This post has absolutely nothing to do with quality, but I thought it was rather interesting. I received this e-mail today about gasoline prices and how to keep them down.
I don't know if it will work, but it might be worth a shot.
.............................................
This makes more sense than the don't buy gas on a certain day routine that was going around last year Gasoline Prices! Whoever started this has a good point. By now, you're probably thinking gasoline priced at about $1.49 is cheap. Me too, as it is now selling for $1.78 a/gal for regular unleaded!

Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at less than $1.50, we need to try an aggressive response. With the price of gasoline going up more each day, we consumers need to take ACTION!

The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we don't buy it. But, (as the gas companies know full well, and are counting on), that's not really a practical
option since we all have come to rely on our cars. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together.

Here's the idea: For the rest of this year, don't purchase gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), namely EXXON and MOBIL.

You see, if they are not selling, they should be inclined, (i.e., "forced"), to reduce their prices. And, because of their size, and hence market share, if they reduce their
prices the other companies will too. (They would HAVE no choice!). Isn't that a "juicy" prospect? But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of users. But
it's doable!

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

Where are you - what part of the country - and what is gas costing you? I'm in Alabama and I about fell off my bike yesterday when I pulled up to the tank and had to pay $1.64 for a gallon of gas! AAAAGGGHHHH!!! :mg: It cost me $4.53 to fill up my tank!! (obviously my bike, not my F150).

Right now it's $1.59 for regular at Wal-Mart

In lower Detroit, Michigan area gas is ranging from $1.59 (if you are lucky) to $1.70.

I keep hearing reports that gas will be up over $2.00 within months.. :mad:

Cindy

I'm in Alabama and I about fell off my bike yesterday when I pulled up to the tank and had to pay $1.64 for a gallon of gas!
That sounds like a dream come true to me... Try Sweden: I pay roughly $1.15 for a Litre of the stuff. That would be around $4.30 if I got the conversion to gallons right... To make matters worse a major part of the price is... TAX!!!

AAAAGGGHHHH, indeed :mad: Aw, now you got me started...

/Claes

Here is rural PA - $1.69, but my sons in California report $2.21!

Sue

YIKES!!!! Maybe THAT's why all those people over there ride motorcycles instead of cars! OUUUUUCHH!! I can't even imagine.

I pay about $1.80 on Long Island, NY

Mid-Michigan, Saginaw Valley area is bouncing around between $1.65 and $1.75 per gallon.

Its $1.67 here in Northwestern PA BUT one company has the neat idea of pairing their gas pumps with a carwash -- its $1.70 if you don't buy a wash but $1.50 if you do...you can do the math - the cheap carwash is $4.99 so you MIGHT not come out ahead but you do get your car washed for about the same price as you would have paid for gas anywhere else. I recently found out that my 10 year old vehicle is, in fact, dark green in color!!!

1.79 here for the regular unleaded. but, if you don't mind the drive over the state line, you can get it for 1.54. go figure!:mad:

North-central Indiana $1.65 - $1.75 for 87 Octane, and the local News Radio keeps telling me that it could possibly hit $3.00 by years end. So I guess I shouldn't feel badly about just hearing that my contract will come to and end at the end of March and I will no longer have to make this 110 mile round trip.

How blessed can I be: Unemployed = Paying less for gas, and less in taxes.
:biglaugh:

I am paying the equivilant of $11.67 per gallon

and i only drive a 1400 cc car Peugot 106

Hope that doesn't scare you

:eek:

North-central Indiana $1.65 - $1.75 for 87 Octane, and the local News Radio keeps telling me that it could possibly hit $3.00 by years end. So I guess I shouldn't feel badly about just hearing that my contract will come to and end at the end of March and I will no longer have to make this 110 mile round trip.

How blessed can I be: Unemployed = Paying less for gas, and less in taxes.
:biglaugh:
dd,

Sorry to hear of your pending unemployment. A major bummer. And not much in the way of notice! :( I hope there is a severance package.

I hope there is plenty of industry in your area, because your skills should make you highly employable given appropriate openings. Best of luck to you. Between you and Wayne I have once again thanked God for my blessings.

Keep us posted on your search.

News Radio keeps telling me that it could possibly hit $3.00 by years end.

How blessed can I be: Unemployed = Paying less for gas, and less in taxes.
:biglaugh:
Great news huh, just keeps going up and up. The only good thing for me right now is that I am not driving....had a brain hemorrhage at Christmas time, so now the Silverado sits in the drive and gets started once a week. It's been great for my fuel budget, looks like by the time I get my medical release I won't be able to drive it because of the price of gas. :nope:

But still, none of this explains why the prices are so chaotic. Why is gas 20 cents cheaper 18 miles down the road. I am so tired of this crap. Ours is so high because we live in an itty bitty little rural area where gas and diesel are a necessity so they jack the prices up. Don't these folks understand that when the prices vary by that 20 cents, most of us are willing to drive the extra 36 mile round trip? Heck, we can justify it by buying our groceries or other necessities there instead of supporting our hometown merchants. In other words, we have greedy gas station owners who are killing themselves and every other retailer in the county.

OK, off my :soap: Someone else can use it now!

$0.76 per litre Canadian in Niagara Penninsula. That works out to about $2.17 USD per US gallon. You guys are catching up fast. The days of us driving for 1 hour to cross the border at Niagara Falls to gas up are thankfully over.

$0.76 per litre Canadian in Niagara Penninsula. That works out to about $2.17 USD per US gallon. You guys are catching up fast. The days of us driving for 1 hour to cross the border at Niagara Falls to gas up are thankfully over.

Was wondering when someone would do the conversion! :)

In my travelling area (Milton - Cambridge, Ontario):


$0.71 - $0.79/L for regular
$0.81 - $0.89/L for premium


Usually paying around $40 - $45 to fill up my Baby...once a week.

In Central New York the cost is about 1.81-1.85 for the cheap stuff and I am doing 130 miles round trip a day for work which is about $55-$60 bannas a weeks for gas.

Steelmaiden:

We have a convenience store chain in my area and I drive past approximately 6 of their stores on my way into work. There's an eleven cent difference and they're all owned by the same company! Don't know if I can name it on the forum (they're local anyways) but I just cannot understand how the same company sells gas for $1.67 at one location and 1/2 mile down the road they sell it for $1.78!!! And their other stores are priced all over the place!!!

We have a mobil chain where three stations are under the same owner. I have watched his prices over the past three years and the newer the store (or modern) it is, the higher the price. the last older station is at least 10 cents lower, every time. I have also witnessed the fuel truck going from one station to another. That proves he buy's his fuel all at one time, paying the same price per station. I guess the newer stations need more money to pay off the build out..... And they say they have no control over the price of gas :blowup:

Cindy

Back in 1970 I was attending school in a proverbial college town. On Friday afternoons the local stations would lower prices from the through-the-week price of $.34/Gal. to $.25/Gal. in order to better support the students. They typically sold lots of gas on Friday through Sunday afternoon, then the rate went back up to the previous through the week price.

Now I'm living in another college town where today the practice is to raise the price on Thursday evening and keep it elevated till Monday morning. Although we have found a station in a neighboring small community (about 5 miles outside our town) that holds the through the week price even on the weekends (and boy do they do business on the weekends).
:mad:

My boss spent part of last summer in Europe and was just blown away by the prevalence of "maxi scooters" and motorcycles everywhere - but he said gas was $3.50 a GALLON where he was, so no wonder!

What I don't get about the whole gas thing is why the news one day announces OPEC is going to cut production, so yeah, you might expect gas to go up soon - but not THAT SAME #*$&! EVENING! It's gouging ... plain and simple. :mad:

I paid $1.79 yesterday, and drove past $1.84 today. Yesterday I only put in $15 because I was in a hurray, but need more today already.

BTW - Milk at those same places is $2.19, and around $1.69 at a grocery store. And bottle water is around $1.00 for 20 ounces. I used to say - hey, gas is cheaper than milk (and think about all the 1/2 glasses left on the table because the bus was coming....)

Needless to say - I buy cases of water at the local warehouse store for .15, and try not to need a midnight milk run.

Needless to say - I buy cases of water at the local warehouse store for .15, and try not to need a midnight milk run.
What does it cost out of the kitchen tap?

It was $1.59 here yesterday evening. I am not sure what it is today.

What does it cost out of the kitchen tap?


OK smarty pants - that's when I'm home - out of the Fridge actually. But at some of my clients in the city - well, I don't know, but one is near where there was a higher level than normal of brain cancer..... And then there are the weekend wrestling and soccer tournies. I supposed if I were real conservation I could put it in a thermos - but I think you get my drift.

OK smarty pants - that's when I'm home - out of the Fridge actually. But at some of my clients in the city - well, I don't know, but one is near where there was a higher level than normal of brain cancer..... And then there are the weekend wrestling and soccer tournies. I supposed if I were real conservation I could put it in a thermos - but I think you get my drift.
:topic: I get it. Sounds like my wife. BTW, you should look at some of the reports on bottled H2O. Some aren't as good as city water.

Was wondering when someone would do the conversion! :)

In my travelling area (Milton - Cambridge, Ontario):


$0.71 - $0.79/L for regular
$0.81 - $0.89/L for premium


Usually paying around $40 - $45 to fill up my Baby...once a week.

Roxane,

Our prices in rural Queensland are almost the same as your premium price. Regular unleaded is about $0.89/L In Brisbane (the state capital) it is about 0.08c cheaper. In Sydney it is about the same as rural Queensland. Petrol in Australia differs greatly because of the great distances it has to be hauled (similar to Canada?). In central Australia it costs over $1.00.

Greg B

$1.65 for 87
$ 1.47 for diesel

Southern Indiana

My mother would cry if she read this post - she's got an *obsession* with gas prices...
"Better go fill up, Rach, it's 63.5...oh, and call your sister, too."

What gets me is the see-sawing. I mean, I drive a Saturn - not all that expensive, and for a 40-some-odd-litre tank, the difference between 65 cents and 75 cents isn't all that large. A couple of bucks here, a couple there - but then, I don't have a mortgage to worry about...I just don't understand how it could have cost me 63.5 = $19 to fill up about 7/8 of my tank on Tuesday night, but this morning it will cost me 76.5 = $23...

Our prices in rural Queensland are almost the same as your premium price. Regular unleaded is about $0.89/L In Brisbane (the state capital) it is about 0.08c cheaper. In Sydney it is about the same as rural Queensland. Petrol in Australia differs greatly because of the great distances it has to be hauled (similar to Canada?). In central Australia it costs over $1.00.

Where are they hauling the fuel from? The docks? Are there no oil fields in Australia...sorry, just not up to date on my Australian resources. :D

Your theory on the costs being higher in areas where fuel must be transported to makes sense...if only that were the case in Canada.

We have oil fields out West...the pipeline starts there and, if the product is not refined out West, the product flows to several local refineries. Ironically, the most expensive prices are found at these two ends of the pipelines.

Northern Ontario, to where fuel must be transported by truck or barge has cheaper prices (at least in my travels up there). The closer one is to a pipeline end, the more expensive the cost. :confused:

$1.60 - Fort Wayne Indiana last night.

BTW - Milk at those same places is $2.19, and around $1.69 at a grocery store. And bottle water is around $1.00 for 20 ounces. I used to say - hey, gas is cheaper than milk
Lucky you, we are paying 2.79-3.18 for milk, but I can still get a gallon or a 20 oz. water for .79. Bread is 1.79 - 1.89 a loaf, I am going back to making my own! Hamburger was 2.19 the last time I looked at it...and that is all I did, look! I may have to raise my own beef and pork again as much as I hate the fact that it ties you to home and you can't get away for a weekend. Anyone ready to start a commune? :tg:

Gas - 1.52/gal
milk - 1.48/qt
bread - 1.10/loaf

Interesting on the milk variation around the country. I guess gas is cheaper than milk some places.

In NY gas is percentages higher strictly due to NY state taxes. Looking at how it is around the world, maybe its not too bad. Hard to know how the rest of cost-of-living adds up. We sure feel taxed to death up here. I won't officially be making and money until sometime in May I think.

(Hope I didn't head down the political no-no path.)

