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Report Your Local Gas Prices Here (retired discussion, please see the new one)

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Comments

  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    The U.S. exports 30% of it oil. They put it on the world market looking for buyers. :mad:

    Rocky
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I am not sure our current consumption. It was about 4 million barrels a day. At a million barrels a day the Prudhoe Bay fields were 25% of our consumption. I think they say production because a lot is sent to the Far East. Not all goes to the West Coast. BP sells to Korea and maybe Japan. That is why they say US production rather than a percentage of our consumption. It is really easier to buy oil from Canada and Mexico than Alaska. And of course Saudi oil is desirable because of the quality. Easier to refine. The Global oil pool is pretty complex.

    I do agree the media twists things around. I would say they have as much to do with the knee jerk oil price reactions as anything.
  • p100p100 Member Posts: 1,116
    As high as $ 3.30/gallon for 93 octane, at most places $ 3 for regular, $ 3.10 midgrade, $3.20 premium.

    Now, with the Middle East up in flames, quagmire in Iraq, BP Alaskan oil field shutdown, possible hurricane damage to oil facilities in the near future, and insatiable oil corporation greed, let's look forward to a substantial gas price climb. Again.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    The U.S. actually exports oil? Why? I'd think we'd use every drop we can get before importing it.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I'm counting on $5 gas to keep a few more people off the roads. I cannot go anywhere anytime of the day without traffic congestion. Does anybody work anymore? I think everyone has a job driving around all day.

    $3.15 for regular and $3.36 for Premium at our Costco. Many stations close to $3.50 for regular. Some stations in the county as low as $3.11.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    Nope lemko 30% of our domestic oil is put on the world market. The highest bidder gets it. This is why I was against drilling in Alaska. However they are liars and say that if we allow them to drill off our coast in Florida, gas prices will go down. China, said if you don't drill U.S. we will. :mad:

    So now our domestic oil company's have that excuse working for them. :sick:

    Rocky

    P.S. I think it's just a matter of time lemko, before we start to see $4 dollar gas pal, even with all the new drilling. :mad:
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Mexico and Canada are closer than Alaska. It costs more to transport by ship and pipeline. It all costs the same for a given grade of crude. It is really not important where the oil comes from as long as we can get it. Just so many folks wanting the lifestyle they see on US satellite TV in the rest of the World. More cars, more oil, higher prices.

    It also provides high paying jobs for Americans. US workers are in all parts of the world sending their paychecks home for momma to spend here in the USA. I think I just read that 50,000 American civilians are working in Iraq. Making the big bucks. The oil business is good pay. You may not be home with the kids every night.
  • p100p100 Member Posts: 1,116
    Agree. Traffic around here too has gotten absolutely unbearable in the last few years due to insane new home and apartment building construction pace. On top of that, there is a large number of retirees in the area who have nothing better to do than drive around all day.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    if we allow them to drill off our coast in Florida, gas prices will go down

    I'm not sure it would do more than just stabilize supply. The issue is, do we want Cuba drilling 45 miles from Key West. They may not worry as much about spilling oil as we will. It will happen and probably sooner than later.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    I think a bill is going through congress right now over it. ;)

    If it actually will lower my local gas price by a good chunk then I will be for it. :lemon:

    Rocky
  • covestercovester Member Posts: 4
    I think you have to remember that the US oil companies are public company and their only obligation is to get the highest price for their stock holders (capitalism).

    With this in mind they could sell all of their supply to other countries if they wish. I have wondered with all the US currency the Asian countries are holding why they don't buy the US oil companies on the free market.
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    Will our dependence on oil ever end? is the best place for this line of conversation... let's leave this one just for local gas prices. Thanks!

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • plektoplekto Member Posts: 3,738
    Yep - it went down a *dime* - for the first time in three months. Regular is now an "bargain" $3.35. In the largest urban market for gasoline in the world.
  • jae5jae5 Member Posts: 1,206
    We're going to be in for it big-time:

    BP Oil Leak

    :cry: :sick:
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/07/news/international/oil_alaska/

    New worry for drivers: BP shuts oilfield
    Damaged pipeline in Alaska affects about 8% of U.S. oil production; record gas may be coming.
    By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer
    August 7 2006: 11:06 AM EDT

    NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- In a blow to drivers already struggling with high gasoline prices, BP was forced to shut about 8 percent of the nation's domestic oil production after discovering "unexpectedly severe corrosion" in its pipelines in Alaska.

    BP announced early Monday that the pipeline problems had caused it to begin the first shutdown ever in the biggest oilfield in the United States, Alaska's Prudhoe Bay.

    Part of the pipeline that ruptured in March leading to the worst spill on Alaska's North Slope. BP began shutting down Prudhoe Bay after it discovered a small spill and more than a dozen sections of severe corrosion on other pipelines in its field.

    Oil futures, already near record highs hit in July, shot higher on the announcement, and gasoline futures also rose.

