As a personal anecdote, gas prices raised 50+ cents here in WV in 8 hours yesterday. Leon at Red State says this is not an isolated event.
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jobiuspublius
Gas prices are as high $6 in some places. Large differances exist locally. You can actually shop for gougers. I’ve seen 90 cent differances between station just a 10 blocks apart.
Veeshir
On my way to work yesterday it was about 2.65, on my way home 13 hours later it was 2.89. I should have filled up but I didn’t go past the cheap place. I payed 2.55 there on Monday and wasn’t very happy. I dread what I will pay today.
salvage
Yup cost me an exra $5.00 to fill my Echo, to all you SUV / monster-truck-hemi drivers maybe time to downsize?
Bob
Gee, where does all that money go?
Shygetz
I’m in NC; it’s raised by between 0.50 to a dollar, depending on the gas station. Running between 2.90 and 3.57 here. And oil companies still reporting record profit.
Joel
Went up .30 in DC. It’s about $3.00 gallon for regular here now.
Don Surber
Salvage:
What do you care what I drive? Echos are death traps, so I am concerned about you as a fellow human being
Poca Go Mart at 11 pm Tuesday $2.49.9
at 6 pm Wednesday $2.99.9
But at least I am dry, employed and not facing cholera or looters
Perspective, people
DecidedFenceSitter
2.77-3.00 so far in Vienna/Merrifield (Just outside the DC Beltway for non-DC-ites).
Frank
Something I read recently on Making Light: The main (only?) port where supertankers can dock in the US was in New Orleans. So not only did we lose a lot of our ability to produce and refine oil, we also lost the ability to import it for the time being.
Krista
Quick math question — how many litres in a gallon? We’re at $1.30 a litre here, and I just wanted to compare…
norbizness
Krista: Thanks to Google, it’s 3.7854118 (a liter is close enough to a quart that I had a vague idea). So that makes petrol about $5 a gallon where you are. Gas in Austin was about $2.40 at the start of the week, now it’s probably $2.75 on average.
Mr Furious
Jumped from around $2.75 to $3.15-$3.25 for regular here in Ann Arbor. I wrote more on this yesterday here.
Edmund Dantes
Price Gouging. Pure and simple. The gas that was already in the tanks at the station didn’t suddenly get more expensive for the companies (especially the integrated ones from ground to your tank like ExxonMobil, BP, etc.).
http://www.masslive.com/news/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1125560875246600.xml&coll=1
This is what happens when you go to the people on the ground as opposed to asking corporate to comment…
Debra A. Correggio, manager of the Springfield Gulf station charging $3.19 a gallon for regular gas, said the price was dictated by corporate headquarters.
“It’s up 50 cents since yesterday,” said Correggio, who expressed surprise when she learned her station was 52 cents a gallon higher than a Getty station several blocks away on Main Street.
“I thought we were all the same. … My regular customers are still coming here. Business really hasn’t dropped off,” Correggio said.
The pump prices reflect the previous day’s commodity prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange, said Paul O’Connell, executive director of the New England Service Station and Automotive Repair Association.
“Spot market prices rose 42 cents Tuesday,” he said. “And the same is happening today.”
That means prices at pumps will be rising again today, O’Connell said.
Demdude
In Des Moines:
Monday 2:59 a gallon.
Thursday 2.99 a gallon. They are predicting no disruptions in supply in Iowa.
salvage
Don – I don’t, drive a Sherman Tank loaded with buffalos for all I care.Don – I don’t care about anything you do at anytime, drive a Sherman Tank while wearing a led suit of armor if you like.
“Echos are death traps”? Can you back that up or is it from the Anal Files like most of the things you go on about? Because all the folks that actually, y’know, test, rate and understand these things give the Echo very high ratings in safety.
For people with sense may want to think a bit more carefully about their long term budgets by getting a fuel efficient vehicle. Using less gas was always a good thing it now may be a necessity.
BinkyBoy
Well, Salvage, its unsafe for Don’s penis size, is what he meant.