What I don't get about the whole gas thing is why the news one day announces OPEC is going to cut production, so yeah, you might expect gas to go up soon - but not THAT SAME #*$&! EVENING! It's gouging ... plain and simple.
Hi Everyone,
I missed you, been a little busy lately and they burned my QA flag and shot my horse as I charged up the ISO9K hill. I couldn't resist this one. My dad, who is retired from the oil "bidness", explains it this way:

"As soon as OPEC announces production cuts, the price at the pump goes up because the refiner must immediately begin paying higher market prices for crude and is just passing that on to the end user."

"Then as soon as OPEC announces production increases, the price at the pump should go back down since the refiner is paying lower market prices?" I naively asked.

"Oh no, the high priced crude that was purchased yesterday must be refined, shipped, and pumped into your car, all used up, before you can start paying for the lower priced crude we just started buying," he replies.

WELCOME TO THE OIL BIDNESS! :lol:

I also would wonder if the dealers have an abundance of small fuel efficient cars they want to unload. THey used to publish # of days on dealer lots by car type. Anyone know how that looks right now? Anyone with a SUV and $50/week in gas can almost justify a small car for the communte - keeping the SUV for the soccer games and family trips. $200/month in gas is a payment on a small fuel efficient car.

For all you in the US here is a list of state averages,
http://198.6.95.31/sbsavg.asp

Here is another tool for you from N. America
http://www.gasbuddy.com/

Here is the european
http://www.see-search.com/business/fuelandpetrolpriceseurope.htm
please note that it is pence/litre so convert

Here is a world ranking http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/ene_gas_pri

I usually pay around $1.47/gal or thereabouts. The prices here have gone as high as $1.59 but there are still discount pumps, plus the grocery stores have the 3cents/gallon discount if you have their "loyalty" card. Milk is around $2.89 for cheapest brand but is frequently a weekly loss leader for $2. Store brand bread is 59 or 69 cents.

Petrol: $0.85/Lt
Milk : $0.45/Lt

$1 ~ Rupees 45.20

Petrol: $0.85/Lt
Milk : $0.45/Lt

$1 ~ Rupees 45.20Note:
In my math, I use a rough conversion of 3.8 to multiply the price per liter to equate price per gallon (alternately, of course, to divide price per gallon to equate price per liter.) (the exact conversion is 3.7854118)

Yesterday, March 13, I drove approximately 150 miles through three counties (Cook, DuPage, and Lake), which include and surround Chicago. I saw gas prices for regular unleaded gasoline range from a low of $1.699/gallon to $2.139/gallon. There were some lower prices, but they were part of a required purchase of car wash or cigarettes or some other thing.

There was no apparent consistency in price for brand or community location. In one town, I saw Mobil brand with a $0.15 spread between two stations a mile apart. In Chicago proper, which has the highest combination of special and sales taxes on gasoline in the area, I saw a Shell and a British Petroleum with prices of $1.749/gallon and three hours later in rural Lake County (where the sales and other tax is $0.15 Less per gallon) saw the same brands for $1.799 and $1.849.

Gouging? Maybe it was just a function of the amount of gasoline volume the stations sold. Or the fact that some stations were 24/7 operations while others closed by 8 or 9 pm. I can understand the overhead of maintaining a large multipump station with MiniMart open 24 hours versus overhead of a small 4 pump station which runs only 1-1/2 shifts per day. I further understand that overhead being offset by the high profit from the MiniMart which sells cigarettes by the case and lottery tickets by the bushel.

MILK?!
4 supermarkets within 5 miles of my home have minimum of two brands of milk each; one carries four brands. The store with four brands ranged from $1.69/gallon to $3.29/gallon for whole milk ($3.29 is in glass bottle with additional deposit required.) One gas station MiniMart in town consistently sells whole milk (one brand only) for $2.09/gallon. (Its unleaded regular gas is $1.709/gallon.)

Hi all.

If you want to find the gas price in your area try this site. They have input from volunteer "spotters". http://www.gasbuddy.com

Not too long ago I asked a gas station attendant about the difference in prices. (The gas prices at this particular station were 5 to 10 cents lower per gallon most of the time.) He told me his station gets regular fines from the parent company for charging too little for their gas.

Interesting news story this weekend, our Alabama Guv' is trying to repeal an old state law that prohibited gasoline "price wars," and stopped stations from selling the gas TOO cheap. If it repeals, there is talk gas wars will ensue. BRING IT ON!

Hi Everyone,
I missed you, been a little busy lately and they burned my QA flag and shot my horse as I charged up the ISO9K hill.

hey Icy -- glad to see you back. Stop by more often! :bigwave:

Austria:

Premium 0.853 - 0.951 / L
Normal 0.825 - 0.931 / L
Diesel 0.708 - 0.829 / L

And this is rather cheap for the EC.

Hi Everyone,
I missed you, been a little busy lately and they burned my QA flag and shot my horse as I charged up the ISO9K hill. I couldn't resist this one. My dad, who is retired from the oil "bidness", explains it this way:

"As soon as OPEC announces production cuts, the price at the pump goes up because the refiner must immediately begin paying higher market prices for crude and is just passing that on to the end user."

"Then as soon as OPEC announces production increases, the price at the pump should go back down since the refiner is paying lower market prices?" I naively asked.

"Oh no, the high priced crude that was purchased yesterday must be refined, shipped, and pumped into your car, all used up, before you can start paying for the lower priced crude we just started buying," he replies.

WELCOME TO THE OIL BIDNESS! :lol:

Not to mention that the gas in the ground, at the station, is the same gas that yesterday you paid 1.50/gal for is the same gas that you are paying 1.60/gal today.
As usual, everyone gets a break except the end user.
As another example, Levi's moved all of their manufacturing operations overseas for cheaper labor; did we see a price decrease in the stores? No. In fact the prices have increased.

Not to mention that the gas in the ground, at the station, is the same gas that yesterday you paid 1.50/gal for is the same gas that you are paying 1.60/gal today.
As usual, everyone gets a break except the end user.
As another example, Levi's moved all of their manufacturing operations overseas for cheaper labor; did we see a price decrease in the stores? No. In fact the prices have increased.

Let's see if I understand the current economic scenario in the U.S. today.

Manufacturer's are moving their operations to foreign countries where they have significantly lower overhead, putting U.S. workers either out of work or placing them in a situation where they have only "service" oriented jobs to gain (many of which pay much less than the manufacturing industries where they were previously employed).

Now the manufacturers are importing their products, selling them at the same (or higher) prices than when they were produced in the states.

Now is it me, or does anyone else see a process that could have diminishing returns? Could we not reach a point where the workforce in the U.S. cannot afford to purchase the vary products that they used to make, and the manufacturer is going to have to either significantly lower their profit expectations, find another market for their products, or go out of business?

It really is as simple as: When I made $60,000 a year, I could afford a $30,000+ vehicle; but now that I'm making less than $30,000 a year that vehicle (and most "new" vehicles) are now beyond my financial capability.
:mad:

I don't have the data at hand, but on the drive home I heard that the actual percentage of US jobs "exported" so far is well less than 1% -- I think it was 0.1%. And the median income level drop that is taken as such terrible news has really only dropped due to the influx of immigrants taking low-paying jobs and the median income of the top 90% of workers has actually increased. Therefore, I think the media has made the problem seem worse than reality (I know that is hard to believe).

Does every company represented in the Cove always purge their inventory at the "old" price before a price increase? Or does a price increase sometimes cover inventory as well.

Also, I wonder if the folks who own oil stocks (individually or in a mutual fund, 401(k) etc.) are seeing a major increase in their portfolio value? Let's not forget that corporations are really just groups of people (owners) looking to maximize their profits, the same as us folks in the Cove are trying to do for their employers.

There are 2 (or more) sides to every story.

I don't have the data at hand, but on the drive home I heard that the actual percentage of US jobs "exported" so far is well less than 1% -- I think it was 0.1%. And the median income level drop that is taken as such terrible news has really only dropped due to the influx of immigrants taking low-paying jobs and the median income of the top 90% of workers has actually increased. Therefore, I think the media has made the problem seem worse than reality (I know that is hard to believe).

Does every company represented in the Cove always purge their inventory at the "old" price before a price increase? Or does a price increase sometimes cover inventory as well.

Also, I wonder if the folks who own oil stocks (individually or in a mutual fund, 401(k) etc.) are seeing a major increase in their portfolio value? Let's not forget that corporations are really just groups of people (owners) looking to maximize their profits, the same as us folks in the Cove are trying to do for their employers.

There are 2 (or more) sides to every story.

:topic:
I know that this is off topic, and I don't have nation-wide statistics to support my case, but today the 3rd largest employer (second largest in manufacturing) in Marion, Indiana (Thomson Consumer Electronics) announced the closing of their picture tube assembly plant. All operations are being moved to Mexico.

This is approximately the fifth of our major manufacturers to leave within the past 4 years (most have moved operations to foriegn countries, some just went out of business).

In the past 5 years Marion's population has dropped by about 20% and they currently have only 1 major manufacturing business (GM Body plant) left, with the second major employer being the Marion General Hospital.

In 1977, when I first moved to Marion, we had a thriving and diverse manufacturing base that consisted of suppliers of paper products, automotive products, copper/wiring, electrical components/devices, and probably others that I can't recall at the moment.

And Marion is only one example in a state that has had this as an ongoing concern for several years now. So I really have to question the 1% (and REALLY have to question the .1%) figures.
:argue:

In Adelaide South Australia we pay between $0.89 and $1.00 per litre.
In the rural (desert) areas the price soars to $1.60 and more per litre.
Approx 60% is government revenue.
Despite the fact that we supply enough crude for our own needs, we don't have enough LPG. Therefore we must pay global going rates for petrol.
Obviously we must be using Swedens going rates.

Ah, the global economy.

When I was in the States in '94 my wife commented that US petrol prices were the same as Australia. I then pointed out that in the US it was per gallon, not per litre. So our petrol prices were roughly 4 times what you paid in the US.

Dave,

Whatever happened to the Active Tool stamping plant in Marion (later bought by Tower Automotive)? Did that shut down as well?

I ask because I was Quality Manager for its sister plant in Sebewaing, MI for 10 years, and visited the plant in Marion about twice a year.

Dave,

Whatever happened to the Active Tool stamping plant in Marion (later bought by Tower Automotive)? Did that shut down as well?

I ask because I was Quality Manager for its sister plant in Sebewaing, MI for 10 years, and visited the plant in Marion about twice a year.

Yes, Active Tool went under I think it was about 6 years ago, give or take a little.

It has been accompanied by Foster-Forbes (glass), GenTech (formerly General Tire), Essex Wire (wire & cable), SCM (paper products), Ampad (paper products), Franklin Electric (motors), Thomson Consumer Electronics (TV picture tubes). We have remaining Dana Corp. (reduced in size from over 3000 employees in 1980 to 300+ today), a GM body plant (3000+ employees), and probably less than 30 small (5 - 250 employees) metal working, machine shop, tooling, cardboard, or plastics manufacturers.
:(

Where are you - what part of the country - and what is gas costing you? I'm in Alabama and I about fell off my bike yesterday when I pulled up to the tank and had to pay $1.64 for a gallon of gas! AAAAGGGHHHH!!! :mg: It cost me $4.53 to fill up my tank!! (obviously my bike, not my F150).

This was way back in March. I filled up yesterday at $1.999, and noticed on my way in to work it was up to $2.059. What a difference a couple of months makes.

Hovering between 86.9cents and 89.9cents / liter in my area....but up to $1.02/litre out west in British Columbia I hear.

Just paid $2.08 today in Grand Rapids Michigan. :mad:

South Carolina- 1 week ago=$1.67, today = $1.87

We are up to 1.90 for the cheap stuff in Georgia.

The reason for the high gasoline prices is the same reason that they were $1 a gallon about 4 years ago - supply and demand. I didn't hear anyone complaining about the imbalance back then.

Here is a little history that some may have forgotten or do not know. The oil crisis first hit in 1973 when OPEC was created. Prices quadrupled from about $3 per barrel to $12. The current price is about $38-40 and has increased about 25% this year. Back about 4 years ago the price was about $15-18. If you factor in inflation, the current price is probably still less than 1973 and was a steal just a few years ago. OPEC (specifically Saudia Arabia) has managed the oil prices by controlling the supply side. When they couldn't control the price was during the 1980's when the U.S. and a lot of the rest of world went into a recession and started conserving energy. The price fell to about $18-22 for almost 20 years as the demand for gasoline and fuel fell significantly due to conservation efforts and new non-OPEC supplies. Due to the low demand and the cost of keeping up with new environmental laws on lead usage and air pollution, the oil industry shut down a significant number of refineries during the 1980's and 1990's.

