i.e. everyone goes there) is $1.71 / gallon. Typical that I've seen lately however is $1.76. :mad: :mad:


1.76 and you are mad???? Try paying 2.93.

Here in Massachusetts a "good" price (i.e. everyone goes there) is $1.71 / gallon. Typical that I've seen lately however is $1.76. :mad: :mad:

Gotta be a typo....$2.71/$2.76 :bonk:

Gotta be a typo....$2.71/$2.76 :bonk:

Had me wondering there for a few minutes...

Ok........Monday in Massachusetts I paid $2.71 / gallon. Tuesday (same place) $2.59/ gallon.......for regular. All other grades stayed the same? :confused:
Neil

We're on a downward trend it seems, and strange for a holiday weekend:

Been ~$2.50 or so most of the week, down around $2.42 today/yest, now I hear it's been around $2.32-2.39 depending on where you look!

Ok, now on Sunday it'll shoot back to $3! Get 'em coming home.;)

Jerry

We're on a downward trend it seems, and strange for a holiday weekend:

Been ~$2.50 or so most of the week, down around $2.42 today/yest, now I hear it's been around $2.32-2.39 depending on where you look!

Ok, now on Sunday it'll shoot back to $3! Get 'em coming home.;)

Jerry

We are still at 2.83 in Central New York.

Lowest here was $2.44 Saturday. I filled up then and there:D

Another trip via Evanston this weekend:

From previous posts for 85 octane at the Maverick station in Evanston Wyoming, just off exit 5 on I-80:


June 26, 2005: $1.999/gal

October 1 2005: $2.739/gal

June 29 & July 9, 2006: $2.599gal


This weekend (Sept 2 & 4): $2.719/gal

The weekend-ending climb never happened, it even dropped a little more! I paid $2.29 this morning (W Chester OH).

Jerry

Some stations in the area are at $2.13 for unleaded with ethanol.

Heard that in China the petrol is available for RMB 5 (equal to 70 US cents) :D

I passed a $2.41 this morning.

$2.49 Regular Unleaded - here now, 9/8/06

Regular is 2.399 in Minnesota 12/9/2006

Regular Unleaded is 2.399 in Minnesota on 12 Sep 2006

You guys get no sympathy from the UK - here we are currently paying around £0.95 per litre for unleaded and around £0.99 per litre for diesel. Converting at today's exchange rate we're paying over $8.00 per US gallon. :mad:

In case you're interested, approx. 52% goes to the government in excise duty, 26% to the manufacturer, 15% (again, to the government) as Value Added Tax, and 7% to the retailer (i.e. the gas station).

Summerville, GA it is $2.19 at the cheapest places, around $2.22 at others....

$2.15 in Cincinatti; $2.59 in Pittsburgh, $2.30 in Louisville

I just got back from a road trip from Alpharetta, GA to Charlotte, NC. The following prices were noted (9/11-9/12/06):

Alpharetta, GA - $2.35

Greenville, SC - $2.19

Charlotte, NC - $2.69

I'm relieved to see prices finally decrease....

Except in NY - well, they are down a little, but no where near what you guys are posting. I guess NY-er's expect to 'pay a little more' so the gas stations make sure they meet our expectations. :mad: I paid 2.88 a week ago, and I think 2.80 on Sunday. I saw a sign for 2.75 today.

Here in Mid-Michigan price jumped from $2.99 to $3.15 for 87 octane. Filled up the work car Sunday ($2.99) and was a day late ($3.15) filling up the week-end car :(

What a difference a couple of months make! I payed $2.369 for 87 octane yesterday.

Except in NY - well, they are down a little, but no where near what you guys are posting. I guess NY-er's expect to 'pay a little more' so the gas stations make sure they meet our expectations. :mad: I paid 2.88 a week ago, and I think 2.80 on Sunday. I saw a sign for 2.75 today.

There was a small news brief in the Columbus newspaper today that reported that Ohio drivers are paying less for gasoline than any other state. Currently, Ohio is about 30 cents below the national average. Missouri and Oklahoma are the next lowest states.

Two things could be causing the difference. 1) Ohioans are cheap and cut back on use sooner than others 2) there are a number of refineries and pipelines in Ohio and the competition and supply is greater. I would guess it is a combination of each.


Bill Pflanz

Last evening I payed $2.23 for the 87 grade, hope this trend continues.

I think the Charting Experts may want to develop a trend analysis of the price of gas based upon these threads.

Yay, I filled up at $2.09 this morning here in Cincinnati. I live in Northern KY though, and it's still about $2.30ish there, so I fill up near work.

I saw an article yesterday (local paper) that someone forcasted around $2.05 until winter fuel oil costs kick it back to about $2.30.

I'll try to come back to this post around mid November.......:cfingers:

Jerry

I just got back from Tenerife (Canary Islands) They are paying half the price for petrol that we pay in the UK.

We are paying at the moment about 90 pence (sterling) per litre.


I wonder how that works when we are all in 'Europe?'

I just got back from Tenerife (Canary Islands)

I am VERY jealous...

Jealous? I want to live there! They didn't even seem to pay car tax. Is car tax a duty in the US?

I reckon we are all being ripped off.

Watch for FALLING GAS PRICES $2.11 for 87 in Southern Indiana, said by the 6th of October or sooner would be under $2.00. Heard report that we could see less than $1.50 next year.

$1.99 in southeast Iowa

$1.99 in southeast Iowa

Still $2.67/gallon in Central NY

Watch for FALLING GAS PRICES Heard report that we could see less than $1.50 next year.

That rumor is going around here too. :whip:

Currently $2.18....$1.00 drop in 3 month's!

Yesterday, just outside Summerville, GA (NW GA) I saw 2 stations selling it for $2.01, but inside the town, it was $2.09.

Prices here in Southeast Wisconsin were at $.2.39 this morning. I've discovered over the last month or so that I can predict with uncanny accuracy when the price will go down. Unfortunately, I can't take advantage of this facility because I know that the prices will go down the day after I fill up my tank.

Unfortunately, I can't take advantage of this facility because I know that the prices will go down the day after I fill up my tank.

Yep, that happened to me. The price was $2.95 here in Torrance, CA. I needed some go-go juice so I filled up my little car. The next day, the price dropped to $2.89. I imagine that tonight on my home I will see that the price dropped again. I'd bet money on it. ;)

Down to $2.09 per gallon (regular) as of 9/25/2006

We are still at 2.65/gallon in Central New York. However, I have been reading reports that we can expect under 2.00/gallon (some places already are) and that tha proce of oil will drop to ~$40/barrel in 2007 and may even drop as low as $20/barrel in 2008.

$2.05 to 2.03 in Central Indiana

Savannah, TN - 2.17/gallon for regular unleaded.:biglaugh:

Last week was killer - $1.94 in Covington KY (just across the river from Cincinnati, and where I live)!!

I saw an online article from the local paper about politics & gas $, they mentioned "according to http://www.cincygasprices.com/ the lowest price is $1.94 at...." and a few stations on my way home. Sure enough, even at 9pm there were 3 cars deep at a few places, but the Shell was ok.

Sure was nice filling the Blazer there, when it was $2.19 up here by work.

Jerry
($2.09 yesterday, $2.19 today around here)

Dang! What's the deal on the West Coast (USA). I don't know of anywhere within several hundred miles that the price is lower than $2.40/gal. I can't find anything cheaper than $2.50/gallon, within 30 miles of my house (Seattle, WA). It's coming down but I doubt that it'll get below $2.00 again around here.

Gas last evening was $2.03 here, plus it's 81 and sunny today

Always increasing....

This is a nightmare, the countries which have the Oil, are the more problematic.

(i,e Irak in war, Venezuela with Chavez...)

It is time to change to other source of Energy. :bonk:

As of 10/12/06 in Alpharetta GA it was $1.96 for regular unleaded

60 cents a gallon here. I guess that kinda figures! :D

60 cents a gallon here. I guess that kinda figures! :D

Do you think you could send me 1000 Gallons at that price? :lol:

Heard that in China the petrol is available for RMB 5 (equal to 70 US cents) :D

but it′s 70 US cents/L

HEY HEY - The good 'ol South African regulated fuel price just dropped by
ZAR0.40c per litre, with a promise of further fuel price cuts in the next few months. This normally only happens just before elections.