Bob
Watch this drive!
Doug
$3.29/gallon in Lafayette, Indiana. Probably the only station I drive by to and from work is higher than normal. But maybe not.
Buckaroo
So If I try hauling 2000 pounds of firewood in an Echo this weekend instead of my truck, it won’t break and kill me? Great!
I can save a bundle on gas!
Moron…..
Krista
That’s just obscene. When you add in the sales tax in my region (that’s on top of the fact that a lot of the gas price consists of tax anyway), it’s going to cost me about $65 Canadian to fill my old Ford Taurus. And I make $11 Canadian an hour. I know it could be much worse, but it still makes me feel distinctly…barfy.
Mr.Ortiz
Speaking of profiteering, I want to share an exerpt from the fax spam that was waiting for me when I got to the office this morning (name of the stock they’re pimping redacted):
All emphasis theirs.
BinkyBoy
Those damn liberals and all their reminders of “conserve gas, we’re hitting peak oil and its not going to last forever” should have just gone and left America. Consuming gas is our right! If I want to drive an Excursion that gets 9 miles to the gallon, its my right!
Damn liberals.
Don Surber
Salvage:
And happy birthday to you too.
You made a comment about SUVs that was silly. Mocking SUV drivers seem to be a sport among some
How come you don’t mock people driving pickups? Same mileage. Same difference
BTW, I drive neither. Personal choice. But I do live in a state where they are needed to get around.
I get tired of the holier-than-thou crowd picking on SUVs. Next time you move, buddy, load that refrigerator on your Echo. Send me a picture. I could use a good laugh
Otto Man
If only there were places where you could rent large trucks for special situations like these! Why don’t they exist?!?! Why?
I guess I have no choice but to buy that Megatruckasaurus today and pay $100, since I’ll likely be moving within the next three years.
Dave Ruddell
In Toronto we’re looking at about $1.25/L (in Cdn funds) so, plugging that into a conversion formula…carry the two..call it $4/gal USD. Mind you, my commute to work consists of a 4 minute walk, so it doesn’t affect me driectly…
carpeicthus
Sometimes it feels good to live in Manhattan.
salvage
>You made a comment about SUVs that was silly.
Huh? SUVs don’t use lots of gas? Gosh silly me.
>Mocking SUV drivers seem to be a sport among some.
I’m saying maybe it’s time to think smaller more efficient. Odd that you interpret common sense as mockery and by odd I mean are you drunk?
>How come you don’t mock people driving pickups? Same mileage. Same difference
Which is why I said, excuse me, mocked: “SUV / monster-truck-hemi drivers”. Do you see the work “truck” there? Do you know that word often follows “pickup”? A hemi is a large engine found in some models of truck, sometimes called pickup trucks. Look either talk to me or to the voices in your head, not both, you seem to get confused if you do
>I get tired of the holier-than-thou crowd picking on SUVs.
Oh my gawd, are you really this dense? I’m saying that small cars use less gas. That’s holier than thou? Me and my self-righteous fact stating! Sorry Don, didn’t know SUV drivers were such sensitive souls it’s good that you’re here to save their feelings.
>Next time you move, buddy, load that refrigerator on your Echo.
salvage at the car lot = Well I could get a fuel efficient model or… oh wait I move every three to ten years, better get something that I can move my fridge with even though for the other thousands of days of driving I’m just going to work. Sure it’ll cost me a lot more in gas but I would’t want to look silly moving my fridge!
Or I could rent a truck (even a pickup one!) when I move…. nah the gas companies could use the money.
>Send me a picture. I could use a good laugh
Hey instead of a photo Scarecrow how about I send you a brain? I think you need that a bit more.
Buckaroo
Uhhh, A “Hemi” is an engine with hemispherical combustion chambers which promote efficient burnining by allowing higher compression ratios without detonation. They range in size from the small 2-liter versions used in older Toyotas to large 500+ in^3 versions used in top fuel dragsters.
Obviously you have issues with more efficient engine designs when the manufacturer places a small namebadge on the fender.
