Yikes! What happened to gas?

[eversio11]

The last time I filled up (about a week ago) the price was at a moderate 2.55/g for regular. The other day I was driving to work and noticed the sign at the Mobil gas station.. 2.86/g for regular. This is out in the suburbs of Chicago, I can only imagine what it must be like downtown, well over $3.

What happened this last week to make gas prices shoot up 30 cents? How are the prices in your area?

[MagicRat]

about $1 Canadian per liter. This works out to $3.07 US per gallon.

[blindside.AMG]

I believe I paid $2.89/gallon for regular last time I filled up. I live in the LA area where it's pretty much all the same price. I hope my shop moves my roommate back to day-crew so we can start car pooling again. It's costing me around $40 a week just to get to work.

[ec437]

They're fucking ass raping us; that's what happened. In the first 3 months of this year ExxonMobil made $7.04 BILLION in PURE PROFITS. During the same period last year, they made 2.1 billion. What does that tell you? I don't think their prices are exactly proportional to the price of crude oil.

[AlmostStock]

I just heard a report today that because the gasoline tax is calculated as a percentage of sales that the state is now collecting record amounts of $$$. Our state governor (IL) says he's looking into ways to lesson the cost to consumers. I'm not holding my breath. We have to start facing the fact that oil is limited, demand is rising and it will never be cheaper (for long) again.

[Oz]

$1.38/L AUD for 98RON

[tenguzero]

The state's are indeed collecting record amounts, but the towns are suffering as well. Nearly every public works project involves gas, be it to power machinery or fuel work vehicles, hell one of the largest things that account for gas consumption in those situations is the pavement itself -- apparently there's a certain amount of oil used in road paving. For instance, the next town over from me, the city of Manchester (the largest city in NH) is currently working on a main thoroughfare bridge that connects two parts of the city across the river. In the original planning for the operation -- including taking into account possible raises on gas prices -- the project was budgeted at about 20 Million dollars. The new cost now? Over 25 Million. City's and towns across the country are all facing similar situations, and in a prime example of horrible management and inept foresight, the powers that be did NOTHING to plan for this. DOn't think for a second this situation couldn't have been countered -- there's no excuse why 1/2 the cars on the road today shouldn't be at least hybrid, or even better something completely non-oil based. But the big oil companies run the politicians like their bitches, and the politicians let things slip through the cracks because it makes for good bedfellows. And they're all making out like bandits, while we bend over and take it royally for the poor planning and ill-designs of these scumbags. Meanwhile the increased tax-dollars the state's are making just get funnelled away into worthless, wasteful money-pits (how much of the millions of dollars in compensation that the big tobacco companies are required to pay annually to the states actually get used for anti-smoking campaigns? Do the research on that one!) Trickle-down economics my ass.

Who gets left out in the cold again? The common citizen.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to run out quick and put some gas in my car before it goes up ANOTHER 6 cents in one day, because I HAVE to get to work tomorrow, and those oil-pimping pieces of shit are all too aware of that.

[Rally Sport]

Paid $2.53 down here in Texas.. man its bad, took me $30 dollars to fill up.

[KustmAce]

$2.80 here in Denver.

[lamehonda]

You think its bad now? Just wait.

Prices are going to keep climbing until we come up with some new alternatives. I can't believe that people are still buying suburbans and F250s when It costs over $100 to fill the tank.

[YogsVR4]

Almost made $3 here for premium. 2.99 and hooray for the oil companies making a profit. Those of us who have portfolios like it when the companies turn a profit instead of folding. Shows they're doing the right things.

[AlmostStock]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

hooray for the oil companies making a profit. Those of us who have portfolios like it when the companies turn a profit instead of folding. Shows they're doing the right things.

This is true plus the oil companies still have to compete against each other. It's not like one company can just set the price anywhere they want and not lose market share.

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

Almost made $3 here for premium. 2.99 and hooray for the oil companies making a profit. Those of us who have portfolios like it when the companies turn a profit instead of folding. Shows they're doing the right things.

They're gouging the public.

I think that the big oil companies are boosting their profits now, to position themselves for the expensive transition to alternative fuels later. It makes sense in the long term, but will increase their hold/monopoly on the fuel industry. Sure doesn't make me happy at the pump, either.

[fredjacksonsan]

When you find anything that more than doubles in price in two years, there is something very wrong with the system.

[AlmostStock]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

When you find anything that more than doubles in price in two years, there is something very wrong with the system.

That's a good point also. But if there is lots of margin then why wouldn't one company drop their price and out sell all the others? Oh yeah, limited production/supply.