Just put 2217 miles on our '05 Civic EX driving to Southern California and back to visit relatives and see the big 3 San Diego attractions - Sea World, Zoo and Wild Animal Park.

Averaged 35.3 mpg - best stretch was 38.7 mpg over 330 miles coming home March 18. We took the Civic instead of our '98 Mazda MPV for the gas savings - MPV gets about 19 mpg on trips like this, so we probably saved $150 using the Civic. We had less room, but managed ok.

Gas prices encountered during the trip (in US $/gallon, 87 octane unless indicated):

3/8/2007: $2.219, St. George Costco (85 octane)
3/9/2007: $2.599, Las Vegas
3/10/2007: $2.889, Temecula Costco
3/12/2007: $2.919, Temecula Costco
3/15/2007: $2.999, Ramona, CA
3/17/2007: $2.799, Parker, AZ
3/18/2007: $2.759, Boulder City, NV
3/18/2007: $2.699, Scipio, UT (85 octane)

Weighted average was $2.74/gallon. Highest price we saw was $3.599 in Borrego Springs, CA.

Here in Malaysia, Petrol Selling at 1.92 Ringgit / L
approx to 0.6 USD/L :notme:

Los Angeles, CA: 3/21/07 Just paid $3.169 a gal, That was at a cheap, no name gas station. Ouch :mad:

by my dodgy calculations, i pay 81 pence per litre.
I think that works out to about $5.95 per gallon!!!!!

lets try again (sorry has been bad week, butcher dentist took 45 mins to pull one of my teeth out on monday)
I pay 91 pence per litre (not 81) try $6.76 for a gallon of diesel

This morning: 2.44 US$/USG or 0.65 US$/liter.

This morning it was $2.69/gal in Rochester, NY

Here in Brazil :

US$ 0.57 / liter o Ethanol / Alcohol
US$ 1,15 / liter gasoline

My car runs on either gas or ethanol or any combination of the two.... about 80% of the cars manufactured here in Brazil are already prepared to receive either or any mixture of the two

Today here in this area it is $2.37 to $2.39 most places, but I saw a couple at $2.31 yesterday while traveling in Florence. Make one wonder why such a big difference in the same location.

Well, you were correct Cindy. I bought gas in Madison Hgts. today, 3/21/2007 for $2.59 p.g.

Going up again!

From ABC News (http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/Business/story?id=2997190):

Nothing moves the price of gasoline more than the price of oil, and fears that the standoff over Britons held captive in Iran will lead to a major disruption in the supply of Middle East oil is taking an escalating toll on gas prices here in the United States.[..]

In the last eight weeks, even before the current standoff with Iran, prices jumped 44 cents to a national average of $2.61 a gallon - 11 cents higher than a year ago.

Gas prices often shoot up in the spring, as refineries make the switch to summer-blend gasolines, creating glitches in supply. But the standoff with Iran has inflicted a double whammy on prices.

"I believe crude oil prices are going to continue to rise 50 cents to $1 each," said John Kilduff, an oil trader for Fimat USA, "and every day that this goes on until they stabilize at some point above $70 a barrel."

Current prices in the Netherlands:

Euro 95 : 142.5 euro ct/liter - 7.21 dollar/galon
Plus 98 : 148.5 euro ct/liter - 7.51 dollar/galon
Super : 151.5 euro ct/liter - 7.67 dollar/galon
Diesel : 104.5 euro ct/liter - 5.29 dollar/galon

Doesn't that make you cry...
Probably not, only makes you guys feel lucky...

Cheers.

After weeks of controled prices, it stared to rise up here in Portugal!
I need to use even more my bike...:)

[QUOTE=Marc;189531]Going up again!

QUOTE]

I'm sure pretty soon they will have an article in the paper along the lines of... " world worries the sun disappearing to the west, gas prices skyrocket...":nope:

Someone sneezed in Afghanistan, oil prices to rise! :rolleyes:

Someone sneezed in Afghanistan, oil prices to rise! :rolleyes:

Hey, well you know, Exxon needs the money so they don't have to worry about spending their $10 billion all time profit from 2006.

Gas prices often shoot up in the spring, as refineries make the switch to summer-blend gasolines, creating glitches in supply. But the standoff with Iran has inflicted a double whammy on prices. ABC News

Actually the switch to summer blend gasoline is not a big deal. What really happens in the spring is that refineries shutdown for maintenance. Refineries are a 24 hour a day, 365 days per year operation and they need to occasionally shut down for repairs or even improvements. In refinery language it is known as a "turnaround". Some of the recent spikes in gasoline are very regional since local area refineries are doing their turnaround. Since there is not much excess capacity, it causes a regional shortage.

For those older Covers who remember the shortages of the 70's and early 80's, the answer lies in conservation. When prices went high, people cut their usage. Unfortunately gasoline and crude oil is still not high enough to result in conservation. Some of the gasoline shortage is caused by lack of refinery capacity but oil companies fear expanding since conservation would remove the need for it just like it did a few decades ago. The market place is setting prices more than anything else. Short term it would be painful if gasoline in the U.S. went to $3.50 or $4.00 but long term it would reduce energy use and improve the environment. What we need is a mass movement towards hybrid cars just like we went to the better mileage cars the last time.

Bill Pflanz

Here in Kalamazoo, Michigan (SW Michigan) I paid $2.83 a gallon to fill up yesterday. It hasn't been under $2.71 in weeks.....:nopity:

Gas broke $3.00 this weekend with Jewel Express (lowest in Woodstock Illinois) at $3.01.
Damn!:mad:

Gas went from $2.69 last Thursday to $2.75 on Friday. Usually here in South Carolina, we are below the national average. 15 miles away in NC, it is always at least 10 cents a gallon higher due to their state taxes.

Gas went from $2.69 last Thursday to $2.75 on Friday. Usually here in South Carolina, we are below the national average. 15 miles away in NC, it is always at least 10 cents a gallon higher due to their state taxes.


yep, I try whenever I can to drive the extra miles to Virginia to buy gas. If there is any reason at all to go to VA for weekly shopping when the tank is needing filling I will do it to save the 10 cents a gallon difference. besides, that, the groceries are cheaper too.

WORLD GASOLINE PRICES

Gas prices on April 17 or 18, 2007. Data for EU countries were provided by the AA Motoring Trust. Prices are listed in U.S. dollars.

United Kingdom - $8.37
Netherlands - $7.52
Norway - $7.33
Belgium - $6.95
Denmark - $6.95
Germany - $6.72
Portugal - $6.65
Finland - $6.57
France - $6.50
Sweden - $6.50
Hungary $5.63
Poland - $5.63
Slovakia - $5.59
Austria - $5.40
Ireland - $5.40
Slovenia - $5.36
Switzerland - $5.17
Spain - $5.14
Czech Republic - $5.10
Greece - $4.91
Italy - $4.80
Lithuania - $4.72
Latvia - $4.61
Estonia - $4.30
Luxembourg - $4.27
Japan - $4.16
United States - $2.88
Kazakhstan - $2.75
Russia - $2.68
Mexico - $2.38
China - $2.19
Nigeria - $1.92
Saudi Arabia - $0.45
Venezuela - $0.19

WORLD GASOLINE PRICES

Gas prices on April 17 or 18, 2007. Data for EU countries were provided by the AA Motoring Trust. Prices are listed in U.S. dollars.

United Kingdom - $8.37
Netherlands - $7.52
Norway - $7.33
Belgium - $6.95
Denmark - $6.95
Germany - $6.72
Portugal - $6.65
Finland - $6.57
France - $6.50
Sweden - $6.50
Hungary $5.63
Poland - $5.63
Slovakia - $5.59
Austria - $5.40
Ireland - $5.40
Slovenia - $5.36
Switzerland - $5.17
Spain - $5.14
Czech Republic - $5.10
Greece - $4.91
Italy - $4.80
Lithuania - $4.72
Latvia - $4.61
Estonia - $4.30
Luxembourg - $4.27
Japan - $4.16
United States - $2.88
Kazakhstan - $2.75
Russia - $2.68
Mexico - $2.38
China - $2.19
Nigeria - $1.92
Saudi Arabia - $0.45
Venezuela - $0.19

Look at the countries like saudia arabia & Venezuela.:mg:

It's shame that my home country, Mexico, being oil the main export and most important revenue, we have a very high price for it, compared against Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

Plus, gas quality leaves a lot to be desaired. :frust:

I remember a gas commercial for Pemex (Mexico's state owned oil company), where a truck driver went out of gas near the U.S. border and another truck driver saw him push his truck to Mexico because of gas quality and price. :notme:

Honestly, I didn't belive it.