BinkyBoy
As the price of gas increased past the $3.00 mark here in Southwest Idaho, many emergency rooms were packed to the brim. Instead of the regular cuts an bruises, however, all of those milling about the waiting room were regular Joe’s. Our reporter on scene stopped to talk with some of the men and here are some of the quotes:
“Yeah, well I got up this morning and I looked down, my penis was almost gone! Its shrunk to nothingness. It must be some type of new disease or somethin'” said John, a construction worker.
“After looking at the gas prices and driving my wife’s mini-van into town, I suddenly noticed that when I went to pee I almost couldn’t find my ‘member'”, lamented Rick, a local business owner. “I think I need to get some of that Cialis or something”.
The main thing all these men seemed to have in common was penis-prostetic truck syndrome. Some usually drove Hummers, Ford F350’s or jacked up Dodge trucks. “Its a real shame, there’s just nothing we can do for these men, they are just going to have to learn to cope without their penis extensions”, said the emergency room doctor.
“The demand for erectile medication is increasing faster than we can cope with”, claimed one local pharmacist. “I’ve directed many men to go looking online”.
In other news, the market for high end electronics has never looked better.
jobiuspublius
Hey look at it this way. Katrina is an opportunity to creat a new industry right here at home, Disaster Profiteering. More jobs, more GDP, by eating our own.
BinkyBoy
We already have that, its called the “Fair”, lotteries and cigarette taxes.
zzyzx
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050901/capt.gagb10209010023.katrina_oil_gagb102.jpg?x=380&y=317&sig=5Ds3LMgmsdudrbngBxiuCg–
zzyzx
Hmmm that doesn’t seem to work anymore for some reason. Sorry. It’s a shot of gas at 5.87/5.97/6.07
MrSnrub
Gas station last night in the Philly burbs: $2.85 regular. This morning: $3.20 regular.
Oh,Boy.Stupidity!
Why are the Lefties upset about high gas prices? High gas prices will cause consumers to use less, producers will then start to develop alternative solutions.
As for the quick rise in prices, it’s because the next batch of gas the suppliers will buy will be much higher than the current batch. The current high price is needed so they can buy the next round. Get it?
Of course you guys wouldn’t want the gas co’s to go out of business, would you?
So when are George Soros and TH Kerry gonna start cutting checks, you know, for the children?
Krista
I don’t have a beef with big vehicles, per se. But a lot of people have them when it’s just not needed. If you use your truck for work, then I feel bad for you, ’cause you’re going to be paying a fortune in gas, and don’t really have the option to downgrade. But there are a lot of people out there who have these ostentatious Hummers or Lincoln Navigators, and the furthest offroad they go is their cousin Bill’s driveway, which hasn’t been re-paved in awhile. I figure, if you don’t really NEED a vehicle like that, and if you can afford the car payment and the insurance that a behemoth like that commands, well…you have every right to bitch about gas prices, but you’re not going to find a lot of sympathy.
RSA
Here in southern California, I gassed up this morning (Thursday), at $2.89 per gallon. No difference from last month. We’ll see how long it takes for the prices to rise.
salvage
Bucky- I’ve never heard of a 2-liter hemi before (not saying there ain’t such a thing however), the only ones I’ve seen have been on big ass trucks who need every fuel efficiency engineered trick. So odds are if you’re driving a hemi you’re driving a vehicle that by its very nature is a gas guzzler and having a hemi only means that it’s less of a gas guzzler than other massive trucks. So instead of paying $100 to fill it up you’re paying $93.
But I know, if anyone, anywhere needs to haul wood or move a fridge you’re ready to go!
Mr.Ortiz
Oh,Boy.Stupidity is right. I mean, in the name he chose for himself, not the content of his post. I’d explain why, but everyone who agrees with me already understands and everyone who doesn’t will call me an islamo-fascist or something really creative and irrelevant like that.