What does all this history have to do with today's prices? Currently U.S. refineries are running at over 95% capacity and I have heard as high as 99%. That is an unsustainable level and means that there is not enough capacity for current demand. New refineries will not be built due to more stringent and costly environmental requirements and business risks if the price would fall sharply again. On the demand side, people are driving more and in less efficient trucks and SUV's. Demand is back up to 1970's levels but the supply side is less than back then. In addition, there is unrest in the Middle East again which always drives prices for crude oil up. Crude oil is also priced in U.S. dollars and with the weakness of the dollar, crude oil has not increase worldwide as much as in the U.S.

If you add it all up, we are where we should be. What will it take to lower prices again? A combination of lower demand, some new refineries (which carries significant business risk and environmental costs, and more stability in the Middle East. Outside of those issues, there is no problem. My prediction is that a combination of all three will occur and oil prices will again stabilize at about $22-25 per barrel. Even Saudi Arabia knows that if crude oil stays too high for a long enough period, the supply will increase through OPEC cheating, non-OPEC sources or new sources and their volume and price will decrease just like it did in the 80's. If people start conserving again, then the decrease can occur without the other supply changes.

I believe history will repeat itself.

Bill Pflanz
(ex-oil industry analyst)

I just paid 2.09/gal a few days ago. In Mass (About 30 miles away) I can find it for $1.61/gal. A few town over from me, about $1.80/gal.

Here in the UK I have just filled up with unleaded petrol at £0.80 per litre. If my sums are right that is equivalent to about $6.50 per gallon!! What price does fuel need to go up to before ot affects how much we use? When would we all start using our bicycles?
Out of interest, how economical are your cars? My latest one is doing about 40 miles per gallon.

Southern Indiana I paid $1.95 for regular this morning, but the output by OPEC is supposed to go up by 1.5 million barrels per day at the next meeting. I have parked my truck and am driving my Mustang. If it goes any higher I may start riding my horse. The high gas prices will cause a major impact on the economy if they do not get a solution. What happened to all the alternative fuels?

Just paid $2.05 this morning for regular. I've seen it as high as $2.15 in Troy. I get around 30 mpg in the city but it still hurts the wallet. Really considering (or using the excuse) getting a new motorcycle - Kawasaki Vulcan 2000. It would help this summer but not much help in the winter!

Here in the UK I have just filled up with unleaded petrol at £0.80 per litre. If my sums are right that is equivalent to about $6.50 per gallon!! What price does fuel need to go up to before ot affects how much we use? When would we all start using our bicycles?
Out of interest, how economical are your cars? My latest one is doing about 40 miles per gallon.Not a lot of fun here either: The very best price I can find for 95 octane is $5.15 per gallon.

I already use the car only when I have to, so a higher price will not make me drive any less. Lots of miles on my bike.

/Claes

SE Michigan is $2.05, Toledo Ohio (about 45 miles south) is around $1.69.

When you consider that there is as much and more light crude now than last year you can readily see who's to blame for the price. it's not OPEC as you would first assume. Actualy it's the refiners right here in the good Ole USA.

With Exxon and the likes posting 63% and higher profits, it becomes obvious that they are doing quite well in spite of the increase in costs to them. They not only pass it along to us, they bump it up to just make sure.

Several articals can be found on the web about this.


The Consumer Federation of American and Consumers Union urged federal and state authorities to investigate the business practices of the major oil companies and help bring down energy prices.

Wells lets see Monday Morning it was 1.98 Monday afternoon it was 2.01, Tuesday morning it was 2.03, Tuesday afternoon it was 2.05, Wednesday Morning it was 2.07, apparently the Gas sations are buying gas twice a day?????

SE Michigan is $2.05, Toledo Ohio (about 45 miles south) is around $1.69.

When you consider that there is as much and more light crude now than last year you can readily see who's to blame for the price. it's not OPEC as you would first assume. Actualy it's the refiners right here in the good Ole USA.

With Exxon and the likes posting 63% and higher profits, it becomes obvious that they are doing quite well in spite of the increase in costs to them. They not only pass it along to us, they bump it up to just make sure.

Several articals can be found on the web about this.Excuse the inadvertent pun in advance, but discussing the reasons behind high gasoline prices can be inflammatory!

In my town (about halfway between Chicago and the Illinois/Wisconsin border) we have
2 Mobil stations (price disparity about 12 cents per gallon on each grade of gas - both open 24 hours - cheaper one has car wash.)
2 Citgo stations (price disparity about 1 cent per gallon on each grade of gas - both open 24 hours - more expensive one has car wash.)
2 Marathon stations (price disparity about 12 cents per gallon on each grade of gas - one open 24 hours is lowest - the more expensive one is only "service" station in town with mechanics.)
1 British Petroleum station (open 24 hours, directly across street from most expensive Citgo, it is consistently 10 cents higher per grade than the Citgo.)

The next town over has similar disparity between brands, but each comparable type is about two cents/gallon lower than our town, so that the highest and lowest price in their town is still two cents less than ours - each town has EXACTLY the same sales tax structure.

Monday, the average price jump per station was 11 cents/gallon from a low at 7:00 am to a high at 4:00 pm.

My cousin manages operations for a big, independent fuel tank farm which collects and stores fuel from pipelines and barges (several different refineries) for redistribution via tanker truck. He claims different brand trucks fill from the same spigot. My cousin stores diesel, kerosene, some heavy oils besides 87 octane and 95 octane - middle grade is blended at station pump.

His tanks are always full - no shortages.

Oh yeah - one other thing: the Hummer (less than 10 mpg) dealer in our town is selling about three a week off his lot and the pace doesn't seem to slow because I see different ones every week as I pass by a row of 15 in the lot facing the street. By the way - ALL the public roads and most of the private drives in our county are paved and get excellent snowplowing every winter.

Wells lets see Monday Morning it was 1.98 Monday afternoon it was 2.01, Tuesday morning it was 2.03, Tuesday afternoon it was 2.05, Wednesday Morning it was 2.07, apparently the Gas sations are buying gas twice a day????? :mad:


Nope, just new price.

Imagine if any other industry did this.

Milk, bread, and any other food staple, even my beloved twinkies.

Milk, bread, and any other food staple, even my beloved twinkies.

Ahhh...but they are going up....apparently ice cream will be up about 20% this year due the higher costs of milk, eggs and chocolate.

And if gas prices stay at this rate or continue to rise, eventually everything else will, as well. Companies will do what they can to keep their prices down, cut costs and corners, but evenutally, the high price of fuel will result in their raising of prices, too.

Saw the price last night downtown at 1.79, NW PA.

Eastern North Carolina $1.84 per gallon

Oh yeah - one other thing: the Hummer (less than 10 mpg) dealer in our town is selling about three a week off his lot and the pace doesn't seem to slow because I see different ones every week as I pass by a row of 15 in the lot facing the street. By the way - ALL the public roads and most of the private drives in our county are paved and get excellent snowplowing every winter.

See, this is what I don't get...after everything that we know about emissions and climate change and all of that, *and* with all of the whining people do about gas prices, why do people *continue* to buy guzzlers? I just don't get it. There was a woman on the news last week who was complaining about how she puts about $23 worth of gas in her tank and it gets her from Toronto to Milton (for those of you who aren't local - that's about a 20-minute highway drive at, let's say, 120km/h) before she has to fill up again.

My beef - she's b!tching about the price of gas, and how much she has to pay, yet she drives a LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. I mean, come on, really...that's like moving in next to Santa Claus and then complaining that it's cold outside. You bought the **** house, now deal with it...

Wells lets see Monday Morning it was 1.98 Monday afternoon it was 2.01, Tuesday morning it was 2.03, Tuesday afternoon it was 2.05, Wednesday Morning it was 2.07, apparently the Gas sations are buying gas twice a day?????

I had a friend who managed a station for a major oil company on a busy business strip up here. . . she said that pricing at the local level was just a big game. . . every morning someone from each station would drive around and see where the prices were and they would set theirs by that means. . . this went on every day.

And if gas prices stay at this rate or continue to rise, eventually everything else will, as well. Companies will do what they can to keep their prices down, cut costs and corners, but evenutally, the high price of fuel will result in their raising of prices, too.

Let's see here. . . if costs go up. . . you charge more. . . Hmmmm anybody try to raise the prices to the Big 3 when your uncontrollable costs went up?? Hmmmm?

Let's see here. . . if costs go up. . . you charge more. . . Hmmmm anybody try to raise the prices to the Big 3 when your uncontrollable costs went up?? Hmmmm?

Okay...so my use of the word "everything" was a bit too all-encompassing. I do admit to hearing, however, that grocery stores are already forewarning us of higher prices to offset their transportation costs as are some clothing retailers.

I had to share this with you guys. I pulled it from cnn.com. A gas station in California posted this sign.

I can't do anything about the cost of fuel but I can control how much I use. Over the weekend I bought a new Toyota Prius - a gas-electric hybrid. I still have to pay as much but a full tank takes me three time further.

Graeme

Oklahoma $1.859.
I too purchased an alternate ride: Yamaha Royal Star Venture, 48mpg

Sam! Ride on, my man! Happy to have you join our ranks as a biker/commuter. Ride safe and keep an eye out for the morons with cell phones. I've been riding two years and 99.9% of my "close encounters of the IDIOT kind" have been drivers with a phone to their ear. What in the WORLD is so CRITICALLY important in everyone's life that they must get on the phone and talk about it RIGHT NOW? :mad:

Sam! Ride on, my man! Happy to have you join our ranks as a biker/commuter. Ride safe and keep an eye out for the morons with cell phones. I've been riding two years and 99.9% of my "close encounters of the IDIOT kind" have been drivers with a phone to their ear. What in the WORLD is so CRITICALLY important in everyone's life that they must get on the phone and talk about it RIGHT NOW? :mad:

Don't feel bad Steel, this morning 99% of my close calls were women with cell phones not paying attention to where they were going, or deciding when to turn. And I was driving a Chrysler Town & Country Van :mad:

I too purchased an alternate ride: Yamaha Royal Star Venture, 48mpg Way ahead of you... I ride a two wheeler too. I'm not quite sure however, how far a gallon of sweat will take me?

Ride safe and keep an eye out for the morons with cell phones. I've been riding two years and 99.9% of my "close encounters of the IDIOT kind" have been drivers with a phone to their ear.Amen to that... and if they're late for work the danger increases tenfold...:yes:

/Claes

Gas prices are not the worst of it.....although it is a big part, but there are other concerns.....

Drivers with phones to their ears (m and f), peabrains that want to do 55 in the #1 or #2 lane when other lanes are doing 80, no signals, putting on make-up, reading (paper, novel, etc.), and W-A-Y-Y-Y-Y too many doing some combination of the above. The worst is the one who is on the cell AND putting on make-up (either m or f, it is CA after all). Let's see, have I forgotten anyone?

And travel here.....distance is measured in time, not mileage or KM......and depends on a few variables.....

Where you are, where you want to get to, what day it is, what time of day it is, what freeway(s) you have to take, what part of the freeway you are on, what lane you are in, if there is rain, if it is fire season, if there is a sig alert (unplanned lane closure of 30 minutes or more, called by the Highway Patrol), if CalTrans is working....I think that is pretty much it. Anyone care to try Measurement Uncertainty calcs here?

Hershal

I can't do anything about the cost of fuel but I can control how much I use. Over the weekend I bought a new Toyota Prius - a gas-electric hybrid. I still have to pay as much but a full tank takes me three time further. Graeme

Actually what you have done will do something about the cost of fuel - it will just take more like you and time. If the number of gas-electric hybrids sold reduced the demand of gasoline even by 5%, the price of crude oil and gasoline would decline significantly.

I did the same thing back in 1980 when I got rid of my 12 miles per gallon sports car and bought my first Japanese car - a Toyota. After peaking at $32 per barrel in 1981, the price of crude fell consistently until 1986 when it dropped about $10 per barrel in one year due to the steady improvement of gas mileage in cars and the recession brought on by the high cost of fuel.