C ya.

Here's the recent price movement at the Costco near my home in Sandy, Utah:

(price per gallon, all for 85 octane - we're at 4500 feet here)

Feb 14 2007: $1.999
Feb 28 2007: $2.069
Mar 27 2007: $2.399
Apr 09 2007: $2.539
Apr 20 2007: $2.639

This keeps up, we be at $3.50 in July. :truce:

Now there's a table I'm not keen to be top of!

Still we have all our wonderful services for motorists and the best roads this side of the English channel. :mad:

Oh and did I mention the speed cameras? :mad: :frust: :bonk:

Makes you proud to be British. :biglaugh:

Thanks for posting that list. It was very interesting to see. It's interesting to see that a place with the LARGEST oil reserve in the world, Russia, has prices similar to the U.S.

By the way, the price in Seattle (USA) is approximately $3.15/gal and rising although I did find it at $3.13 the other day. Wow, what a deal!

Hmm - Who did the conversions for the AA motoring Trust I wonder (UK $8.37 per US gallon ?).

It's bad but not that bad. I am just about to drive home and refuel. I will pay the equivalent of $7.27 for a US gallon of 3.785 litres of (US pump) 90 octane at $2.00 = £1. :(

PLEASE HOLD OUT UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO BELOW $1.28 - $1.29 AND KEEP THEM DOWN. THIS CAN REALLY WORK!


It seems hilarious reading this from about 6 years ago.
I think just about everyone and their brother would be more than satisfied to see gas prices drop to $2.29 per gallon.
Five years from now we will all be yearning for the days when gas was less than $5 per gallon.

In the last two weeks, the price is rising up almost everyday!
The Portuguese oil company says is because of little oil reserves in the US...
What has Portugal about US refined products in US?
Anyway they have to come up with something...:mad:

I checked my car spreadsheet after gassing up and gasoline here in Cincinnati, OH has gone up US$ 0.70 per US gallon since January of this year (2007). Almost all of the cost is refinery related (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/ID24Dj01.html). Why oil chiefs are feelin' groovy
By Julian Delasantellis

In 1980, Paul Simon sang of a "One Trick Pony", an animal that "does one trick only - it's the principal source of his revenue". These days, the world's major oil companies are a lot like this animal. They do one thing - engineering price rises by restricting gasoline supply through manipulation of oil-refinery output - really, really well and, much like the pony, they make lots and lots of revenue from this activity.

--------------

Not on your life, as all US drivers know. Like vampires, they now fear each new rising of the sun, for it is then they will learn just how much retail gasoline prices have risen overnight. According to the US Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA), average US retail gasoline prices have risen every week since early February. The national retail average of US$2.876 for a gallon of regular gasoline (75.98 cents per liter), as of the April 16 report, is the highest price since the historical twin peaks of just under $3.10 early last summer and just after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the early autumn 2005. The national average masks wide regional disparities; lower in the Midwest, but on the west coast, the average is already at $3.195 (84.4 cents a liter).

---------------

You could see the workings of the oil companies' trick as it developed. In early January, refinery capacity utilization stood at a healthy 91.5%, and the gasoline crack spread, the crude-oil-to-gasoline price ratio (the crack spread is explored in depth in my April 4 article) that defines the profit to be made from refining crude oil into gasoline, stood at a fairly low $7.154. NYMEX gasoline futures were then trading for less than $1.45 a gallon, the lowest prices for more than a year. It was then, with US gasoline demand still very strong, that the reduction in refinery capacity utilization began; all of a sudden the financial press was full of stories related to various and sundry "accidents" and "repairs" that were causing US refineries to shut down and/or limit production.

By late March, as the Iran/UK crisis began, and as crude-oil supplies at Cushing began to build, NYMEX gasoline futures had risen to $1.95, and the crack spread was near $19, meaning that oil companies were making just under two and two-thirds times the profit on every gallon of gasoline sold that they had in early January. On April 13, gasoline futures topped out at more than $2.20, up more than 75 cents since January. On that day, the crack spread stood at just under $28, meaning that the business of refining oil into gasoline was now four times as profitable as it was just three months previously.

Therefore, is it any surprise that the oil companies have now decided that all those needed "repairs" and "maintenance" can be put off for a while? The most recent report released by the EIA shows that oil refinery capacity utilization now stands at 90.4%, up 5 percentage points from two months previously.
Read the whole article... (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/ID24Dj01.html)

At the gas station on top of the mountain that I pass on my daily commute, the price of regular gas jumped yesterday a.m. from $2.69 to $2.79 yesterday afternoon. This morning it had gone up to $2.84... :mg: :mg: Good thing I'm getting a motorcycle to help save on gas...:biglaugh:

I pay around $ 3 that last for 100 km or 62 miles. :magic:
How long your gas with price go?
Just curious
:thanks:

As soon as the weather here in Buffalo gets more predictable I will be riding my bike to work on a daily basis.

Actually the switch to summer blend gasoline is not a big deal. What really happens in the spring is that refineries shutdown for maintenance. Refineries are a 24 hour a day, 365 days per year operation and they need to occasionally shut down for repairs or even improvements. In refinery language it is known as a "turnaround". Some of the recent spikes in gasoline are very regional since local area refineries are doing their turnaround. Since there is not much excess capacity, it causes a regional shortage.


Whose side are you on??!! I wanna hate oil companies, and I'm not gonna let you stop me!:biglaugh:

Whose side are you on??!! I wanna hate oil companies, and I'm not gonna let you stop me!:biglaugh:

Oil companies are like any other company wanting to make a profit but it is easy to hate them when their prices are visible on every corner.

I am not on anyone's side but I am against misinformation in the news media. I was listening to MSNBC today and they were interviewing someone who was giving the usual comments on obscene profits and oil companies ripping people off. He went on to say that they were not investing the profits back into the oil refineries but giving them to the stockholders. Lots of companies do that and it is not a crime. Also, Shell and Marathon just announced billions of dollars of planned capital expenditures to provide new capacity.

In addition, he said that the oil companies should be putting profits back into the business since the deteriorating infrastructure was causing the current outages. The current outages are standard down time that must be taken occasionally since it is a 365 day/24 hour operation. Oil companies maintain the refineries so as not to have unplanned shutdowns.

That said, people will still hate oil companies. We should really have more discussions on the cost of Starbucks coffee. There are people who spend almost as much on it as they do getting to work.

Bill Pflanz

Whose side are you on??!! I wanna hate oil companies, and I'm not gonna let you stop me!:biglaugh:

I bet you wouldn't hate them if you joined one. The bonuses are GREAT! I don't mind paying a little extra. :bigwave:

People in the US probably won't mind 'paying a little extra' until that 'little extra' is US$5.00 or above.

I don't hate oil companies personally. I think it would help everyone on the planet if the oil companies set a world wide price of something like an equivalent of US$50 a US gallon.

It is $299 for 87 here. We need a threat of a congressional investigation to send the price down. Remember when C-stores came in. The station owners said there was no profit in gas and the profit was in the goods sold in the c-store. Gas in Iraq was around 39 cents a gallon. We are getting too comfortable with the high prices.

I think it would help everyone on the planet if the oil companies set a world wide price of something like an equivalent of US$50 a US gallon.

Marc,

Did you mean US$5.00? I think $50 per gallon would definitely get us walking.

Bill

Marc,

Did you mean US$5.00? I think $50 per gallon would definitely get us walking.

Bill

I think he meant $50 a barrel

Marc,

Did you mean US$5.00? I think $50 per gallon would definitely get us walking. Or using public transportation (horrors!).

Yup - US$50.00 a gallon. It's inevitable anyway. Maybe not for us in the next couple of years, but for our kids and their kids it'll be up there. I have read a few people who recommend US$75.00 a gallon now. It would promote public transportation, for example, a much more energy efficient means of transportation.