Buckaroo
Dude, think early 70’s (Toyota 2TC)
Krista is correct, it’s a need thing. It’s far more efficient for me to make the 150 mile round trip to Costco and “load up” in my pick-em-up truck (360 V8 BTW) than take the wifes car which gets double the mileage but would take three trips. Then there is the need to pull the flatbed loaded with building materials. Funny how a six just doesn’t have the torque to pull 5000 pounds up a steep grade. I would have got the diesel if the payback on the $3000 premimum was quicker (probably still isn’t worth it).
You scoot your butt around in an Echo and do what you need to do, more power to ya, but nosy liberals telling me what I need to drive, eat, and where I can/can’t smoke while claiming to respect privacy and personal rights just need to build a bridge and get over it.
skip
Now, years later, we have audiotapes of Enron execs laughing about gouging California during an “energy crisis.” Wait a few years and we’ll know all about who is profitiing over the spiking gas prices.
They will, however, be long gone–living large in Nassau, or Crawford.
Mr.Ortiz
Every time the news says “gas prices may go up as a result of X”, gas prices are up the very next day and people think it’s ok because the news said it would happen. It’s pure profiteering and has nothing to do with the price of unrefined gas.
Companies in industries with real competition will put off price hikes for as long as possible. How much has Walmart raised its prices in the past 2 days? They eat the extra cost of fuel because they know it’s temporary and they know they can hold out longer than K-Mart.
salvage
>but nosy liberals telling me what I need to drive, eat, and where I can/can’t smoke while claiming to respect privacy and personal rights just need to build a bridge and get over it.
Muh? Can you show me where I told you what to drive and eat? Drive the Munster’s car while jamming a Big Mac wrapped around a whole Taco Bell for all I care.
(By the way nosy would be someone looking into your private business; I think you’re thinking of pushy.)
If you can’t understand why some people might not like to inhale your carcinogenetic clothing and space fouling drug then I can’t help you. I know the monkey gets so hard on your back that you can’t go an hour without feeding him, it’s tough being a junky.
So judging from the above you’re in favor of legalized drugs or at least the decriminalization? Or are you one of those addicts who’s picky and choosey about what lethal narcotic we should be allowed to ingest.
Man is it just me or do the conservatives here have a real persecution streak? Tell me is there anything anyone can say / do that doesn’t offend your sensibilities?
salvage: “Hey maybe people should drive more fuel efficient cars so they’re not paying more at the pumps.”
Conservative: “Waaaah don’t tell us what to do! You’re not the boss of me! I do wha’ I want… wha-evah biatch! I’m gonna go buy one of those trucks that comes with it’s own Exxon station in the flatbed, you can have a tailgate pool party with it, comes with its own life guard, it’s gets two feet per gallon! That’ll show you stupid liberals that I do wha’ I want!”
Krista
Goodness…
I think it really does come down to need. Drive as small (and as efficient) a vehicle as you can get away with. And by need, I wasn’t really referring to shopping trips to Costco. That’s a matter of convenience, not genuine need. I can see why you’d find a truck much more convenient or sensible for those trips, though.
By need, I meant people like my father-in-law, who owns his own business in the fishing industry and uses a half-ton pickup to haul tubs of ice and bait back and forth. They just wouldn’t physically fit in a car, and he has to transport that stuff around to run his business. That’s what I consider need.
But, I’m not really one to talk. My vehicle is bigger than I need. (But it was a phenomenal deal at the time.) My next car is going to be tiny, though. Or, it’ll be a hybrid if there are some reasonably priced used ones available then.
BinkyBoy
I own a small farm, I need supplies constantly. That doesn’t force me to drive a new F350 kingcab with a longbed, though. I have my farm truck, but I don’t drive it unless absolutely necessary. Instead I have my light car that gets great mileage and doesn’t pollute.
I see tons of people driving large SUV’s and trucks to a daily office, though, and to me thats just irresponsible and they deserve the slander and ridicule.
Buckaroo
Muh?
Do you mean Moi????
I said “nosy liberals”. Maybe you just naturally aspire to that group????
You suggested earlier that we all downsize eh? Sounds like you do “care”.