The added bonus of buying the Toyota was the quality of it. I believe the PBS show (If Japan Can, Why Can't We) that started the re-birth of quality and made Deming well known occurred in 1980 also.

If I had not just bought a new truck (18 miles per gallon), I would probably shop for better mileage myself.

Thanks for doing your part.

Bill Pflanz

If it is any consolation to our American friends, the Gas price seems to be relatively cheaper in the United States compared Ontario, Canada. :nopity: From What Iam seeing from various postings here and watching US Channels, the average seems to be US$2.00/US Gallon. Here we are paying from 89cents/Litre to 95Cents/Litre. (Occassionaly, $1/litre in Toronto, Montreal). US Gallon= Litre*3.785, USD=CDN$*1.3913. This comes to US$ 2.50/Gallon. :mg:

This is getting very crazy. Nevertheless, people have not changed their routine.
Local TV channels are speculating that Canadian threshold as $1.30/Litre
(US$3.53/Gallon) to really start to panic and park the car at home.

How about you guys? Any threshold in mind? :nope: At what price you would dust your bicycle and pedal to office?

Govind.

At what price you would dust your bicycle and pedal to office?
I'm already well past that treshold. I drive when I have to, and pedal for the rest of the time.

I remember when people said that the pain barrier would be at about half the current price. It's fascinating in a way to see how everyone gets used to a higher and higher price for petrol due to the way it's done: small but pretty frequent increases....

(Or in other words: the fine art of boiling a frog - If you throw it into hot water it jumps straight out, but if the water is luke warm, the frog likes it and stays. You can then slowly increase the temperature, and finally the frog is boiled. )

I suspect that the true barrier is to be found where we no longer have the money to pay for the stuff.

/Claes

I'm already well past that treshold. I drive when I have to, and pedal for the rest of the time.

I remember when people said that the pain barrier would be at about half the current price. It's fascinating in a way to see how everyone gets used to a higher and higher price for petrol due to the way it's done: small but pretty frequent increases....

(Or in other words: the fine art of boiling a frog - If you throw it into hot water it jumps straight out, but if the water is luke warm, the frog likes it and stays. You can then slowly increase the temperature, and finally the frog is boiled. )

I suspect that the true barrier is to be found where we no longer have the money to pay for the stuff.

/ClaesThe one stress point I am seeing very recently is news reports of a spate of "driveoffs" (driver fills tank at self-serve pump, then leaves without paying.) Many SUVs have 25 gallon or larger fuel tanks. At $2.159 (this morning's price at Citgo.) That can blow a station's profit on the next 10 or 20 cars.

Station response has been universal to program pumps to only allow pre-pay via cash to cashier or using a credit card. Until recently, this was done only on the night shift. Now, every station in my area has the pre-pay system in effect 24 hours/day.

The one stress point I am seeing very recently is news reports of a spate of "driveoffs" You are right, that is a very good (and sad) indicator...

How about you guys? Any threshold in mind? :nope: At what price you would dust your bicycle and pedal to office?

I heard on my drive in that some stations in the north part of Toronto were selling gas at 0.72/L....quite the bargain now!

As for dusting off my bike, that's a great idea...if I worked just around the corner. Right now my commute to work is over 40km via hilly backroads - it would be even longer (yet probably faster) if I took the 401 (major highway in the area for those who don't know).

That guy who made the locals news for not paying when the prices first jumped apparently used to own a gas station! His son paid the $5 he owed to the gas station and I think everything's been dropped now.

(Or in other words: the fine art of boiling a frog - If you throw it into hot water it jumps straight out, but if the water is luke warm, the frog likes it and stays. You can then slowly increase the temperature, and finally the frog is boiled. )


/Claes


reminds me of a joke:



A scientist decides to test a hypothesis of his.

He sets a frog on a table top and shouts jump, the frog, startled, jumps.

He takes a sharp knife and cuts a leg off, :mg: he shouts jump, the frog kind of flops. The scientist scribbles some notes.

He takes the knife again, and cuts another leg off. He shouts jump :mg: , the frog struggles a bit more, but manges to flop. The scientist scribbles some notes.

He takes the knife again, and cuts another leg off. He shouts jump :mg: , the frog struggles even more, but manges to flop. The scientist scribbles some notes.

He cuts the last leg off and shouts jump. The frog doesn't move :confused: . The scientist shouts louder JUMP! Still the frog doesn't move :confused: .

The scientist thereby concludes:




As you cut off a frogs legs it will eventualy grow deaf. :bonk: :lol:

Oklahoma $1.859.
I too purchased an alternate ride: Yamaha Royal Star Venture, 48mpg
Sam - I thought of that as well, but was vetoed by the wife. Besides, the traffic around Atlanta really stinks! (AJC 2004-05-18 (http://www.ajc.com/tuesday/content/epaper/editions/tuesday/metro_049a4aaee11ce146000d.html) - link expires after 5-24)

SteelWoman, one accessory I found useful the last time I had a bike (several decades ago) was a hand-operated boat horn - a can of pressurized air with a LOUD horn and a trigger - mounted in a convient location. A blast of that will move most 4-wheelers two or three lanes out of your way. As for anything bigger, well, the "law of gross tonnage" takes precedence.

Semper Fi,

The one stress point I am seeing very recently is news reports of a spate of "driveoffs" (driver fills tank at self-serve pump, then leaves without paying.) Some states (I know of Georgia and South Carolina) have a law that conviction of a drive-off carries a 6 to 12 month revocation (not just suspension) of the drivers permit along with restitution and fines. Many stations have video systems to capture the auto license plates.

GCP

Sam - I thought of that as well, but was vetoed by the wife. Besides, the traffic around Atlanta really stinks! (AJC 2004-05-18 (http://www.ajc.com/tuesday/content/epaper/editions/tuesday/metro_049a4aaee11ce146000d.html) - link expires after 5-24)

SteelWoman, one accessory I found useful the last time I had a bike (several decades ago) was a hand-operated boat horn - a can of pressurized air with a LOUD horn and a trigger - mounted in a convient location. A blast of that will move most 4-wheelers two or three lanes out of your way. As for anything bigger, well, the "law of gross tonnage" takes precedence.

Semper Fi,

Graeme,
I think Yamaha may have stole your idea for the horn. The Venture sounds like a fog horn.

Some states (I know of Georgia and South Carolina) have a law that conviction of a drive-off carries a 6 to 12 month revocation (not just suspension) of the drivers permit along with restitution and fines. Many stations have video systems to capture the auto license plates.

GCP

Oklahoma is 12 months revocation,PLUS it also carries a felony conviction.

Graeme,
I think Yamaha may have stole your idea for the horn. The Venture sounds like a fog horn.

Keep your horns - I want a handlebar mounted Uzzi.
:D

Photon Torpedoes work better.

Photon Torpedoes work better.

Granted, but they're harder to come by. I live in Alabama, guns are handed out with birth certificates.

I grew up in AL.....and you are right.....I remember it was normal to go outside of HS during lunch and every pick-up had loaded shotguns in the rear window.

I'll have to see if Star Fleet can hook you up..... :D

Hershal

I remember it was normal to go outside of HS during lunch and every pick-up had loaded shotguns in the rear window.



You mean pickups in the REST of the country DON'T?! Heathens...

Well, not everyone is civilised.....

I paid $1.75 today (July 7) for gasoline - Northwestern PA - this is GOOD NEWS!!!

My husband paid $1.58 yesterday in central Georgia.

My husband paid $1.58 yesterday in central Georgia.

That is great - I paid $1.76 in West Michigan yesterday.

That is great - I paid $1.76 in West Michigan yesterday.I can remember collecting 13 soda bottles (two six-packs plus one) for the 2 cents each they got as deposit returns to get enough money to buy one gallon of 100 octane for my motorbike in the 50s. Cigarettes were the same price - 26 cents.

Wes, I used to do the same thing, only it was to go to the Saturday Afternoon movie theater..25 cents, the 50's was a good time to grow up. :yes:

Wes, I used to do the same thing, only it was to go to the Saturday Afternoon movie theater..25 cents, the 50's was a good time to grow up. :yes:We had the Acadia theater a five minute walk from the house: double feature of "B" movies, five cartoons, one episode of a "cliff hanger" serial - all for 25 cents, including a small box of popcorn.

Of course, I could always pay 26 cents roundtrip and take a bus to my grandfather's movie theater (the Boulevard) where I got in free, got free popcorn and candy and got to watch the movies from the projection booth.

Last week, my wife and I went to our local movie theater to see "Spiderman."

We got in for senior matinee rate of $1.00 each. Popcorn was $5.00 for "medium" bucket; $2.00 for Dots.

Best part of the movie: When all the little kids in the audience went "Eeew!" at the kissing scene (Priceless!)

That is great - I paid $1.76 in West Michigan yesterday.

I paid $1.55 yesterday, & for the last 2 weeks it has been $1.56.

My comments from back in May on gasoline prices still ring true. More than problems in the Middle East, I think the largest risk for higher gasoline prices is a major disruption in refinery capacity. I wished I had documented it here but I have been predicting $1.50 gasoline for months. Of course a 3 week shutdown at a major refinery on the Gulf Coast could send the prices right back up to $2.

Short term, high gasoline prices are painful but if gasoline was over $2.50 for a sustained period (maybe a year) then demand will be reduced. When prices sky-rocketed in the late 1970's and early 1980's, it took a few years before the bottom fell out of crude oil pricing but the next 20 years brought relatively low gasoline prices. Unfortunately it also brought back gas guzzling cars although not as bad as the 10-12 miles per gallon from Wes's good ol' days of low gasoline prices.

With inflation and better fuel mileage factored in, gasoline is still a great price. By the way, Federal and State taxes are 44 cents per gallon in Ohio and another 2 cents was added this week for road improvements.

Bill Pflanz

The reason for the high gasoline prices is the same reason that they were $1 a gallon about 4 years ago - supply and demand. I didn't hear anyone complaining about the imbalance back then.

Here is a little history that some may have forgotten or do not know. The oil crisis first hit in 1973 when OPEC was created. Prices quadrupled from about $3 per barrel to $12. The current price is about $38-40 and has increased about 25% this year. Back about 4 years ago the price was about $15-18. If you factor in inflation, the current price is probably still less than 1973 and was a steal just a few years ago. OPEC (specifically Saudia Arabia) has managed the oil prices by controlling the supply side. When they couldn't control the price was during the 1980's when the U.S. and a lot of the rest of world went into a recession and started conserving energy. The price fell to about $18-22 for almost 20 years as the demand for gasoline and fuel fell significantly due to conservation efforts and new non-OPEC supplies. Due to the low demand and the cost of keeping up with new environmental laws on lead usage and air pollution, the oil industry shut down a significant number of refineries during the 1980's and 1990's.

What does all this history have to do with today's prices? Currently U.S. refineries are running at over 95% capacity and I have heard as high as 99%. That is an unsustainable level and means that there is not enough capacity for current demand. New refineries will not be built due to more stringent and costly environmental requirements and business risks if the price would fall sharply again. On the demand side, people are driving more and in less efficient trucks and SUV's. Demand is back up to 1970's levels but the supply side is less than back then. In addition, there is unrest in the Middle East again which always drives prices for crude oil up. Crude oil is also priced in U.S. dollars and with the weakness of the dollar, crude oil has not increase worldwide as much as in the U.S.

If you add it all up, we are where we should be. What will it take to lower prices again? A combination of lower demand, some new refineries (which carries significant business risk and environmental costs, and more stability in the Middle East. Outside of those issues, there is no problem. My prediction is that a combination of all three will occur and oil prices will again stabilize at about $22-25 per barrel. Even Saudi Arabia knows that if crude oil stays too high for a long enough period, the supply will increase through OPEC cheating, non-OPEC sources or new sources and their volume and price will decrease just like it did in the 80's. If people start conserving again, then the decrease can occur without the other supply changes.

I believe history will repeat itself.