Of course, then only the 'rich' would be able to travel very far, but no matter what the price of gas - Let's say the current average in the US of about US$3.00 a gallon - Whether or not you can afford gasoline is still a simple function of price per gallon and income. Many people now cannot afford to travel as they did when it was US$1.35 about 6 years ago. Like medical care, the cost of gasoline continues to rise at a rate far exceeding the 'inflation rate'.

Or using public transportation (horrors!).

Yup - US$50.00 a gallon. It's inevitable anyway. .
I hope not, then all the refinerys might close. :( No one would buy.

Sorry, no sympathy for the oil companies here.

Just took a little fishing trip to FLA over the weekend. Prices varied from $2.84 to $3.05, with the price dropping .15 to .20 on this side of the GA-FLA boarder.

As far as $50/gallon fuel, it is easy for city dwellers to talk about using public transport. Out here in the sticks, we don't even get a Greyhound bus or Amtrak, much less subways or city buses.

Horses do seem to be making a comeback of sorts. With the costs of keeping a horse, though, $50 a gallon might not make much difference.

Just took a little fishing trip to FLA over the weekend. Prices varied from $2.84 to $3.05, with the price dropping .15 to .20 on this side of the GA-FLA boarder.

As far as $50/gallon fuel, it is easy for city dwellers to talk about using public transport. Out here in the sticks, we don't even get a Greyhound bus or Amtrak, much less subways or city buses.

Horses do seem to be making a comeback of sorts. With the costs of keeping a horse, though, $50 a gallon might not make much difference.
Yeah, just when I was thinking of buying another horse (I sold all of mine when I made the move to the east coast) our police chief got a law outlawing riding horses within city limits passed. I guess that option is out. But, I'm with you, Craig, it is easy enough to get by in the cities without a car, but there are no buses, subways or other mass transportation options where I am either. I bought gas this morning at $2.939. That is regular unleaded 87 octane.

FYI - $3.05 (American) is a bargain compared to what we're paying on the west coast of the U.S. (Seattle, WA area). We're around $3.50 now. Of course, I shouldn't complain too much. I believe it's even higher in Europe.

Right now I'm paying 10 times more for a gallon of gas than I did in 1970, and it works so much better today. ;)

Hi, Ilive in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and the price of gas here this morning (May 1) was $1.05 a liter. Sucks big time.

Hello
I am in Virginia, and the cheapest I have seen it this week is $2.75 per gallon. It will probably go much higher with the summer and tourism approaching. :(

Up in Canada it's $1.03 per liter. Absolute highway robbery!! I'm not sure what the conversion rate from liter to gallon is but I know its a far greater cost than in the states! It's about the same as the price of milk!

Wow, I just looked up the conversion of liters to gallons. One gallon is equal to 4.405 liters. You are absolutely correct, it is highway robbery. :mad:

I don't know when the price will drop again. We can only hope it will get better soon. :frust:

...which I realy dont get!! It's the same fuel, refined the same way, yet you pay roughly 1/2 based on your conversion. $2 for a gallon = $2 for 4 liters = $.50 per liter!!! I havent seen those prices up here in about 10 years!

Dont even get me started on the whole "oil" thing!! That's just going to open up a can of political worms!!!!

Up in Canada it's $1.03 per liter. Absolute highway robbery!! I'm not sure what the conversion rate from liter to gallon is but I know its a far greater cost than in the states! It's about the same as the price of milk!

Are you talking canadian or US dollars?

$1.03 CDN for 1 liter. That's about $.90 US

Wow, I just looked up the conversion of liters to gallons. One gallon is equal to 4.405 liters. You are absolutely correct, it is highway robbery. :mad:

I don't know when the price will drop again. We can only hope it will get better soon. :frust:

Fist of all, the actual conversion from US liquid gallon to liter is 3.785 liters to 1 US liquid gallon. I am not sure where the 4.405 came from, but it is not correct.

I live and work in Columbus Indiana. Monday gasoline had "gone down" to $2.79 per gallon. Yesterday the price went up to $2.99 per gallon. Today, on my way to work, I noticed the prices had increased to $3.19 per gallon.
There is no logical explaination, other than corporate greed, that I can think of that would justify a $0.40 per gallon increase in two days.:censor:
This is getting :censor: ridiculous!

I am forwarding this email that I received yesterday. It is VERY fitting for this forum!

On April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in
protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon
overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all internet users are asked to not go to a gas station
in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most
places.

There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet
network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take
$2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companys
pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on
May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry
for at least one day.

If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldnt) resend this to all
your contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th"

I got the conversion from a metrics conversion chart I found online. What I didn't do was specifically ask for liquid. 4.405 is a dry conversion.

Below is the information I just looked up. Sorry for the confusion. :confused:

US Gallons (Liquid) to Liters US Gallons (Liquid): A US capacity measure (for liquid) equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters. Note also there are different measures of US dry gallons and UK gallons.

US Gallons (Dry) to Liters US Gallons (Dry): A US capacity measure (for dry material) equal to 4 quarts or 4.404 liters. Note also there are different measures of US liquid gallons and UK gallons.

UK Gallons to Liters UK Gallons: A British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 quarts or 4.545 liters.

....lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry....

Remember the big oil companies who refine the crude for the most part aren't Middle Eastern owned, and the higher prices are refinery related, so....

Saw gas at $3.19/gallon in the Chicago burbs today.

Arlington, Texas 5/1/07-$2.79 regular (as opposed to Ethyl :confused: ). I have seen it drop about five cents over the past few weeks.

Well, we're up to $1.10 CAD per liter now. Went up 5 cents yesterday!! Getting pretty sick!!

I am forwarding this email that I received yesterday. It is VERY fitting for this forum!

On April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in
protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon
overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all internet users are asked to not go to a gas station
in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most
places.

There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet
network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take
$2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companys
pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on
May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry
for at least one day.

If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldnt) resend this to all
your contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th"


From ABOUT "Urban Legends and Folklore"

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/government/a/gas_boycott.htm

Comments: Wrong, wrong, wrong.

1. There was no nationwide "gas out" in 1997. There was one in 1999, but it didn't cause gas prices to drop 30 cents per gallon overnight. In fact, it didn't cause them to drop at all. Despite the popularity of the email campaign, the event itself attracted scant participation and was completely ineffectual.

2. There are over 205 million Internet users in the United States, far more than the 73 million claimed.

3. If, say, a hundred million drivers refused en masse to fill up their tanks on May 15, the total of what they didn't spend could amount to as much as $3 billion. However, it doesn't follow that such a boycott would actually decrease oil companies' revenues by that amount, given that the average sales of gasoline across the entire U.S. is under $1 billion per day in the first place.

4. Whether the total was a half-billion, 3 billion, or 10 billion dollars, the sales missed due to a one-day consumer boycott wouldn't hurt the oil companies one bit. Think about it. Every single American who doesn't buy gas on Tuesday is still going to have to fill up their tank on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Sales for the week would end up being perfectly normal, or very close to it. A meaningful boycott would entail participants actually consuming less fuel -- and doing so in a sustained, disciplined fashion over a period of time -- not just choosing to wait a day or two before filling up as usual.

I am forwarding this email that I received yesterday. It is VERY fitting for this forum!

On April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in
protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon
overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all internet users are asked to not go to a gas station
in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most
places.

There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet
network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take
$2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companys
pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on
May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry
for at least one day.

If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldnt) resend this to all
your contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th"

As much as I'd love for these things to work they typically wont because if we all dont get gas on the 15th, we'll just go some other day. The loss for the one day will be made up on the following few days.

There's 3 ways to make in impact:
dont use gas (bike, carpool, etc...)
buy an extrememly fuel efficient vehicle
coordinate for everyone not to purchase gas from one particular gas company (shell or exxon) which is difficult since they have so many small tributary companies.

I don't understand why everybody is upset about the price per gallon.... What we really need to concentrate on is that the price per barrel is dropping. See, now we can be happy knowing that oil prices are falling.

At least thats what the nice man at the Oil company is telling me. :rolleyes:

I don't understand why everybody is upset about the price per gallon.... What we really need to concentrate on is that the price per barrel is dropping. See, now we can be happy knowing that oil prices are falling.