    The shutdown could be the tipping point that push gasoline prices to a record high, said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at New Jersey-based Oil Price Information Service, noting prices are already close to record levels.

    "Prices are likely to rise 3 to 5 cents a gallon for the next few days," he told CNN.

    The average price for a gallon of unleaded regular stood at $3.036 on Monday, according to the survey that Kloza's firm conducts for AAA. The record high is $3.057, set Sept. 5, 2005, a week after Hurricane Katrina.

    In trading Monday, U.S. light crude futures surged $1.54 to $76.30 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gasoline futures rose 3.35 cents to $2.2650 a gallon.
  • phinneas519phinneas519 Member Posts: 113
    The low-level stuff is $3.15 here in central Wisconsin. The reason I speak regionally is because all of the prices here are always the same, with no variation. Hm...racket? Today I put in about 4 gallons (I do one "big" commute per week, 70 miles round trip) at $3.15 a gallon...I should've filled up on Friday when it was still $3.09 - oh well.

    Also, what a coincidence that there's a problem with the BP pipeline when an above-3 dollar, more or less, ceiling has been reached. Now they can push above that with relative ease. It would appear that they made no effort to make preventative maintenance and now all we get is a "whoopsie" and a price hike.
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    Yes...there was some corrosion and rusting and minor oil leak...and now they have to shut down the largest ALaska oil field....?!

    WELL, I only hope they are not pulliing an Enron on us...that it is a true emergency.

    Bright side is that more people will get accustomed to the high prices...and arrange their finances and choose their car purchases more carefully....
  • todmtodm Member Posts: 1
    Sure is not as bad as other places but bad enough !!!!
    got rid of our 03' Expedition got about 16mpg on that and bought two Kia Spectras getting about 30 mpg on those
    american auto makers better do something to start getting some of the market share back or they want need to worry about it they just keep pumping out the gas guzzlers GM and Ford would not buy don't care how much of a price break i could get when i would have to fill up ever five days i fill up in about 12 days now
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    It all does seem like an awfully large coincidence, doesn't it?

    One would think something like this would impact profits...but I'll wager an awful lot of money the only impact seen will be positive (for their pockets).
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    One place at $2.75, two at $2.77, three at $2.79
  • p100p100 Member Posts: 1,116
    http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/07/news/economy.gas.prices/index.htm?cnn=yes

    BTW, I just reached a personal record. I paid $ 43 and change to fill up my '99 Mazda 626 tank yeasterday. I remember spending $ 17 to fill it up when I bought the car.
  • p100p100 Member Posts: 1,116
    and read what the prices were in 2000. That's when Bill Clinton was still the president, and the "worst" problem this country had was Monica Lewinsky.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Just about a dollar cheaper 6 years ago.

    That's not really and "awfully huge" increase.

    P.S. And the worst problem the USA had in 2000 was not ML either.
  • p100p100 Member Posts: 1,116
    "Just about a dollar cheaper"?

    Read message #4: March 2000. Less than $ 1.50/gallon for regular. That's less than half of what we pay today.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    In 1974 gas was $1.47 and by March 1981 it was $2.75

    There are a lot more factors driving prices high now than there were back then. So we are still getting a bargain, especially comparatively to the rest of the civilized world.

    The higher the better if you ask me. Forces more people to conserve and carpool and bus and bike and Segway and buy smaller cars.
  • p100p100 Member Posts: 1,116
    "The higher the better, if you ask me."

    Well, why don't you send a check for $ 100 to your favorite oil company executive charity every time you fill up?
  • crazycarmancrazycarman Member Posts: 2
    Spoilt americans! Try paying over $3.86 USD for petrol down under.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,672
    >Try paying over $3.86 USD

    How much of that is tax? I'll have to check our pump here for the total tax, state and federal, on our gallons. I think it's about 50 cents.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • w9cww9cw Member Posts: 888
    $3.29 for regular unleaded in Champaign-Urbana, IL (east central Illinois).
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    Well you guys have the option of taking the Kangaroo. It only requires to be fed and watered. :P

    Rocky
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    p100 said, "Well, why don't you send a check for $ 100 to your favorite oil company executive charity every time you fill up?"

    Um, are you being facetious? :D

    My point is not "the higher the better to make the oil companies richer" but is instead:

    The higher the better to encourage people to STOP DRIVING SO MUCH.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    The media doomsdayers last night were squawking about the possibility of $4/gallon gas on the west coast by the end of September. Never ceases to amaze me how a x% reduction in supply results in a x^3% price increase.

    Will big oil be forced to invest in the maintenance of their infrastructure now? They suck up all this unjustifiable and amoral corporate welfare and still won't act responsibly. Some of these guys need to be put in a world of hurt.
  • plektoplekto Member Posts: 3,738
    They have us believing that normal costs of business and repairs and so on, which they handled for a hundred years just fine - as part of their day-to-day operations now should be footed by the consumer.