Bill Pflanz
(ex-oil industry analyst)

Petrol in Melbourne, Australia is sitting just below $A1.00/litre. I think that works out at $US2.60/gallon :S We are still a lot cheaper than Europe though.
Also, the state of Victoria has had below average rainfall for over eight years straight. Our water storages are just over half full (even though we've been getting good winter rain) which has led to water restrictions and reduced stock capacity on farms. Add this to the farmers also paying increased fuel prices and milk, bread, meat, fruit and vegetables are hitting record high prices.
It may be the lucky country but I'm sure there are plenty of people who aren't feeling so lucky.

In Manchester ENGLAND I currently pay 0.82 pence per litre which at this time is $1.5 (us)

Petrol: $0.85/Lt
Milk : $0.45/Lt

$1 ~ Rupees 45.20
That was March.
Today:
Petrol~ $0.90/Lt
$1 ~ Rupees 45.75

Just done a quick conversio.

Paying $6.84 per gallon here in the UK.

I fly to Florida this saturday to do the usual 'theme park thing' for a couple of weeks, so interested in the price over there. :D

Northeast South Carolina $1.75-$1.79,
Going to southeast Ohio next week, what is it there?

Northeast South Carolina $1.75-$1.79,
Going to southeast Ohio next week, what is it there?

Lots of variation should be expected. I routinely go from Columbus through Lancaster and into the Hocking Hill area. There can be 20 cents per gallon differences in a 50 mile stretch of road. There is no obvious pattern either with it being lower in Columbus at times and at other times it is lower in the southeast.

I gamble on when and where to fill the tank. This week, Columbus gasoline spiked 20 cents to $1.95. Last week both areas were at $1.73. A couple of weeks ago it was at $1.55.

Bill Pflanz

Im in Colombia, Southamerica.

We are paying in average:

Regular: 1,88
Premiun: 2,44

Just done a quick conversio.

Paying $6.84 per gallon here in the UK.

I fly to Florida this saturday to do the usual 'theme park thing' for a couple of weeks, so interested in the price over there. :D

:mg:

This shines a bright light on the claim that we Americans are spoiled brats where gas prices are concerned.

But we also travel an average of (do I remember this right?) 20 minutes each way to work. I have routinely driven 1 1/2 hours to a college class. It's not possible to ride a bike or even carpool many times, as we are often so distant from classmates and coworkers.

My vote is in for higher mileage requirements in cars and SUVs, though. :whip:

Still around 2.07 here in Roch NY. I use 93 octane in my Firebird and paid 2.27 this AM.

Having read all the comments in this thread, I felt compelled to put in my pennys worth.
I have lived in the UK for 30 years and have now spent the last year in Ontario so I have a good view of (almost) the highest and (almost) the lowest prices.

It seems to me that the North Americans are obsessed by petrol powered everythings....
lawn mowers, snowblowers, weed eaters, bikes, atvs, etc etc etc so the gas thing relates not only to cars but to all forms of motorised activities.
This is because fuel was always cheap for the continent.
Europe has never had this luxury, therefore we have alternatives (electric mowers, shovels for snow, walking rather than motorized outdoor activities, push bikes and small engines)
and fuel consumption is important to the europeans, not horsepower or engine size.

In response to some comments about the distance and time for commuting making it impossible to use alternative transport, my partner used to commute 25 miles, in heavy traffic, on his motorbike, day in, day out.
I used to do 25 miles on hilly back roads in my 1400cc car.
Many people commute for an hour in the UK and a 2 litre car is a large vehicle for the UK.

Sorry guys, its time for the US and Canada to start having to take life a little differently.

Be grateful for what you have had and embrace the new possibilities - little cars, motorbikes and sheep to mow the lawn.

:D

In NW corner of Ohio, it is ranging from $1.64 to 1.84 for regular within a 50 mile radius.

Jonell

Hi All,

I posted here a while back but since then work has given me a fuel credit card :D so I no longer bother to watch the gauge. :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
I did ask around and found it is still hovering at about 0.97c per litre even though the Australian Dollar has risen against the greenback. The fuel companies are quick to instill a rise every time the crude barrel price increase but reluctant to reduce it when either the crude price reduces or the aussie dollar increase. :mad:

Greg B

Hi All,

I posted here a while back but since then work has given me a fuel credit card :D so I no longer bother to watch the gauge. :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
I did ask around and found it is still hovering at about 0.97c per litre even though the Australian Dollar has risen against the greenback. The fuel companies are quick to instill a rise every time the crude barrel price increase but reluctant to reduce it when either the crude price reduces or the aussie dollar increase. :mad:

Greg BJust drove back from an ASQ Section executive committee meeting. Gas at 6 stations along the route went up an average of 9 cents/gallon between 5:30 pm and 9:45 pm. Price range at 9:45 pm CDT July 8 was $1.999 -$2.069/gal.
Wes Bucey

I filled up last night for $1.66 in Southaven, MS (NW corner of the state).

I am so glad that my 4 door Honda Accord gets 30 miles/gallon WITH the A/C on :D .

The following article does not directly involve gasoline prices but I thought it says a lot about how we expect everything and whine when we don't get it. The author should have added use of energy also. I am sorry but I did not keep the author's name so I am not sure of the source.

"Boomers have gotten our way ever since we arrived in this world, and the onset of gray hair, bifocals, and arthritis is not going to moderate our unswerving self-indulgence. We are the same people, after all, who forced the lowering of the drinking age when we were young, so we could drink, and forced it back up when we got older, so our kids couldn't. On top of that, we're used to the best of everything, and plenty of it. We weren't dubbed the Me Generation because we neglect our own needs, Junior. If politicians think the current geezers are greedy, they ain't seen nothin' yet.

But responsible middle-aged sorts may yet be brought to their senses when they realize that their usual impulse to get all they can will sooner or later collide with another boomer obsession: the insatiable desire to furnish our kids with every advantage known to humanity. Load Social Security with more obligations than it can bear, and our precious offspring will be squashed under the weight. To fund all the obligations of the Social Security system, payroll taxes will have to more than double by 2040—on top of whatever it costs to buy all those prescription drugs. At that point, our children will realize the trick we've pulled and start to hate our guts. That would be a cruel blow to a generation that thinks of itself as the most wonderful parents in history.

To avoid that fate, boomers need to recognize the need to stop writing checks that today's youngsters will have to cash. With the eager help of our own parents, we've created an entitlement that is fast becoming unaffordable. To bring Social Security into conformity with reality, we'll have to resign ourselves to a higher retirement age reflecting our prospective vigor and life expectancy. We'll have to accept more stringent controls on Medicare spending and take more responsibility for our own medical needs. We'll have to abandon our assumption that the point of the health-care system is to keep each of us alive forever. At some point—don't worry, not anytime soon—we will have to embrace a duty to stop functioning as a fiscal burden on our children and start serving as a nutritional resource for worms."

Source unknown

Thank you Bill - that is an eloquent way of versing my thoughts.

:o

As to gas prices,

Currently $1.83. will probably go up a dime before the formal weekend starts at 5:00 pm.

As to the other comments, too political for me!:mg:

Al...

I'm to lazy to do all the conversions, so I'll give it to you in the CND way...
Gas price around 80 cents/litre....figure it out yourself what that is in gallons and in US$. I'm pretty sure that its more that the Americans are paying.

My Aunt just came back from Holland, and she said they pay well over $2 US for gas....i'm assuming thats in per gallon

Mobil station in Yokohama, Japan

4.311 USD/gal

I apologise profusely in advance but I just have to get this off my chest…. :truce:

The fluctuations in price of petrol in Canada are ridiculous….Im presuming the fluctuations exist in the USA aswell but I have no knowledge/evidence.
Anyway, listen to this little tale and you’ll understand what Im talking about

Early May 2004 petrol sat at about 75c per litre in the town I live in (Stayner, Ontario).
In the following week, it crept up until May 22nd when it was about 90c a litre. That weekend of course, is Victoria Day and everyone gets on the road so I can see why someone (garage owners? Governement? Oil barons?) wants to get a bit of extra profit from the poor unsuspecting travellers.
Within three weeks, the price had plummeted back down to 75c a litre and it has held around there since then.

This morning, image my horror when I see that, overnight, the price has gone from 73.5 to 82.9c per litre. :mg:

What on earth is going on?
How can it possibly change that much?

If the price of fuel changed by 5p overnight in the UK, there would be uproar…..in fact, its probably unlikely that the price has changed by that much in the past year…let alone day!
And we all just accept it?
:mad:

Come one people…..we’re being seriously ripped off…..with all the clever bods in this forum, we should be able to come up with a plan to try and impact this?
Anyone game enough to start the suggestions rolling?

Come one people…..we’re being seriously ripped off…..with all the clever bods in this forum, we should be able to come up with a plan to try and impact this?
Anyone game enough to start the suggestions rolling?
If it weren't for the fact that commercial use is greater than private consumption, I would suggest we give up driving for one day a week.

If it weren't for the fact that commercial use is greater than private consumption, I would suggest we give up driving for one day a week.

I do work with one chap who doesnt drive, he cycles daily plus I suspect he cycles a derned sight further than most of the people who drive!

I, of course, have an excuse, cos I live 20 kms from work :lol:

Seriously though, if enough people did it, it would have an effect.The other option is to push car pooling.
We had a refinery strike in the UK in about 2000 and that forced a lot of us to team up as we only had so much fuel availability. Its a great way to make friends too :o

In Melbourne the price generally jumps about $A0.10 every Thursday evening (in time for the weekend) and slowly drops back most of the ten cents over the next week. This weekly cycle has been going on for years and rarely changes with the main exceptions being predictable (the price jumps on Wednesday evening before Easter). I get around it by trying to buy petrol on Wednesday or Thursday but it is really annoying if I forget! We all moan and complain about it but the big chains of petrol stations just shrug and carry on.

I have received a few emails recently encouraging people to boycott the biggest petrol station chains to try to bring the prices down. Sounds good but when you look at these emails closely, each one targets different chains and the cynic in me says they were probably started by one of the big chains.

Is it just me or are the governments we elect becoming irrelevant when global companies do what they want.....
:soap:

In Melbourne the price generally jumps about $A0.10 every Thursday evening (in time for the weekend) and slowly drops back most of the ten cents over the next week. This weekly cycle has been going on for years and rarely changes with the main exceptions being predictable (the price jumps on Wednesday evening before Easter). I get around it by trying to buy petrol on Wednesday or Thursday but it is really annoying if I forget! We all moan and complain about it but the big chains of petrol stations just shrug and carry on.

I have received a few emails recently encouraging people to boycott the biggest petrol station chains to try to bring the prices down. Sounds good but when you look at these emails closely, each one targets different chains and the cynic in me says they were probably started by one of the big chains.

Is it just me or are the governments we elect becoming irrelevant when global companies do what they want.....
http://elsmar.com/Forums/images/smilies/soapbox.gif
Recently, here in Illinois, we had a state elected official say something to the following effect (paraphrased):

Actually, we in State and local governments reap a windfall profit every time gasoline goes up in price because all our taxes are based on percentage of sales price, NOT a flat rate per gallon. The gas companies and dealers don't get ALL of the increase, we get a big piece of it.

My reckoning is that current UK prices are, after conversions approx $6.50 per gallon (81.9 pence per litre).

I drive a 1.6 litre car and do 350 miles per week (roughly a tank of fuel). For me to fill up it's almost $60 after conversion, and thats per week! :nopity:

I looked back over my records.

I have a Bonneville SSEi so I foolishly buy 'premium.

Units are per US gallon.
5/9/02 - $1.639
5/22/02 - $1.479
10/5/02 - $1.699
12/11/02 - $1.339
1/2/03 - $1.479
5/1/03 - $1.449
8/24/03 - $1.959
1/21/04 - $1.639
5/21/04 - $2.339
7/29/04 - $1.979

I'm kind of lucky because I don't live far from work - about 4 miles, so I ride my mountain bike.

But the price of petrol here is worth about $1.18NZ/ltr - around $2.80US per gallon - thats the cheapest.

Being at the bottom of the world doesn't help.

Well, I survived the 2 weeks of driving around florida.

Fuel was $1.87 for 'regular.

And yes, we had a bloody good time :)

Well, I survived the 2 weeks of driving around florida.

Fuel was $1.87 for 'regular.

And yes, we had a bloody good time :)
Did you see Mickey?:D

Yes, but only in Animal Kingdom.