At least thats what the nice man at the Oil company is telling me. :rolleyes:

Yeah,
I find it kind of odd that when the price of crude oil goes up, the price of gasoline immediately follows. They are more than happy to draw the comparison between the crude oil price and the refined gasoline price. That is always the explaination. Oil went up, so gas went up.
Lately the price of crude oil has been going down, but the gas prices have been going up. Now we are told there is little correlation between the price of crude and the price of gas. Now we get all kinds of conflicting explainations. Everything from "summer blend" gasoline to refinery maintenance. Ther is no solid explaination, just a bunch of jibber jabber to try and talk around the truth.
Today, as of 11:54 am, Crude is down 1.14 per bbl however my local gas station RAISED gasoline to 3 dollars and 19 :censor: cents per gallon.

Yeah,
I find it kind of odd that when the price of crude oil goes up, the price of gasoline immediately follows. They are more than happy to draw the comparison between the crude oil price and the refined gasoline price. That is always the explaination. Oil went up, so gas went up.
Lately the price of crude oil has been going down, but the gas prices have been going up. Now we are told there is little correlation between the price of crude and the price of gas. Now we get all kinds of conflicting explainations. Everything from "summer blend" gasoline to refinery maintenance. Ther is no solid explaination, just a bunch of jibber jabber to try and talk around the truth.
Today, as of 11:54 am, Crude is down 1.14 per bbl however my local gas station RAISED gasoline to 3 dollars and 19 :censor: cents per gallon.

I'm not saying that there isn't any jibba-jabba going on, but no one that I know of is saying that there's no correlation between the price of crude and the price of gasoline. If the former is stable or declining, and the latter is going up, it could be a function of greater demand.

To the subject, though, I left my home in the Milwaukee area on Monday, and the price of regular was $3.05, and arrived in Minneapolis to find the price at $2.79. I wish I could buy some and take it home with me.

I'm not saying that there isn't any jibba-jabba going on, but no one that I know of is saying that there's no correlation between the price of crude and the price of gasoline. If the former is stable or declining, and the latter is going up, it could be a function of greater demand.

To the subject, though, I left my home in the Milwaukee area on Monday, and the price of regular was $3.05, and arrived in Minneapolis to find the price at $2.79. I wish I could buy some and take it home with me.

I wish you could buy some and ship it to me.:D

Here in northeast Alabama, price varies from $2.82 to $287 (probably higher, but these are the prices I've seen recently) for regular unleaded, 87 Octane. At this rate of increase, I can hardly wait to start riding my motorcycle to and from work! :biglaugh:

Here in northeast Alabama, price varies from $2.82 to $287 (probably higher, but these are the prices I've seen recently) for regular unleaded, 87 Octane. At this rate of increase, I can hardly wait to start riding my motorcycle to and from work! :biglaugh:

I hope you meant $2.87, otherwise OUCH!

Although with the current trend...

I hope you meant $2.87, otherwise OUCH!

Although with the current trend...

oops! Yes, I meant $2.87....sorry about that!

I'm not saying that there isn't any jibba-jabba going on, but no one that I know of is saying that there's no correlation between the price of crude and the price of gasoline. If the former is stable or declining, and the latter is going up, it could be a function of greater demand.

I agree that the price hike is due to a high demand/marginal supply. The gas companies have limited the output of gas to ensure their growing profit margin. that is why every time they have to shut down a refinery for maintenance, the price goes up.

On a purely capitalistic basis, there is no problem, the diamond industry has been doing the same thing for years. The best realistic option is to design a better, cheaper, more efficient fuel to break the monopoly of the oil industry.

I wish I could buy some and take it home with me.
Well, fill'r up. unfortunately, you may be able to take some home with you, but it will only last in direct correlation to the milage you get.:notme:

Well, fill'r up. unfortunately, you may be able to take some home with you, but it will only last in direct correlation to the milage you get.:notme:

I don't think they'll let me take it on the plane. :D At the TSA checkpoints in the airports they have a receptacle for banned items, and they're usually chock-full of Bic lighters, so I doubt that a five-gallon can of gas will make it through. :mg:

I know that prices are going to flex a little here and there, but what has been happening lately is ridiculous.
It's kinda hard not to suspect price gouging when big oil is reporting record profits.
And why should shutting down a refinery for routine maintenance cost me more at the pump?
Yeah, yeah, yeah I know the laws of supply and demand, but shouldn't they already have this fugured into their operating costs?
If any other industry did this it would never work.
What if McDonalds raised the price of french fries to $5 because they shut down one of their fryers to change the grease?
Tell you what, call all your customers tomorrow and tell them that the cost of your product is going up 20% because you need to shut down one production line for routine maintenance. Wanna take a stab at what GM, Ford or Daimler would say to that request?

Yeah, yeah, yeah I know the laws of supply and demand

Yeah...they supply the gas and then demand exorbitant prices!! :lmao:

I have decided that since I only live a couple of miles from work that I will either ride my bike or take the bus. Gas is just too darnd expensive!!! We paid $3.55/gallon for 87 octaine last night... What ever happened to $0.99/gallon? Those days are LOOOONNNNGGGG gone!

Just posing a question here, but does anyone think that the price of gas has gone up because of Bush's involvement in oil? Curious thing that is.

Just posing a question here, but does anyone think that the price of gas has gone up because of Bush's involvement in oil? Curious thing that is.

:agree1: :applause:

Dont even get me started on the Bush/oil/OPEC BS. :mad: Too much to say, too many Bush followers to offend.

Just posing a question here, but does anyone think that the price of gas has gone up because of Bush's involvement in oil? Curious thing that is.

Let's not go down that path, please. We need to keep the discussion away from politics.

I wasn't trying to offend anyone or discuss politics. I realize that people have strong opinions on the subject. It is just something that rolls around in my mind when I go to the pump.

I know I probably sound like an apologist for the oil industry but I seem to be the only Cover who worked for a refiner. There is no conspiracy to shutdown just to manipulate pricing. The turnaround for maintenance is a planned event since replacement equipment and catalysts must be ordered in advance and contract workers and overtime scheduled. The common practice is to accrue for the turnaround costs so that they are spread over time rather than having a large loss during the shutdown. There have been some small outages in various regions which are obviously not planned. Depending on the length of the outage it may have an effect but futures trading of gasoline could have a larger impact due to trader speculation.

Like most commodity industries, pricing is somewhat related to raw material and operating costs but is generally set by the market place. When the price of crude oil changes, there can be a time lag between when it effects the bottom line for the oil companies due to the time it takes to actually receive that oil for processing. The LIFO/FIFO accounting for the inventory makes it even more difficult to relate the current crude oil price to what is charged as an expense for gasoline production.

The real problem is that there is just too little gasoline production capacity compared to demand in the U.S. In fact, we are actually importing gasoline to cover the shortage. Until demand drops or supply increases, gasoline prices will rise even if crude oil falls. Unfortunately, we are not seeing the same reaction to conservation as we did in the 70's and 80's when we had the first oil price shock. No one wants to hear that we need to drive less, drive slower, and drive better mileage cars. Then there are the misinformed who think turning off lights or changing bulbs, building windmills, using solar power etc. will solve the energy problem. Although doing those things saves electricity, less then 5% of electricity comes from fuel oil use. We have had other discussions in this thread on ethanol so I will not get into it again but to note that ethanol is only viable with government price supports.

I know it makes everyone feel better to bash Big Oil but that does little to solve the problem. Using Bush as a scapegoat only ignores the problem even more.

Bill Pflanz

Thank you, Bill for your insight on how the oil industrty works. It's appreciated!

, No one wants to hear that we need to drive less, drive slower, and drive better mileage cars.
Bill Pflanz
You always get these same three suggestions. For some people these are not options.
For most people driving is a necessity. Most people drive to and from work, and to and from Walmart, and that is about it.
Most people drive within the posted speed limit and most people drive the best vehicle they can afford, that best fits their transportation needs.
I can't think of one person I know who owns a Ferrari and drives up and down the interstate at 100mph all day long.
This argument is only valid for a very small part of the population.

You always get these same three suggestions. For some people these are not options.
For most people driving is a necessity. Most people drive to and from work, and to and from Walmart, and that is about it.
Most people drive within the posted speed limit and most people drive the best vehicle they can afford, that best fits their transportation needs.
I can't think of one person I know who owns a Ferrari and drives up and down the interstate at 100mph all day long.
This argument is only valid for a very small part of the population.