    Plant closing for repainting of storage tanks - gas prices expected to go up 20 cents at 5 manufacturers!(never mind that BP has nothing to do with Conoco)

    Pipeline being repaired for the first time in a decade! Prices skyrocket!

    One oil rig damaged in hurricane(never mind the hundreds in the past decades) - this time, it's going to cripple everything! Stop the presses!

    Investing in infrastructure already hapens - the just make a lot of smoke and noise about it as they spike the prices.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    And they suck public funds and still pass it to the consumer. If ever civil disobedience was needed in contemporary times, it's against the oil companies and their suits.
  • jae5jae5 Member Posts: 1,206
    Read that as well - haven't checked anything since 1992:

    BP Pipeline

    I like how they state "gap in maintenance"...
  • jae5jae5 Member Posts: 1,206
    $3.29?!

    I thought it would be less down there than here in the west suburbs near work.

    But that's still less than Chi-town and downtown Chi (even though that's not saying much) :sick:
  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    ... but this is not some kind of conspiracy.

    Gas prices reached $1.40 for regular back at the start of Reagan's presidency (1981), but receded to as low as 75 cents/gallon in the spring of 1986 (I still have my old handwritten logs).

    They spiked again to just around $1.50 or so in 1990 when Saddam invaded Kuwait, but by that halcyon year of 1999 (before 9/11, Bush, Sharon, and Iraq war #2), I was again paying under 85 cents.

    It wasn't until April 2005 did I pay more than $2.00 per gallon. Throughout the bulk of this 14-year period (1981-2005), I paid maybe $1.20-$1.30 or so on average for 87 no-lead. (All prices are in then-current dollars, not adjusted for inflation.)

    If the oil companies were so greedy and heartless, how did they "allow" prices to come down and stay down so much since 1981 (until the recent runup in the last couple of years)?

    Yeah, it'd be nice to go back to the days when Monica Lewinsky and Y2K issues were our biggest worries! Ain't gonna happen though!
  • growwisegrowwise Member Posts: 296
    They should come to Canada ;) ... Gas peaked at $1.22 per litre in montreal yesterday. So that comes to $4.64 per gallon.. Ouch :sick:

    Ofcourse today back in Toronto, its $1.07 per litre which still is high (3.8 litres = 1 gallon = $4 )

    What puzzles me is how much it fluctuates during one day. Come morning when motorists are getting ready to go to work, its high and come night, its low. Last night it was $1.02 per liter.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,672
    >3.8 litres = 1 gallon = $4

    And how much of that is taxes? Remove taxes before you compare actual prices between Canada and US.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Date Price
    8/94 1.30
    8/95 1.40
    8/96 1.46
    8/97 1.52
    8/98 1.26
    8/99 1.50
    8/00 1.80
    8/01 1.58
    8/02 1.52
    8/03 1.80
    8/04 1.95
    8/05 2.40
    8/06 2.93

    That it has risen so sharply in the last few years is what has drivers frustrated, however, in comparison to prices of other items such as food and housing, it is still underpriced. Above prices were recorded as paid in SW WA.
  • plektoplekto Member Posts: 3,738
    8/06 3.39 (Los Angeles)

    It's twice as expensive as four years ago - and half of our oil didn't just dry up in that time, either.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    Heard on the news today, that gas is expected to start hitting $4.00 in the near future. :mad:

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...called "The Smartest Guys in the Room." One part showed the artificial power shortage it caused in California to drive up the price of energy. They even had tapes of traders laughing about how much profit they were making by screwing California. I think the whole world is being Enron'ed by the oil companies.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    BP stands for British Petroleum, maybe it should be:

    Big Problems
    Bullcrap Propaganda
    Busted Pipes
    Bumps Prices
    Bush's Pet

    From the Philadelphia newspaper:

    http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/15229016.htm
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    lemko, you made my stomach hurt with laughing cramps with that post pal. :D

    Rocky
  • jae5jae5 Member Posts: 1,206
    Rock,

    Check this out:

    Wagoner Not Worried
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    Really, a comparison to wages is the most relevant comparision.....food hasn't increased so much (to go along with wages), and housing is quite reasonable in provincial SW WA. Hard to call it "underpriced" unless one is an oil company shareholder.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    with all the bad news about the 'bp' pipeline problem, gas dropped from 3.25x to 3.19x x=9 :surprise:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • kernickkernick Member Posts: 4,072
    fin: Really, a comparison to wages is the most relevant comparision.

    me: In 1985 I remember paying about $1.25/gal. I was out of college for a few years. I'm making about 3 times what I was then, working in manufacturing. I guess I've made more with experience, but in my case salary has kept up with gas prices.

    I see no major difference yet in the amount of traffic on the roads around here. I work with a lot of people who still drive their PU's to work and haven't traded them in on Civics. The people complain about the gas price increase, which is perfectly logical. I'll BELIEVE they are being inconvenienced when they actually take ACTION.

    Name brand 93 octane is running about $3.16 here in NH. 87 can be had for $2.92.
This discussion has been closed.