Managed to do about 800 miles in the 2 weeks and it was fun driving on different roads. Made it an interesting journey back from the airport when we got home :mg:

The real shock was filling my car here at home cost MORE than I spent for those 2 weeks in Florida :confused: :mad:

Has everyone's local gas prices stabilized?

My comments from back in May on gasoline prices still ring true. More than problems in the Middle East, I think the largest risk for higher gasoline prices is a major disruption in refinery capacity. I wished I had documented it here but I have been predicting $1.50 gasoline for months. Of course a 3 week shutdown at a major refinery on the Gulf Coast could send the prices right back up to $2.

I came close to my gasoline price forecast. In Columbus, the price fell to $1.53 per gallon a couple of weeks ago and then the cold spell hit. Gasoline is now at $1.70 but I still think it will drop. Fuel oil use is up but the bad weather has probably reduced gasoline demand already. The next two months are always low demand for gasoline and prices should fall assuming no major supply problems.

I did read that the U.S. had a small increase in crude oil production this year for the first time in a decade or more. If we really want to see less demand for crude oil, the world would be better off with crude oil at more than $50 per barrel to encourage conservation again. I expect crude oil to be about $38 per barrel in 2005 with the assumption of no problems in the Middle East.

Bill Pflanz

Here in CA, it still changes a bit depending on where one is, and time of the year.

In Victorville where I live, I saw a truck stop had gas for $1.98 (1.97.9)....in Whittier where I work, it is a bit higher, I think I paid $2.06 last week.

It will go up when the summer mix comes back around of course, but we still have a few months of winter mix.

Hershal

Hi All:

The cheapest I have found is $1.65 per gallon in Lapeer, Michigan, last Friday. And, $1.79 per gallon seems like a good number for the Troy, Rochester, Farmington Hills, MI area. I am quoting the lowest prices, for the lowest grade (87 octane). I have never used premium!

I don't think the price will ever get back to less than $1.50 per gallon. The oil companies have convinced all of us that $1.50 per gallon is a bargain. Besides, gasoline is still cheaper than a gallon of milk!

If the consumer is willing to pay, would you reduce the price voluntarily, even if you were not EXXON or MOBIL?

However, I encourage everyone to look at the total budget for gasoline and what is really costing you to go about your business, back and forth to work and other important non-work related matters ($ per mile driven, not just $ per gallon). May be it is time to get a more fuel-efficient car.

Charmed

P. S. The following gives the lowest price as $1.36 and the highest as $2.57 per gallon with $1.79 per gallon being the National Average. The prices in the Troy, Rochester, Farmington Hills area are right on the national "average".

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=48085&src=QL

Still 2.07 here. Thank Albany and downstate for the taxes.

Still 2.07 here. Thank Albany and downstate for the taxes.The City of Chicago has combined city and county gasoline taxes of 20 cents more per gallon than my county (Lake), but Thursday Dec 23, the price for regular gas at two stations on the Southwest side of Chicago near Midway Airport was $1.589/gallon while the lowest price in all of Lake County was $1.749/gallon. The gas stations at the toll oases ranged from $1.819 to $1.929 (all Mobil Oil) for regular. It certainly seemed as if the Mobil stations were price gouging the holiday travelers, because the price jumped a dime on Dec 24 and 25 ($1.919 minimum) on the toll roads, but no price change (but reduced hours) at stations in my town.

I passed by $1.69 this morning AND I use a card at that place which allows me to save $0.05 per gallon so I'm pretty happy!

Southern Indiana: We are paying $1.57, prices have started dropping at about a penny a day, again. Maybe we will see around $1.29. This was a goal of american oil fields a few years ago. Price needed to be $1.29 at the pump to make it profitable for all pumps to be pumping!!!

As I was driving to work this morning (swimming might be a better description right now) I saw at the truck stop that gas is ONLY $1.96 (1.95.9) per gallon! Wow! I think I will have to fill up there.....the gas is really cheap.

I heard on the radio a couple of days ago that the refineries are starting to work the summer blend now so we can have it by March/April.

I heard on the radio a couple of days ago that the refineries are starting to work the summer blend now so we can have it by March/April.

I seriously doubt that summer blends are being made now since it is too early. There is not enough storage capacity to store summer gasoline. California may be different due to the milder weather but the colder parts of the country have special winter vapor pressure requirements and they must make that now by federal requirements. The refineries also make more fuel oil and less gasoline during the winter and that is how they will operate through January and February. It appears to be a little early to determine the impact of the sudden cold snap on fuel oil availability and prices. A lot depends on the likelihood of below normal temperatures. Much of the country that had the cold and snow is now getting warmer temperatures again.

Normally the summer driving season change in the refineries occurs in March/April and that is probably what the news should be reporting. Gasoline in central Ohio fell to $1.66 per gallon this week.


Bill Pflanz

In Colombia Southamerica, we have 2 types of fuel for ours cars.

a) Regular: Low octane, low quality, low price
b) Super: High octane, high quality, high price.

For Regular Fuel today we are paying U$2,15 per galon. For Super Fuel U$2,85

Our goverment says that prizes will keep increasing until each colombian pay as a consumer from an importer country around the world. As US is not an importer country, thats reason another countries pay more for fuel.

So must be good to clarify if your country is importer or isn't

UUhmmm, I forgot to say as Dollar is lossing power (at least in my country), we hope to pay more every day, because we will have to compensate the low exchange money btw "Pesos-Dollars"

We bottomed out at $1.57 a gallon. This morning when I went thru it was at $1.67. Too bad!! I thought we might see $1.59

In Colombia Southamerica, we have 2 types of fuel for ours cars.

a) Regular: Low octane, low quality, low price
b) Super: High octane, high quality, high price.

For Regular Fuel today we are paying U$2,15 per galon. For Super Fuel U$2,85

Our goverment says that prizes will keep increasing until each colombian pay as a consumer from an importer country around the world. As US is not an importer country, thats reason another countries pay more for fuel.

So must be good to clarify if your country is importer or isn't

Carlos, forgive me if I misunderstood you, but the USA imports LOTS of oil. The political and economic impact can be far reaching.

Here in the UK it is typically 89 pence a litre

This is 4 pounds and 04 pence a gallon or

Wait for it

$7.79 a gallon

Good old Tony Blair.

$1.54 gal here now

Here in Kitchener Ontario, unleaded regular was $0.773/litre (no idea what that converts to in US dollars per US gallon).

All I know is, it's too much.......but then again, diesel fuel at the station next door was advertised at $0.802/litre, and has been consistently higher than gas for quite some time now.

I think diesel is made from same fraction of oil as heating fuel, hence reason for rise during winter.
Also, additives to keep it from turning to petroleum jelly in the cold.

The downward spiral broke the $1.90 barrier! OK, $1.89.9, but still......I have to start refilling at that truck stop........

Hershal

Yesterday, I just paid $2.30.....

$2.09 and rising here in Lapeer, Michigan.


Al...

Last week, it went from ~$1.84 in the morning to $2.09 in the afternoon. A United Dairy Farmers (local min-mart franchise) on the way home still had $1.85 and people were 3-4-5 deep at each pump.

Assuming you filled an almost empty tank, say 8 gallons, you saved a whole $2! All you had to do was waste an hour and jocky around all the other motorists trying to save a buck... I just don't get the "it's 4 cents cheaper over there, run!" mentality.....

Now if I had a 200 gallon gas tank.....

Jerry

I own a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Conversion with all the bells and whistles. Payed $2.35 a gallon on Monday. The particle fill up was $58.32.

189.9 pennies per gallon at Costco.

Also, anyone know how it ever started that gas prices are expressed to the tenth of a cent?

$1.98 A GALLON This morning in Blaine Minnesota :mg:

1.99 a gallon in Central Georgia.

$2.23 a gallon in Northeastern Indiana. :mg:

In Wisconsin...

$2.09 yesterday morning...

$2.16 this morning...




Remember when Osama said oil should be $100 per barrel? You think he might get his wish.... :confused:

Remember when Osama said oil should be $100 per barrel? You think he might get his wish.... :confused:

Not so long ago, the US dollar stood at about 82 cents to the Euro. It is now at about $1.35. A barrel of oil peaked around $57 on yesterday's market. If the oil producers wanted to purchase stuff in Euros and that former parity had been maintained, the price would have been approx $31/bb yesterday.

The exchange rate for the dollar has fallen because of America's unsustainable current account deficit, now reaching an annual rate in excess of $700 billion, and a soaring government deficit. Serious media including Business Week, The Economist etc have been warning for months (and longer) that a collapse in the dollar is a growing possibility. If that happens, $100/ bb oil would soon arrive. And if oil producers then want to be paid in Euros, $100 would seem cheap.

Even so, gas prices in America are cheap compared to those in Europe where taxes are far higher. My family and friends tell me gas resently costs about 4 times as much in UK as here in Michigan.

If anyone in USA wants prices to fall, they must reduce their personal consumption. If every motorist just reduced his/ her mileage by 10%, the effects would be dramatic. USA accounts for at least 25% of world production. The laws of supply and demand would prevail. Moreover, as the current account began to improve, the dollar would get support which MAY have a knock on effect on the price/bb.

As they said in World War 2: "Is your journey REALLY necessary".

Over here it's,
Unleaded is $ 4.36 :mad:
LRP ( Lead Replacement Petrol ) is $ 4.71 :mad:
Diesel is $ 3.40 :mad:
and we're in the middle of a union dispute, with supplies not reaching petrol stations

Last week (Thursday evening) when I fueled up, regular unleaded was 1.899, last night 2.099. I nearly "fell out" as my Southern friends would say. I guess it is time to go buy a second hand gas sipper. Even though I get decent mileage for a pickup, I cannot continue to lay out $50 a week for nothing much more than going to work and getting groceries. I'd like to be able to do something once in a while, LOL!

On my way home last night $2.09, on my way in this morning $2.23!!!

Hi

In Calgary we are paying 85.9cents/L that works out to 2.75 a US gallon if I have the conversion correct


Tim

Last week, it went from ~$1.84 in the morning to $2.09 in the afternoon. A United Dairy Farmers (local min-mart franchise) on the way home still had $1.85 and people were 3-4-5 deep at each pump.

Jerry

I posted this about a week ago. The same situation played out yesterday. Almost...

Everyone else had gone to $2.19, the UDF was at $2.01. But this time, there weren't very many at the pumps this time. I guess $2.01 just didn't seem like as big a bargain, even though it was ~20 cents cheaper again.

Perhaps this says something about relative prices for gas? Same amount of difference, but not as tempting?

Jerry
Wanting to go to 4 day work weeks...... (Could be worse, I used to have a 50 mile commute each way, now about 25-30)

On my way home last night $2.09, on my way in this morning $2.23!!!

I can't really keep that close track of prices, you have to be able to drive by a service station to do that, LOL!:)

Steel "I live in the middle of nowhere" Maiden:lmao:

I posted the following message on May 11 2004. It supports what Allan J said about supply and demand.

Bill PflanzThe reason for the high gasoline prices is the same reason that they were $1 a gallon about 4 years ago - supply and demand. I didn't hear anyone complaining about the imbalance back then.

Here is a little history that some may have forgotten or do not know. The oil crisis first hit in 1973 when OPEC was created. Prices quadrupled from about $3 per barrel to $12. The current price is about $38-40 and has increased about 25% this year. Back about 4 years ago the price was about $15-18. If you factor in inflation, the current price is probably still less than 1973 and was a steal just a few years ago. OPEC (specifically Saudia Arabia) has managed the oil prices by controlling the supply side. When they couldn't control the price was during the 1980's when the U.S. and a lot of the rest of world went into a recession and started conserving energy. The price fell to about $18-22 for almost 20 years as the demand for gasoline and fuel fell significantly due to conservation efforts and new non-OPEC supplies. Due to the low demand and the cost of keeping up with new environmental laws on lead usage and air pollution, the oil industry shut down a significant number of refineries during the 1980's and 1990's."
http://elsmar.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=77473&postcount=59

Poor U. Try paying in your money $6/gallon. Thats the price in the UK!

We are paying $2.16.

Poor U. Try paying in your money $6/gallon. Thats the
price in the UK!
Are there many SUV's on the roads over there?

Day before yesterday, at the Arco $2.36.....not sure I want to know today's price.....