Sorry dude, I don’t smoke, but given the recent push in Maryland to ban people from smoking in their own houses, I think the liberal concept of “privacy” extending only to what they consider good for their nanny causes is getting a bit tiring.
I also think the US war-on-some-drugs to be a total wasted effort.
Point being, I don’t know you, you don’t know me. Don’t be surprised when someone slaps away your finger when your pointing at them and whining.
Go hug yourself or something and do your daily affirmations
Krista
I agree completely with Binkyboy on this one. I also see a lot of people driving huge SUVs or trucks to the office for their daily commute, when the only thing that they’re hauling in there is their briefcase and a coffee. There’s a lot of that up here because people seem to feel that these behemoths are safer in the snow. All it does is make a lot of them drive like idiots because they feel that they’re invincible. (I was rear-ended by an SUV on a slushy road once, so I’m a little bitter.)
salvage
>Do you mean Moi????
No it’s a sort of a “Huurrrn?” like the noise Scooby Doo makes when he’s confused.
>I said “nosy liberals”. Maybe you just naturally aspire to that group????
Er no, it’s just that you were talking to me so I assumed you were talking to me… sorry for the confusion.
>You suggested earlier that we all downsize eh? Sounds like you do “care”.
I care to make suggestions but in no way am I making demands, you paying more for gas doesn’t affect me one way or the other. I just like being a fountain of good advice.
>Sorry dude, I don’t smoke, but given the recent push in Maryland to ban people from smoking in their own houses,
Wha? What kind of idiot would even think of making a law like that? Hmm unless the law were framed as a “save the children’s lungs” kind of thing, bet that’d get some traction. Sorry but my knowledge of Maryland civic politics is on par with my knowledge of Rohde Island and Auckland’s.
>I also think the US war-on-some-drugs to be a total wasted effort.
Word.
Jim Caputo
Forget personal budgets and safety, how about switching to more fuel efficient vehicles because it’s in our NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS to do so.
I don’t understand how people who profess to love America, and love the troops, can drive around in these monster fuel guzzlers completely oblivious to the fact that by doing so they cement our dependency on foreign oil.
I don’t understand how people who profess to love America, and love the troops, can drive around in these monster fuel guzzlers completely oblivious to the fact that they are increasing demand and driving up prices on not just gas, but just about everything, thereby weakening our already struggling economy.
If you love this country, if you want to minimize the chances of us having to get into situations like Iraq where our young kids get killed, if you want to help build a strong US economy, you’ll stop being so goddamn arrogant about using so much gasoline just because you can.
But if you don’t give a shit about how many of our kids get killed on foreign soil, and if you don’t give a shit about the economic precipice we sit on as a result of our dependency on foreign oil, then keep on making up for your inadequacies by buying bigger and bigger cars that use up more and more gasoline. You’re doing a lot of good for this country you profess to love.
Buckaroo
Err, Democrats?
BinkyBoy
Oh good grief. Democrats my ass. The article you posted quotes one councilmember that happens to be a democrat. Even from their council web page you can’t tell who’s who.
yet another jeff
Yeah, only the drivers of highly fuel efficient vehicles can complain about price gouging. Also, they will be required to blame it on anyone that doesn’t drive a highly fuel efficient vehicle. Taunting helps the situation greatly.
Oh,Boy.Stupidity!
HUH?
Oh,Boy.Stupidity!
Yeah, I can’t wait for all those Priuses and Echos to start hauling in all those supplies to NOLA.
Buckaroo
The first are on their way
oops, I forgot, the Priuses are full of batteries that contain lots of heavy metals that poison the environment when they get thrown away after use….
Veeshir
The place that was 2.55 on Monday is 2.99 today. Pass. I’ll go to the place that was 2.65 and went up to 2.89. I’ll never go back to the ‘cheap’ place. I don’t like gougers.
]
Krista
This isn’t a case of all or nothing, guys. Of course there will always be big trucks around. Shipping companies aren’t going to start using a SmartCar. That’s just common sense. The point is that a lot of people have WAY more vehicle than they reasonably need. If even half of the suburbanite SUV owners downgraded to something a bit less gargantuan, it would make a real difference in emmisions, and in our dependence on oil.