The same comments could have been made in the last oil crisis but we actually did those three things. The speed limit was changed to 55mph (which still saves gasoline), we car pooled and used more busses and trains, and Toyota became a world leader in autos because they made fuel efficient cars with great quality and good prices.

Maybe things are different in Indiana but I see lots of SUV's and large trucks driving at 10-15 miles per hour over the posted 65 mph. In fact, driving the speed limit is a good way to get run off the road. I will concede that going out and buying a new car to save gasoline is not reasonable but the next time a new car is needed, it would be helpful if fuel usage is considered. Of course that also needs from assistance from the world auto industry to make the cars that are more fuel efficient (assuming the demand is there).

The last oil crisis resulted in a 10-12% decline in gasoline usage and crude oil falling from $35 to $12 per barrel (those were the good old days). Even a 5% decline would help right now. The truth is that the U.S. has been increasing its usage every year for the last 20 years. The question is can we change our habits to repeat the past.

Bill Pflanz

5/3/07 8am est gas was $2.99
5/3/07 12pm est gas was $3.17
5/3/07 5pm est gas dropped to $3.14

That's the highest I've ever seen it in Northeast Ohio

High pricing is a relative term. I remember when a cup of coffee was 5 cents. Now many of the same people complaining about the price of gas think nothing of pulling into one of the many new drive thru coffee shops and paying $3 to $6 for a 16 oz. cup of joe. Or paying for water in the form of pre-bottled water when their tap water is just as good (especially since a majority of the bottled water is nothing more than filtered tap water from another municipal water source). Perhaps the waterfall picture on the label makes it taste better. Or even better yet, a pack of cigarettes!
:mg: Glad I quite smoking.
:2cents:

Not paying too much anymore, I'm taking a chapter from the book of claes, and starting commuting by bike, leaving the pig in the garage. It's almost liberating!!

KW

REGULAR UNLEADED GAS
This morning in Kalamazoo, Michigan
$3.25 per gallon

Funny how a gallon of
2% milk is up to:
$3.99

:nope:

At lunch time today, I saw $2.88/gal. for regular unleaded gas in Summerville, GA (NW GA)....

1.25 Euro/Liter or $1.56/Liter and that's abt $5.91/gal.
That's in Athens (Greece).
How abt that????

1.25 Euro/Liter or $1.56/Liter and that's abt $5.91/gal.
That's in Athens (Greece).
How abt that????

:mg: I'd say "OUCH!" :mg:

I can't complain too much. I live 5 minutes from work and drive a Honda that gets 25-30 mpg. I'd buy a Vespa/scooter, but there's no real need.

Saw gas cut back down to $2.99/gal for Unleaded

Like most commodity industries, pricing is somewhat related to raw material and operating costs but is generally set by the market place. When the price of crude oil changes, there can be a time lag between when it effects the bottom line for the oil companies due to the time it takes to actually receive that oil for processing. The LIFO/FIFO accounting for the inventory makes it even more difficult to relate the current crude oil price to what is charged as an expense for gasoline production.I called my dad, who is a former Big Oil Executive, after the conflict over the Kuwaiti border apparently caused the price of oil, gas, etc. to rise dramatically overnight. "Dad," I asked, "I understand that suddenly a rather large portion of crude is now unavailable and that would tend to drive up oil prices; why is it that the price at the pump went up overnight when the refined product was made from much cheaper crude?"
He replied, "Well, since the company must now buy crude at higher prices in order to feed the refinery, they have to raise the price at the pump to pay for the more expensive crude."
"OK, then," I answered, "as soon as the pipelines are back up and crude prices go down, we'll have an overnight drop in pump prices, right?"
"No," he says, "there's now all that high priced crude running through the refinery and the pump price has to stay high to pay for it until the last of it is run into your tank."
"That's not fair," I said defiantly,"it sounds like they're getting us coming and going!"
"Of course it's not fair, it's the earlllll bidness!" he exclaimed.
Sounds like time to buy stock in high-MPG auto makers and big oil companies at the same time to me.:lmao:

Here's the recent price movement at the Costco near my home in Sandy, Utah:

(price per gallon, all for 85 octane - we're at 4500 feet here)

Feb 14: $1.999
Feb 28: $2.069
Mar 19: $2.309
Mar 27: $2.399
Apr 09: $2.539
Apr 11: $2.549
Apr 20: $2.639
Apr 25: $2.739
May 10: $3.049

That's a $1.05 increase in 3 months, or 53%.

Wow.

It's really a lot simplier than that and can be determined through the tried and true method called: Follow the Money --> Refinery Aspects in Gasoline Prices (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=192931&postcount=654)

Crude prices these days does not represent the increases at the pump. They are refinery related and if one wears a tin foil hat, one might suggest that the price at the refineries is being set in part through 'maintenance shutdowns' and other similar ruses. Impossible? Look at what we now know about the Enron manufactured electric 'crisis' a few years ago in California (2000-2001) and some other parts of the US west which cost consumers millions of US$. In audio tapes one of the masterminds of market manipulation, Enron, even bragged about stealing money from "Grandma Millie" in California.

NOTE: If you listen to the recordings, they are uncensored and some contain very vulgar language.

"Enron 2000 - 2001 California Energy 'Crisis' Fraud Audio Tapes (http://elsmar.com/pdf_files/Enron_California_Fraud_Audios/)"

These recordings provide evidence of the market misconduct that inflicted so much harm on California businesses and consumers. Hear for yourself how Enron traders and their partners bragged and laughed about stealing money from "Grandma Millie".

So much for the Supply and Demand theory vs. Reality.

What does this have to do with gasoline prices today? There aren't going to be any tapes, and it is more subtle, but it's gasoline price manipulation by refineries (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/ID24Dj01.html) none the less.

Whether or not you (as in anyone reading this thread) care is another matter.

Personally I don't drive or travel much so gasoline prices barely affect me. My record since last October, other than a couple days a week over 2 months where I was running up to Dayton, OH to a client there, is 7 weeks between fill-ups. My house is all electric so my touchy point is electricity costs (which went up almost 30% in one bill where I live when the 'privatization' took effect about a year ago).

Gasoline prices in my area today are:

Northern KY - US$2.93 (unleaded) - A friend gave me this price
Northern Cincinnati (West Chester) - US$3.19 (unleaded) - Local Speedway

I called my dad, who is a former Big Oil Executive:lmao:

Icy Mountain's dad worked for the same oil company as I did although he was in the lube oil business and we never crossed paths. His dad's comments were meant to be humorous but he was not far off in his assessment. In my first year in the corporate office one of our non-technical executives (a controller or marketing type, I can't remember which) tried to predict gasoline prices. It was during the freefall in prices of the 80's and he predicted increases by Memorial Day, then July 4 and then Labor Day. By then the driving season was over so it never happened. I was only about 26 but still realized how ignorant he was of gasoline economics.

I was in a meeting with this same executive and he about panicked when he saw a cloud of smoke out the window. It was like Chicken Little as he jumped up and down thinking the refinery was on fire. Again, being young, I thought it better not to point out that the refinery was located in the opposite direction. When the refinery superintendent got to the meeting, this executive immediately asked if the refinery was on fire as he pointed out the smoke. The refinery superintendant called him a dumb a_ _ and let him know where the refinery was located and then proceeded to repeat the story to everyone else that came to the meeting. It was one of those moments that gave you an idea of how things really look in some boardrooms.

Those were the days.

Bill Pflanz

$3.36/gal. regular unleaded, I filled up this morning.

I also buy diesel for some service vehicles and small engines. Diesel is going for 3.09/gal.

I'm making biodiesel for about $.84/gal. I just can't make enough of it to run all the time with the business.

I'm making biodiesel for about $.84/gal. I just can't make enough of it to run all the time with the business.

Would love to hear more about this...

Would love to hear more about this...

Oh I'm an amatuer at it, my buddy is the brains behind it. I never would have tried it had it not been for him. My side business gets us all the used vegetable oil since I work cleaning commerical kitchens. Here is a link with good info on it.