Hershal

They are catching on over here mainly with house wives taking kids to school in city centers. Mostly cars though, our roads, car parking etc is not as big as yours. Then again nothing is!

Always amazes me when the North Americans get steamed about the 2 dollar gallon, try 7 dollars 50 for a imperial gallon in the highlands of scotland.

One way I supose of restricting car use and helping the ozone layer

In akron, ohio were at 2.15 gallon. In Syracuse, New York this past thursday I paid 2.35 a gallon. Up, up and away!!

Yesterday in Michigan near Detroit, 87 unleaded was $2.34 at my local BP station and others were in alignment.

Cincinnati Monday morning 87 octane $2.14

Cincinnati Monday Afternoon 87 octane $2.35

Jerry
REALLY wanting a 4 day work week....
------------------------------------- :mg:

Bennettsville, SC Monday morning 87 octane $2.04

Bennettsville, SC Monday Afternoon 87 octane $2.17

$2.24 last night.

$2.31 this morning :mad:

Ever see gas go DOWN 7 cents overnight?

$2.249 in interior Maine

Can't wait for the memorial day increase

It was 92 cents for a litre in Mississauga today morning.

AUD$1.18 per liter in Sydney today. At least intrest rates are on hold :rolleyes:.

Yesterday evening near the house - at ARCO of all places, it was $2.50.....everywhere else was more.......and we haven't even started with the summer blend yet.......

Hershal

It was 2.61 as of yesterday for 87 unleaded in Delano, California.

$2.31 for 87 octane, $2.70 for super. This is exactly why I will not be buying a new truck this year. It will actually be cheaper to keep my little car and little truck instead of consolidating and buying 1 vehicle.

It was 2.61 as of yesterday for 87 unleaded in Delano, California.

We are right behind you.....the truck stop I pass on the way to work is - today - at $2.59 for regular unleaded.....I didn't even look at the 91 octance stuff.

Hershal

This is going to really hurt in a few weeks. I'm about to get the Firebird out of storage. Its 4 years old with only 22K miles. Only sees the summer here in Roch NY, and so far only premium gasoline. We did trade in the gas hog GMC van in November for a much more economical car. We had the van for toting the kids around, but 90% of the time it was me alone. I wonder how much its saved us already.

ireland $5.2 / gallon :nopity:
consider yourself lucky

then again my little 1lt fiat only takes about8 gallons

Out of curiousity, how much of a gallon is taxes around the world? I know NY gas is higher than most because of taxes. Of course NY taxes everything that moves (and some things that don't.) This year the leg decided "no new taxes", but of course Vehicle titles and registration fees are going up considerably. Fee is the new clever word for tax in NY. OK - too far off topic, but what I really wondered is a high percentage of the 5.2/gallon state/country taxes, or is it all the gas company.

(fixed typo)

I can't speak to NY.....but here in CA it is bad......the legislature has proposed reducing the gas tax and increase the sales tax to compensate......sounds like a shell game to me......hope the Governator takes care of that......

I drive 77 miles to work.....car is paid for.......but what I save in payments I pay now in gas.......I guess I can't quite win......I drive a Catera (Opel Omega in Europe), but right now I getting 25-30 mpg.......

Hershal

I'm guessing close to 50% tax . we have an excise duty of 22% and VAT at something similiar VAT "value added tax" only a government could change the rules of quality and determine that it is not the customer who determines value

Out of curiousity, how much of a gallon is taxes around the world?That I can tell you: We are now at $5.90 /gallon (Still on it's way up), and a whopping 70%, or roughly $4.13 of the price we pay is tax. :nope:

So now you know why I clock so many miles on my bike. Every cloud has a silver lining of course: I stay in reasonable shape :lol:

/Claes

In the UK we are paying on average USD7.20/gallon.......approximately 70% is tax I believe.

I'll confirm a number at the pump today, but I know it's much less than what you guys are stating. Point being - we talk about the 'price of gas' but I wonder if we looked at everthing that taxed - for us "mortgage tax" "vehicle registration fees" etc, I wonder if you all just pay at the pump and we pay everytime we turnaround. Just a theory, I don't have the data to know.

http://www.finfacts.com/costofliving.htm

This has some information, but I would still be curious as to a "who pays the most overall tax" information.

I wonder if you all just pay at the pump and we pay everytime we tuarnaround. Oh no, apart from the tax we pay as part of the price for gasoline we also pay a bagful of other fees like the ones you mentioned and then some...

/Claes

not sure who pays the most, but I get the feeling I pay tax even on my tax. So laura unfortunately you haven't a monopoly on 360 degree tax...... our friend Claes my have more info as I believe Sweden has one of highest tax rate ,however what you get in return has to be taken into consideration.
I have new problem being S#*€;ed at the gas pump if housing is affordable, my kids can go to school an if I get run over by someone who can afford to run a car well then a decent level of medical care should be available :mad: sorry for the rant just enjoying the trials and tribulations of the irish health system at present

our friend Claes my have more info as I believe Sweden has one of highest tax rate ,however what you get in return has to be taken into consideration.Hmmm.... Not a contest I'd like to win. As you say, it's hard to compare.

Btw all: Let's look out so we don't stroll into the domain of political discussion here. I'm not saying we are there yet, just trying to keep that can of worms closed.

/Claes

Pretty soon we'll be hearing about 'tax-free' day meaning every dollar earned so far this year went to taxes, the rest is ours. I really wish they wouldn't publish that stat

OK - sorry for the topic tangent.

I'm on empty and on my way to the golf course (Its 55 and sunny) - so I'll check out the data.

1st - I paid $2.25.999999999, ok, call it 2.26/gallon for regular. (Why do they bother with the 9's anyway...) The pumps always say "includes all taxes." So I asked at the station how much was tax and no one knew. I guess I have to research my own question. If I had to guess, I would say about 15%. Standard sales tax is 8.5%, and I'm sure there are environmental and other taxes on gas.

2nd - I shot a 58 (not bad for me for first round of the year), but it could have been so much better.

3rd - this is the earliest I've golfed in Rochester that I can remember, 55 and sunny. Tomorrow's looking even better.

I found this shortly after posting...
--------------------------
A federal sales tax of 18.4 cents is imposed on every gallon of gas sold in the US. Then, each state has the ability to tack on some extra state sales taxes on top of that.

this PDF chart shows that New York State imposes an additional, approximate 39.6 cent tax on each gallon of gas sold. (In January 2003, it was 33.55 cents/gallon.) The total amount of sales tax varies by county.

So, New Yorkers pay a combined state & federal sales tax of 58 cents/gallon.

Although RI, CA, NV, HI, and WI all broke 30 cents/gallon for state sales tax on a gallon of gas, New York has the distinction of having the highest state sales tax of all 50 states.

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

So I guess its about 25%. Maybe ignorance is bliss......

Is anyone graphing their gas prices?

2nd - I shot a 58 (not bad for me for first round of the year), but it could have been so much better.

3rd - this is the earliest I've golfed in Rochester that I can remember, 55 and sunny. Tomorrow's looking even better.

OK. I'll bite! Was 58 for 18 holes, 9 holes, or miniature golf?:rolleyes: What was par?

(Reminds me of a tale that involves "ladies tee" versus "men's tee") - when we meet!

Well, if it was a 58 for 18 holes, you'd be watching me on TV, instead of hanging out in a Quality forum. So it was for 9. Par is 36, and I played bogey golf through 4 holes, then, well, put up a couple snowmen after a few trees got in the way. Pretty much how my game works, "moments of greatness, then reality sets in...." My son shot a 41, which is one of the reasons I went. When your 18 year old says "mom - let's go play golf" you drop everything and go! That was actually above average for him, but he was experimenting a little. He's the lead player for his HS team. Capable of par golf if he's 'on'. (Moderator - not sure I can split off the thread, but if you think its too far off topic, please start a "Spring Fever - who's got and what ya doing") :topic:

Firebird came out of storage today, and he's thirsty! So nice to have it out again though, I don't think 2.65/gallon is going to bother me.

Just a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump... does this make you feel any better?

Think a gallon of gas is expensive?

This makes one think, and also puts things in perspective.

Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ...... $10.32 per gallon

Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 .........$9.52 per gallon

Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 ...... $10.17 per gallon

Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 . $10.00 per gallon

Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 . $33.60 per gallon

Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 ..... $178.13 per gallon

Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 .... $123.20 per gallon

Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ......... .. $25.42 per gallon

Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 ......$84.48 per gallon

And this is the REAL KICKER...
Evian water 9 oz $1.49..........$21.19 per gallon?!

So, the next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on water, Scope, Whiteout, or God forbid Pepto Bismal or Nyquil.

Just a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump... :rolleyes:

I paid $2.37 per gallon last week in Metro Detroit Michigan. When I purchased my SUV in Aug 2004, a tank of gas cost me $ 27.00, now it costs $50.00. That is almost DOUBLE the price.

This is so getting out of hand. A friend of mine has a Ford Expedition, well her pump shut off at $60.00 because that was the limit. She had to go back and get the attendant to turn the pump back on so that she could finsh filling up!

I love my SUV, and would hate to part with it. But, on the other hand, I can't go to long putting $50.00 or more in my gas tank a week. That is $200.00 per month, or $1.25 per hour of work per month (based on a 40 hour work week).

Something has definatly got to give sometime. I love those jokes that say gas prices are an "arm and a leg".

This is really fustrating! and it has such a large impact on our economy. I wish I could hold up a bike and ride it to work and back, maybe I should get a moped. Sure, it might take double the time to get to work, and maybe only $30.00 to fill up the tank (LOL).

I used to love my truck, although it's not huge, it's still a truck andf the mileage was not the greatest. Then I had kids, and my 2 seater truck was not as practical, so I bought a small, affordable, used station wagon, since my truck was paid off, I kept it for when I really need a truck. Now, I love my little wagon, and it get's great mileage. What people need to do is sit down and take a hard look at what they need their vehicles to do for them. I would guess that most people do not need to have an SUV, and are wasting a ton of money and fuel for absolutely no reason. How often do we see a little old lady or man with no kids, not pulling a trailer, or plowing snow driving around in a Suburban or Expedition just because it's a status symbol?

Sorry for getting up on a soapbox about this, but it's time people started being realistic about this stuff. I no longer feel sorry for SUV owners who complain about high gas prices.

Apologies for the rant.

Don't know if it has any merit at all, but I remember hearing once that the B3 'push' higher fuel prices when they need to get some small cars off the lot because of their 'average fleet emissions' requirements. I think I posted already that we got rid of the GMC Safari because 90% of the time it was me alone back and forth to work. Sure it was great when 4 friends wanted to load up the golf clubs, but that also meant I alway drove, and the miles and gas were on me. So, we are down to cars, and when the whole family goes somewhere (rare with kids 18, 15 and 13), like to Grandparents for Xmas its a little tight. But for the few times a year that happens, the Impala is great. SUV's are nice, and I wouldn't want my car to get T-boned by an Expedition or an Escalade, but after 12 years of 'climbing into' the van, its kind of nice to 'get into' a car.

Paid $2.49 to keep the F-bird happy today, not the $2.65 I estimated. He was very happy.

Figuring you won't let it go.....all you guys call your special cars "she" so mine can be a "he",right?

I get more aggrivated when the kids drink half a glass of milk or half a bottle of Gatorade. Especially the 18 year old that complains about gas prices..."Um. do you want to finish that glass of milk or pour it in your gas tank...." Point made.

I paid $2.06 last evening where I live, but I drove to Columbia, SC yesterday and it was $2.29 by Interstate 20

I probably shouldn't be surprised by the overall tone of this thread: high petrol (gasoline) prices bad, 4WDs (SUVs) good. And I am a driver and understand the annoyance of having to buy fuel. However I can also see that oil is a non-renewable resource and burning it pumps extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I am not the only one who can see a compelling case for the theory of global warming.
Petrol also subsidises the plastics industry which makes it very hard for the bioplastics (e.g. starch based plastics) industry to get a foothold as they are more expensive. You can argue all you want about the benefits of recycling plastic but the facts remain that there is not enough demand as recycled plastic cannot be used in food-grade applications which require virgin materials. The EU requires a large proportion of plastic be recycled but they classify incineration for electricity generation as recycling. Bioplastics are renewable, biodegradable and support the agriculture industry.
When petrol prices go up significantly as a proportion of income (for a given location) as seen in recessions, demand goes down. This leads to demand for more efficient cars or cleaner sources of energy (fuel cells anyone?). Which should lead to better modes of transport being developed. Maybe a little idealistic, but at least it allows me to smile when I put petrol into my car @ AUD$1.129/Litre (USD$3.318/gallon) every few weeks.

zarboki,

Some good information you have posted.