Buckaroo
Krista,
I take it you are from the Great White North?
Canada is a global exporter of oil, the tar sands of Alberta will keep you all in oil for a _very_ long time. It just sucks that the global oil trade makes your domestic production prices follow the global prices.
Your point on Shipping Companies. “Trucking” in the US uses something like 70% of all the distilates used for motor fuel. Having half of the suburbanites downsize would have nowhere the effect of a massive boost in rail transport to subsidize trucking.
This country has done so well economically in part due to being very efficient. A point will be reached where alternative transport (i.e. rail) will supplant over the road hauling. As to the single passenger Ford Executioner driver, I say let economics determine what they drive.
Krista
Would your government invest in the rail system, though? I could be wrong on this, but it seems like the oil companies do have quite a bit of sway in U.S. politics. Would any administration be willing to really start investing in alternative modes of shipping, at the risk of alienating these financial behemoths?
And yeah, it does suck. Alberta has all this oil, yet we’re paying more at the pumps than you guys are. Figure that one out. :)
BinkyBoy
The Republican’s made sure raid died in the late 80’s. They heavily subsidized the trucking industry, using the suddenly low cost of gas as justification.
Ah, short term gain over long term stability, always a Republican standard.
Buckaroo
The rail system is basically owned by the railroads (leftovers from the 1800’s). It’s at capacity now but the real investment is to upgrade/update the rail services into the ports. Trains still use oil (diesel), they are just more efficient per ton of cargo so I doubt any nefarious oil company dealings would be involved.
When gas here was $1.20/gallon, BC was $0.95/liter (CD) when I was up there. When gas here rose to $2.20, it was still only $0.96 in BC. Basically we were just in a refining capacity limit then. When the global crude demand outstripped supply was when I saw Canadian prices jump.
Hey, you still have free health care! ;)
Oh,Boy.Stupidity!
Yeah, look how well govt. handouts for the past 60 years have improved So. Central LA, East St. Louis, West Philly…..
Oh, wait, those areas are still mired in poverty. But you were saying something about the long term.
GT
Alberta’s probalby payign more in taxes I’ll bet, in fact at the usuall prices here ae around half in taxes. I imagine (pure speculation) that taxes on gas are higher there.
As for rail, it’s just not good enough. It’s inefficeint for everything but high load long distance cargo, it’s inflecxible for smal loads or variable delivery. Also it eats more land.
Rail only has one use, cargo and bulk passengers, roads are dual use and far cheaper to make and maintain and we’d have to have lots of them anyway. So use teh infrastructure you’ll need anyway and retain felxibility and effeicniecy in deliver, use trucks
Off Colfax
Gah, can’t you trolls just get a life? Every single god damn post over here gets you folks ripping each other a fraging new one!
This is about gas prices. Not the specific ideologies involved. Get a hint. And get a life.
And just to get back on topic: On Sunday, gas in the Denver area was $2.49 per gallon. Today, we’re hitting 3 bucks even. And there was a local station that (on Monday afternoon, at that) was selling gas at $3.50 per.
And odds are, it’ll rise again on Tuesday.
tzs
I saw $3.49/gallon here near Chicago.
What is more worrying are the gas tanks with the pumps covered over. I saw a Citgo near Indy with Diesel only (the nearby Mobil was ok but expensive–3.35 for 89 octane, then the BP I filled up again near Chicago (route 30) only had the highest-grade octane (at 3.30$/gallon)
Anyone else with info on dry stations?
goonie bird
Were paying $3:05 here in northern california and frankly its past time to start drilling in the ANWR and stop listening to the malarkey from the green weenies in the dumb green weenie groups let the polar bears eat the green weenies
Veeshir
Monday it was $2.55, I didn’t go that route again until yesterday and it was $2.99, today it’s $3.19.
I’ll never go there again. Even if I get a happy ending with my fill-up.
Bastid.