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_mike.html

Ah, very interesting. Thanks :thanks:

Ah, very interesting. Thanks :thanks:

Your welcome, the hardest part is finding a continuous supply of used cooking oil. A word of caution, if your only source is a chinese rest. Make sure you heat the oil to remove the water content prior to processing, otherwise you will clog your fuel filter! (I found that out by experience)

http://elsmar.com/jpg/gas-prices.jpg

$ 3,78/ gal in Pakistan. but we have other options as well like CNG (compressed natural gas), which is way too inexpensive than gasoline.
LPG (liquid petrolium gas) is also available very widely.:nopity:

Went to Chicago over the holiday weekend, saw it for between $3.61 and $3.93, yikes.

Came home to Cincinnati to $3.25 again. I knew better, I filled up in northern IN, then again coming home in Indianapolis.

At one of the more expensive stations on the mountain in Fort Payne, AL it was $2.96/gal this morning on my way to work.

Wednesday on the way home from Chattanooga, TN, I saw signs for $2.89/gal along I-59 S.

We are at $2.99 here. In 3 days it went from $3.11 to $3.05 to $2.99.

Then when it was $2.99 I drove past and when I came back 1 hour later it had gone to $2.92.
How are these decisions made and by who?

We are at $2.99 here. In 3 days it went from $3.11 to $3.05 to $2.99.

Then when it was $2.99 I drove past and when I came back 1 hour later it had gone to $2.92.
How are these decisions made and by who?


Hello Ralph,

I could not tell you how these decisions are made. I guess that the oil companies and their distributors can get away with it. And we keep driving....

By the way, I checked the latest gasoline prices in the Netherlands (my home country) and it is $6.18/Gallon.

$2.96/gallon for the regular stuff. Quik Trip. Texas.

South Florida


$3.15 / gallon for regular

:bonk:

3.49 for regular at one station here in northern Ohio

Just got back from putting 4,389 miles on our 2005 Civic EX. We got about 35 mpg.

Here's what we paid for gas around the country:

Date, $/Gal, octane (e) = ethanol blend, location

June 5 $3.119 85 Rawlins, WY
June 6 $3.099 85 Cheyenne, WY
June 6 $3.289 89 (e) North Platte, NE
June 6 $3.199 89 (e) Aurora, NE
June 7 $2.899 87 Oak Grove, MO
June 7 $2.899 87 St. Louis, MO
June 9 $3.099 89 (e) Tuscola, IL
June 10 $3.159 89 (e) Peru, IL
June 13 $2.999 89 (e) Debuque, IA
June 14 $3.099 87 Fond du Lac, WI
June 15 $2.899 89 Blue Earth, MN
June 15 $3.109 89 Kadoka, SD
June 16 $3.239 85 Lusk, WY
June 17 $2.959 85 Casper, WY
June 17 $3.099 85 Little America, WY

$2.69 at Quik Trip-Texas.

We seem to be stuck on $2.85/gal for the past 2 weeks

We seem to be stuck on $2.85/gal for the past 2 weeks

We have been stuck at ~$3.09/gallon for over a month.

I've been traveling alot between Cincinnati & Columbus on weekends.

Recently, it's been funny. It'll be $2.99 in Cincy, and $2.77 in Columbus, and I saw $3.29 in-between in a little town about 1/2 way through...

The last few weeks and yesterday $2.85, this morning $2.77.
I am glad to see it is not higher in Columbus, OH because I am heading that way July 3rd.

$3.03 in sunny Las Vegas

In Kalamazoo (SouthWest) Michigan:

Yesterday (6-27-07) $2.71
Today (6-27-07) $3.19

:nope:

I read this article on yahoo today - http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070716/ne_gas_prices_nebraska.html?.v=1

Any quality systems improvement opportunities?

What do my Fellow Covers think?

Stijloor.


Gas Prices Rise on Refineries’ Record Failures
By JAD MOUAWAD
Published: July 22, 2007
Oil refineries across the country have been plagued by a record number of fires, power failures, leaks, spills and breakdowns this year, causing dozens of them to shut down temporarily or trim production. The disruptions are helping to drive gasoline prices to highs not seen since last summer’s records.

These mechanical breakdowns, which one analyst likened to an “invisible hurricane,” have created a bottleneck in domestic energy supplies, helping to push up gasoline prices 50 cents this year to well above $3 a gallon. A third of the country’s 150 refineries have reported disruptions to their operations since the beginning of the year, a record according to analysts.

There have been blazes at refineries in Louisiana, Texas, Indiana and California, some of them caused by lightning strikes. Plants have suffered power losses that disrupted operations; a midsize refinery in Kansas was flooded by torrential rains last month.

American refiners are running roughly 5 percent below their normal levels at this time of the year.

“You have a system that is taxed to the limit,” said Adam Robinson, an energy research analyst at Lehman Brothers. “This is what happens when spare capacity is eroded.”

After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita disrupted the nation’s energy lifeline two years ago, oil companies delayed maintenance on many of their plants to make up for lost supplies and take advantage of the high prices. But, analysts say, they are now paying a price for deferring repairs.

As a whole, refining disruptions have been considerably higher than in previous years: they averaged 1.5 million barrels a day in the first quarter, compared with 700,000 to 900,000 barrels a day from 2001 to 2005. In the days after the hurricanes, refiners were forced to briefly halt as many as five million barrels of production.

In 2006, when refiners were still reeling from the impact of the hurricanes, disruptions in the first quarter averaged 1.35 million barrels a day.

Many factors have led to the rise in gas prices, including disruptions in oil supplies from places like Nigeria and Norway. But analysts say the refining bottleneck in North America has been one of the main drivers of higher energy prices this year.

The refining crunch has pushed wholesale gasoline prices up 35 percent this year and has contributed to a 23 percent gain for crude oil prices. Oil futures in New York closed at $75.57 a barrel on Friday.

Some critics of the industry have theorized on Internet blogs that the squeeze on gasoline and other refined products points to a deliberate effort among oil companies to bolster profits by keeping supplies tight. But experts point out that the companies have little incentive right now to hold back on fuel supplies.

“Every refinery would like to run as much crude as possible but they simply can’t,” said David Greely, senior energy economist at Goldman Sachs, who in a recent report compared the drop in domestic refining with an “invisible hurricane.” “These are more complex systems. There are more chances for things to go wrong. And when things go wrong, they tend to back up the system.”

Meanwhile, refiners have been scrambling to meet a raft of environmental regulations, phase out toxic additives, add ethanol to the fuel mix and introduce new ultralow sulfur standards for gasoline and diesel. Industry insiders attribute much of the fragility of refining operations to the difficulty of making these cleaner fuels.

Refiners spent $9 billion from 2002 to 2006 to make low sulfur diesel. But producing these cleaner fuels means processing crude oil more intensely through the refining process, at higher pressures and temperatures. This, in turn, leads to more chances for glitches or breakdowns, refiners say.

“It’s a marvel we can continue to run refineries the way we do these days given the many requirements and specification changes we have,” said Charles T. Drevna, executive vice president of the refining industry’s main trade group, the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association. “There comes a time when the piper has got to be paid.”

This year’s problems have raised alarms about the safety of refining operations, especially after a deadly accident at a BP refinery in Texas two years ago that killed 15 workers. The federal Chemical Safety Board issued a highly critical report blaming a broken safety culture at BP. But the board’s chairwoman, Carolyn W. Merritt, who has spoken out about safety problems at refineries, said there was a pattern in many other refinery incidents that the board had investigated.

“There is a lack of investments in modern equipment,” Ms. Merritt said. “The overwhelming preponderance is that if you have inadequate engineering and equipment, poor process safety management, and poor staffing, you’re set up for a catastrophe.”

Ms. Merritt, who was appointed by President Bush and will retire after her five-year term ends in August, also said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not conduct enough inspections. “There is no enforcement,” she said.

OSHA defended its record and said it had inspected almost 500 refineries from 1994 to 2004. The agency also said it would inspect all refineries under its jurisdiction within the next two years. “OSHA inspections of refineries have proven to be effective,” the agency said.

Meanwhile, demand has been rising relentlessly, providing little respite to the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Even as consumers complain loudly about high prices, they show no signs of scaling back. Gasoline consumption reached 9.66 million barrels a day in the first week of July, the second-highest level on record.

“The cushion that used to be available five to seven years ago for these unplanned perturbations is no longer there,” said Jeet Bindra, Chevron’s president of global refining. “When a refinery has a hiccup, there are consequences on supplies.”