I just have to wonder, why hasen't there been more of a push by governments to mandate that certain industries (aka automotive) have a different method of running cars in full production by a certain date.

I am probably answering my own question by saying it is probably due to politics, etc. etc.

But really, inventions come from odd places. Maybe such thing as fuel cells aren't the way to power the future. What about like "Back to the Future" running the Delorian on Cold Fusion? Interesting topics, but way, way, way over my head. The idea of using our garbage as fuel has me intrigued. We can reduce the landfills, which are so polluting and so something with all the garbage we each produce. Turning landfills into "Outdoor Ampitheaters" are sure not the answers. Here in Michigan they have done that. People have complained that while watching their concert on "the hill" red liquid was seen oozing from the ground. Now that's safe (Not!).

These are just my random thoughts on the subject...........

for all you people who don't live in the uk - spare a thought for us on petrol prices, This morning I paid £0.90p per litre of petrol, in $ that would be $1.69 per litre or $7.51 a gallon - OUCH!!!!!

In toronto we pay like $0.8/ liter on average.

I probably shouldn't be surprised by the overall tone of this thread: high petrol (gasoline) prices bad, 4WDs (SUVs) good. And I am a driver and understand the annoyance of having to buy fuel. However I can also see that oil is a non-renewable resource and burning it pumps extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I am not the only one who can see a compelling case for the theory of global warming.
Petrol also subsidises the plastics industry which makes it very hard for the bioplastics (e.g. starch based plastics) industry to get a foothold as they are more expensive. You can argue all you want about the benefits of recycling plastic but the facts remain that there is not enough demand as recycled plastic cannot be used in food-grade applications which require virgin materials. The EU requires a large proportion of plastic be recycled but they classify incineration for electricity generation as recycling. Bioplastics are renewable, biodegradable and support the agriculture industry.
When petrol prices go up significantly as a proportion of income (for a given location) as seen in recessions, demand goes down. This leads to demand for more efficient cars or cleaner sources of energy (fuel cells anyone?). Which should lead to better modes of transport being developed. Maybe a little idealistic, but at least it allows me to smile when I put petrol into my car @ AUD$1.129/Litre (USD$3.318/gallon) every few weeks.
I don't mean to be facetious, but it is interesting to point out that the more gas-guzzling SUVs are sold, the higher the prices for petroleum-based products will become, creating parity for the bio-based products (ethanol and bio-based plastics.)

OK - Let's have the latest - What are you *currently* paying for gasoline (petrol)? Please tell us where you live so there is some relevancy. Reuters:

Oil prices have hit a new record above $US60 a barrel, driven by the resilience of US energy demand in the face of high fuel costs and worries about oil policy under Iran's new hardline president. US crude for August traded as high as $US60.65 a barrel and is above $US60 for every month until August 2006 with December 2005 setting a peak $US61.90 a barrel. London Brent set a record $US59.21 a barrel before easing to $US59.12, up 76 cents.

"The market is testing higher to see what price levels this demand can endure," said Naohiro Niimura, vice-president at the derivative products division of Mizuho Corporate Bank.

Prices have risen as investors bet refiners and producers will struggle to meet winter demand in the fourth quarter. While high prices are eroding some strength from the world economy, the overall growth picture remains solid, central bankers meeting in Switzerland said at the weekend.

"There was a general consensus that we will have high oil prices for at least the next two or three years," said Martin Redrado, Argentina's central bank governor.

That economic resilience has encouraged speculators to test consumers' ability to absorb higher costs, with only a significant pull-back in demand from an economic slowdown seen likely to tame prices. Victory in Iran's presidential election for ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also helped support prices. Mr Ahmadinejad has vowed to flush out corruption from the country's oil sector and favour domestic investors, although analysts do not expect a big shift in production policy.

"We don't know in practice yet what Ahmadinejad means for foreign oil policy or Iran's role in OPEC but there could well be months of uncertainty which will further delay progress on production capacity," Iranian consultant Mehdi Varzi said. Held back by US sanctions, Iran has struggled to lift output capacity with foreign investment still severely restricted.

"I think Iran's capacity is actually falling," Mr Varzi said. "It will take time but Ahmadeinejad may be able to streamline policy decisions which would encourage foreign investors."

Dealers see tight market conditions running for at least another year, especially for distillate products such as heating oil and diesel. Over the past four weeks, demand for distillates in the US has risen nearly 7 per cent from last year while gasoline consumption is up 2.5 per cent. The growth in distillate usage reflects strong consumption in the industrial and transport sectors, particularly in the trucking business used to ferry goods around the US. Dealers were undeterred by OPEC's largely symbolic output hike earlier this month. Now producers are consulting on another modest increase of 500,000 barrels a day. Cartel president Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah said a decision could come this week. Saudi Arabia, the only OPEC producer with any spare capacity, says it is already meeting customer demand for crude.

Paid $2.40 (for 87 octane) between Yellowstone and Grand Teton yesterday.

It's $2.10 (for 85 octane) at the Sinclair outside my work in Salt Lake City. Been that way for at least 10 days.

Additional request: Please state the 'grade' of gasoline you are reporting. For example, I have a supercharger on my 1995 Pontiac Bonneville so it's recommended that I use 'Premium'. I gassed up saturday and in West Chester (21 miles north of Cincinnati), OH USA and paid US$2.459 per gallon for 'Premium' petrol. This was at a Speedway off of exit 21 (approximately Mile Post 21 on I-75 {Interstate 75}) in Ohio.

Happy to oblige, but I'm not happy about what I have to report:

95 Octane (Your regular?): $4.68, and on it's way up at a very brisk clip indeed. This being Sweden :rolleyes: I have to add that the last time I checked over 70% of that was tax! Aaaaaargh!:mad: Ok, ok... I'm ok now... I think... Now, do you see why I use my bike as much as possible?

/Claes

INR 46.22 / Lt. Not Premium. [1 USD = INR 43.5]

87 octane @2.099 a gal. at Shell in Southern Indiana Jasper

June 28, Minneapolis 2.09/gal for our regular 87 octane

2.269 Auburn, IN just north of Fort Wayne.

87 Octane 2.13 in Eastern NC yesterday.

South Carolina is now at 2.06 for 87 octane, but I am driving to Michigan Saturday morning. Looks like I'll be paying much more as I go north.

$2.30 87 octane, Long Island, NY.

Within a ten mile radius of my home in far north suburbs of Chicago (just south of Wisconsin border), 87 octane (often blended with 10% ethanol from corn - a gift from Congress to ConAgra and Archer Midlands, the two major producers of ethanol) ranges from $2.20 to $2.45, depending on location (rich suburb or farm town.) There does not seem to be any consistency among brands. We have a Mobil and a Citgo kitty-corner across from each other at a major arterial highway intersection. No "price war" here, except in reverse. One day Mobil will be five cents higher, two days later, Citgo will be one cent higher. They NEVER have the same price.

In regard to taxes - don't you wish every state had a law like Oregon's?
Section 8.(1) As used in this section, ‘gas station’ includes a filling station, service station, garage or any other place where gasoline is sold for use in motor vehicles.
Section 8.(2) The owner or operator of a gas station shall post, in a manner visible to customers, the following information:


The amount of the price per gallon that is Federal tax;
The amount of the price per gallon that is state tax;
The amount of the price per gallon that is local tax; and
The total amount of Federal, state and local taxes per gallon.
Section 8.(3) The Department of Transportation shall furnish the information described in subsection (2) of this section to each gas station in the state.

I'd prefer it in a BIG sign on every gas pump.
NOTE: Some states and local taxing bodies throughout the U.S.A. tax by the gross dollar of sale (a sales tax) rather than a flat rate per gallon. This is especially true of local municipalities which are enjoying a windfall in increased taxes, even if people are more conservative in the number of gallons they use.

Within a ten mile radius of my home in far north suburbs of Chicago (just south of Wisconsin border), 87 octane (often blended with 10% ethanol from corn - a gift from Congress to ConAgra and Archer Midlands, the two major producers of ethanol) ranges from $2.20 to $2.45, depending on location (rich suburb or farm town.)

I live on just the other side of the line in Wisconsin, and the prices are similar, I think. I can't be definite because I now make a point of not paying attention to the per-gallon price. It's one of those things I know I can't control or affect, and which I know I'm going to buy regardless of the price. I drive ~50 miles each way to work, so I spend a lot of money on gas, but I have too many other things to worry about that I do have some control over. My wife, who also uses a lot of gas, spends enough time being POed about gas prices for both of us. I am also very aware that as high as the prices are here, they're still much lower than most of the rest of the world is paying, as some posts in this thread will attest.

It's $2.10 (for 85 octane) at the Sinclair outside my work in Salt Lake City. Been that way for at least 10 days. This was 3 cents higher today.

Forgot to include previously - June 26, for 85 octane: $1.999 at the Mavrick station in Evanston Wyoming, just off exit 5 on I-80.

Ummm, Cincinnati, premium, Speedway - US$ 2.599
Was US$1.829 1 year ago and US$1.649 2 years ago.
Not too bad for premium gas.

Yesterday most gas stations were at $2.79 for regular unleaded, I lucked out and got it for $2.65 a gallon. $27 for just over 10 gallons! I was told that everywhere north of Saginaw was $2.79?

In the UK, the AVERAGE price of basic unleaded fuel has just gone past £0.90 per litre. That's around £4.09 per UK gallon, or £3.41 per US gallon. At current exchange rate of around 1.80, that means we're paying around $6.13 per US gallon. And that's an average - you can add another 10% in some areas.

We always like to make fun of North America when it comes to your love of "gas guzzlers", but I'm guessing most of us wouldn't give 2 hoots for fuel economy if our fuel was as cheap as yours...

Count yourselves lucky, gentlemen... Just like Baldrick in the UK, we can now see the prices going past $6 a gallon at a very brisk clip indeed. I am very glad I don't live too far from work. I don't have to use my car to get here.

/Claes

Yesturday we hit over a dollar a liter accross the border. $1.02 to be exact; thats $3.86 a US gallon......whew!

This morning in northern South Carolina was $2.46/gal, 2 days ago at same place it was $2.42

$2.49 in Rochester - but that was 2 days ago. My Firebird still gets premium at $2.69 - saw 2.73 recently too.

& that's not end of it think of future what's going to happen if it continues to go like this way.
More important think is what is going to happend to countries that are called developing countries?

Yesturday we hit over a dollar a liter accross the border. $1.02 to be exact; thats $3.86 a US gallon......whew!

$2.42 a gallon on Thursday night...$2.69 as of this morning.

$2.55 on Friday. $2.69 on Saturday. $2.76 on Monday.

I have seen 2.47...259...269... depends on what side of town you are on. Akron, Ohio

Here in Ontario: $1.00 CDN per litre.
It's time for me to go through with my threat and purchase a diesel car.
Wallace.

At this rate, the pleading to my wife to let me get a motorcycle might get a better review!! :D

Here in Ontario: $1.00 CDN per litre.
It's time for me to go through with my threat and purchase a diesel car.
Wallace.


From what I have seen here, there is not much difference between the price of diesel and gas. How about a diesel motorcycle? :rolleyes:

I live right outside the Air Force Base where the Shuttle Discovery just landed (Edwards AFB) in a little town called Rosamond. We have 3 stations in town and the cheapest -lowest octane- is $2.69/gallon. The most expensive is $2.99/gallon for the highest octane Chevron gas station.

Don't even think about a diesel here because diesel is also $2.99/gallon.

I'll bet the kids don't cruise anymore

Sure they do, kids are the only people who have the spending money to afford converting fossil fuels into heat and water vapor as a hobby.

Lowest grade here is $2.54, up from $2.33 this past Friday.

From $2.69 for cheap Arco to $3.22 Chevron.

G-D help us!!! :mad:

$1.059/L or converting to U.S. currency/volume about $3.35/U.S. gallon. Just about time to start looking at a Smart car or hybrid.