Gas Prices and Hurricane Ike

[bszopi]

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/13/news/economy/gas_prices/index.htm?cnn=yes

According to the article, gas prices have risen nationwide by 7-8 cents a gallon today, the fourth day in a row for price increases. I'm not sure about other parts of the country, but that sure isn't accurate here! On my way to work yesterday, gas was at $3.43 at most stations. When I left work yesterday, most stations I passed were at $3.69. This morning on my way to work (can I just say I hate when I have to work on Saturday), depending on the station, it was anywhere from $3.75 to $3.99. And the damage has yet to be fully realized. And being so close to Texas, I'd say we get the majority of our gas from the Houston area (ok, so it does supply 25% of the US).

Add to this that reports this morning stated that over 2.5 million customers are without power in the Houston area, that means that all the refineries are without power, as well as all of the workers for the refineries. And its expected to take 3-4 weeks to get power back to all the customers. Yeah, the next few months gas prices are going to suck even more than they did just a couple months ago...

[1995 Gold Ciera]

It appears tat around here in the 19608 area, the prices have not gone up.....yet.

That's ridiculous that the prices went up that high in your area. I guess I can understand a small increase in prices but an increase of 14% overnight. That's insane.

These piece of $h!t oil companies use any excuse to rape the customer.

Yesterday there was mention on CNN of a gas station in Florida already charging over $5 a gallon. They're being investigated for gouging. In my opinion the best penalty for that station would be to shut them down for a week.

[Joseph Upson]

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/13/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes

According to the article, gas prices have risen nationwide by 7-8 cents a gallon today, the fourth day in a row for price increases. I'm not sure about other parts of the country, but that sure isn't accurate here! On my way to work yesterday, gas was at $3.43 at most stations. When I left work yesterday, most stations I passed were at $3.69. This morning on my way to work (can I just say I hate when I have to work on Saturday), depending on the station, it was anywhere from $3.75 to $3.99. And the damage has yet to be fully realized. And being so close to Texas, I'd say we get the majority of our gas from the Houston area (ok, so it does supply 25% of the US).

Add to this that reports this morning stated that over 2.5 million customers are without power in the Houston area, that means that all the refineries are without power, as well as all of the workers for the refineries. And its expected to take 3-4 weeks to get power back to all the customers. Yeah, the next few months gas prices are going to suck even more than they did just a couple months ago...

I would expect refinaries to be a bit more savvy than that and have some kind of back up power system considering they wouldn't have to buy gas from anyone to run a Mega generator.

What's really interesting is how dramatically increasing gas prices based solely on projected demand/supply as a result of a bad storm is called capitalism, but when the little guys raise the price of their generators, bottled water, etc under the same circumstances it's called gouging.

There is a fair and equivacle way of doing buisness as it relates to the consumer, unfortunately the money makers are not interested in it and the people of this country not organized and unified enough to come together and make a difference. Can you imagine the power that say 1000 people coming together and saying to $85 a month cable t.v. premiums, we're not going to take it anymore and then collectively terminating their cable service? Let's see 1000 x $85 mo = $85,000 mo less to the company and if you can hold out, 1 million dollars per year loss. I bet that will turn some heads towards a price structure change.

When all goes digital next year we'll probably see another price bump. I just hate how the public is taken advantage of without so much as an explanation or the common descency of at least having price hikes corrolate with the inflation margin.

The govt. lets the system work itself out at the expense of the american public, even if it means people loosing their jobs, homes and even families as a result of the stress. The problem with this country is that politics is out of the hands of the people most capable of making a difference, those of us who are actually at the mercy of economic down turn. To a politician the current gas prices amount to a decision to take the Limo instead of the helicopter.

[1988GTU]

3.60 couple days ago and last night I drove past a station that had it for 4.40. 20 more cent and it would have been a full dollar hike .

[1995 Gold Ciera]

3.60 couple days ago and last night I drove past a station that had it for 4.40. 20 more cent and it would have been a full dollar hike .

4.40!!!!! Report them for gouging!!! That's ridiculously overpriced.

[3100 MPFI]

y'all are really going to hate this then..... In my town (Brazoria) when they ran out of regular, they dropped the price of premium down to the same as regular. I took a pic with my phone. If I can figure out how to get it out, I will post it.

[SappySE107]

Was midgrade higher than premium?

[3100 MPFI]

no. They were all the same price. When I got done fueling with premium, the guy next to told me they were out of mid.

[IsaacHayes]

went up 15 cents today.

[sprucegagt]

no. They were all the same price. When I got done fueling with premium, the guy next to told me they were out of mid.

Mid-grade is usually just a mix of regular and premium done at the pump.

[3400-95-Modified]

Still 3.49 in RI in some area's yet is 3.89 in CT... seriously WTF is wrong with this country.



I wish I could go back 5 years...

[pocket-rocket]

5 years? I remember when Bill Clinton was in office, gas was ~ $.98/gallon :P

[geoffinbc]

Gas companies can do it because no matter what the price is everyone will still use the same amount of gas. Until people change their ways gas companies will remain the same.

[geldartb]

5 years? I remember when Bill Clinton was in office, gas was ~ $.98/gallon :P

Bill Clinton FTW

i remember the times of those prices. i could drive around all day and fill the tank for 15.

[bszopi]

When I first started driving (which really wasn't that long ago), I remember paying as low as $0.80/gal. Its nice to see the price of oil going down steeply lately. In a few months, we might actually see prices come back down again, probably well below the $3 level as well. I just wonder, now that people have adapted to driving less, smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles, etc.. if everyone will change course again and go back to their old ways.