Part of the problem, analysts and refiners said, stems from the hurricanes two years ago. In Louisiana and Mississippi, many refineries were flooded, and about a quarter of the nation’s refining capacity was shut for weeks.

“Since refining has become such a wonderful business, refiners have delayed maintenance,” Mr. Robinson said. “But when they do go down, they stay down for longer and they discover all sorts of problems.”

In late March, for example, a fire at a large compressor at a BP refinery in Whiting, Ind., caused a hydrogen-treating unit that removes sulfur from some oil products to shut. That meant BP had to turn off a crude oil unit for early maintenance. Two weeks later, a brief power disruption damaged another distillation tower. And in July, a third crude oil tower was shut briefly so operators could fix a small leak. Since the first incident, the 405,000 barrels-a-day refinery has been running at about half its capacity.

Not all refining disruptions are the result of similar incidents. Refineries typically schedule yearly maintenance that sometimes requires them to halt production entirely. But even these long-scheduled shutdowns can now take longer to complete.

No refineries have been built in the United States in over three decades, because refiners say they are too costly. Instead, they have been expanding their existing refineries.

All this is happening as the industry goes through another golden age. After 20 years in the doldrums, the refining business has never been so good for oil companies. Refining margins — the difference between the price of crude oil and the value of refined gasoline made from it — have shot up as much as $25 a barrel for some types of crude oil, compared with about $5 a barrel just a few years ago.

But with a third summer of high gasoline prices, lawmakers are debating legislation they claim would punish oil companies for exploiting the tight supply situation and engaging in “price gouging.” At the same time, they are pressing refiners to produce more fuel.

“Refiners want to keep running in today’s economic environment,” said Mr. Drevna of the refiners association. “But when they shut down they are accused of gouging the system. When they don’t, they are criticized for overrunning their facilities.”

As the resident "expert" on refinery operations, I thought the article that Stijloor posted is very accurate. It is consistent with my experience with refining and what has caused the current pricing problems. No good business person would want to deliberately stay shut down right now when they can make the most. Those refiners that benefit the most will be the ones who can maintain their equipment in good working order for as long as possible.

As far as safety, refining is an inherently risky business. You are producing volatile products that can be easily go up in flames with static electricity. Besides not wanting people hurt, unsafe practices lead to plant problems and large shutdowns if there is a fire which reduces profit right now.

I would bet there is lots of agony in decision making right now about whether to expand. If you spend millions of dollars and we conserve, then you wasted the investment. On the other hand, if you expand and we use more gasoline in the future then you will make even more profit compared to the others who did not expand.

Thanks for the informative article.

Bill Pflanz

As the resident "expert" on refinery operations, I thought the article that Stijloor posted is very accurate. It is consistent with my experience with refining and what has caused the current pricing problems. No good business person would want to deliberately stay shut down right now when they can make the most. Those refiners that benefit the most will be the ones who can maintain their equipment in good working order for as long as possible.

As far as safety, refining is an inherently risky business. You are producing volatile products that can be easily go up in flames with static electricity. Besides not wanting people hurt, unsafe practices lead to plant problems and large shutdowns if there is a fire which reduces profit right now.

I would bet there is lots of agony in decision making right now about whether to expand. If you spend millions of dollars and we conserve, then you wasted the investment. On the other hand, if you expand and we use more gasoline in the future then you will make even more profit compared to the others who did not expand.

Thanks for the informative article.

Bill Pflanz

A thoughtful commentary, Bill, but I disagree with the conclusion. Even if we conserve, demand and consumption will continue upward. There are huge, unprecedented global changes going on. Given their current record profits, they should invest significantly back into infrastructure. Instead, they spend the profits boosting their stock prices.

If they stay greedy, there are legislative pressures that will simply soak them with taxes. In fact, if the Dems take the White House next year, it will get ugly.

They have a one year window to be responsible corporate citizens. I don't believe they will, and then there will be hell to pay.

I am enough of a pessimist, to believe the oil companies are dragging their feet to continue to keep the supply tight, and drive prices.

It does not make sense not taking advantage of this window of opportunity by investing in infrastructure, but my gut says they are being foolish and trying to milk it.

Even if we conserve, demand and consumption will continue upward. There are huge, unprecedented global changes going on.

True statement for the long term, but I was only talking about short or near term supply and demand issues.

Given their current record profits, they should invest significantly back into infrastructure. Instead, they spend the profits boosting their stock prices.

If they stay greedy, there are legislative pressures that will simply soak them with taxes. In fact, if the Dems take the White House next year, it will get ugly.

They have a one year window to be responsible corporate citizens. I don't believe they will, and then there will be hell to pay.

As quality professionals, we are well aware that corporations do not think long term and unfortunately not always as responsible corporate citizens. Oil executives are not any different than many other executives from other industries e.g. auto execs. If you think taxes will go to solving our energy problem than you better check to see how our Congress works.

I am enough of a pessimist, to believe the oil companies are dragging their feet to continue to keep the supply tight, and drive prices.

It does not make sense not taking advantage of this window of opportunity by investing in infrastructure, but my gut says they are being foolish and trying to milk it.

The term "oil companies" is used quite often as if it was a single entity that determines what actions to take. Oil companies are made up of people, many who want to do the right thing. It is inherently unfair to assume that there is this grand conspiracy that all workers in the industry are part of. It is equivalent to saying that quality professionals are part of a grand conspiracy to continue to make defective products to save money for the company.

Bill Pflanz

True statement for the long term, but I was only talking about short or near term supply and demand issues.



As quality professionals, we are well aware that corporations do not think long term and unfortunately not always as responsible corporate citizens. Oil executives are not any different than many other executives from other industries e.g. auto execs. If you think taxes will go to solving our energy problem than you better check to see how our Congress works.



The term "oil companies" is used quite often as if it was a single entity that determines what actions to take. Oil companies are made up of people, many who want to do the right thing. It is inherently unfair to assume that there is this grand conspiracy that all workers in the industry are part of. It is equivalent to saying that quality professionals are part of a grand conspiracy to continue to make defective products to save money for the company.

Bill Pflanz


My comment was not that the taxes would be used responsibly, merely that the industry, because they are not acting responsibly, can expect the Dems to enact windfall profits and soak the bejeebers out of them. Then they won't have the excess profits to make the investments.

I was not disparaging the armies of workers, because they have no say in making the decisions. However, the oil company executives are making the same foolish decisions they made several decades ago, and thus will likely get soaked with windfall profits taxes again. The Dems simply don't want companies making that much money, and the public will agree to lynch them. Heck, they deserve it.

This year they will soak us, and next year the Dems will soak them...One wishes they would learn.

Ford and GM missed an opportunity to shore up the US steel industry in 1999, when they were having huge profits. They could have bought the industry outright. Instead, over the next few years, they paid as much in steel tariffs as it would have cost to rebuild the infrastructure.

The same exists in oil. We have an opportunty to invest massively in the oil and energy infrastructure, and massive profits to support that. Instead, they spend a little and hoard the rest.

Thus, they will get what they deserve. Greed never ends well.

Ford and GM missed an opportunity to shore up the US steel industry in 1999, when they were having huge profits. They could have bought the industry outright. Instead, over the next few years, they paid as much in steel tariffs as it would have cost to rebuild the infrastructure.


Well, some of the steel industry anyway...unfortunately the part they could have bought would probably only have made things worse for them.

New Gas Pumping Tips (Every penny counts).
This e-mail has been passed around, but it makes Sense
Any comments to verify the methods stated?

I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline....
Here in California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gal..
But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here
are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon.

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we
deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.
One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and
premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity
of 16,800,000 gallons.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the
ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations
have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground
the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so
buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not
exactly a gallon.

In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of
the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum
products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a
big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have
temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a
fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3)
stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on
low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you
are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are
pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank
becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the
underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is
HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you
have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline
evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have
an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between
the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike
service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is
temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact
amount.

Another reminder. If there is a gasoline truck pumping into the
storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely
the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and
you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the
bottom.

Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.

I had to fill up last night and paid $3.30/gallon, which I thought was really cheap.

I am really suprised to see so many people with cheap gas. Maybe I should move?:D