...when prices were really high, there was this one gas station, the cheapest guy around (I think it was Xtra Fuels or something like that) would run out of 87 octane on a regular basis. I used to always hit that station on the nights I was delivering pizzas. When I'd have a run down that way, I'd just swing by and fill up.
I don't know if all gas stations are like this, or just this one, but they didn't have a pre-mix of 89 octane. When you selected 89, the pump would draw from the 87 and 93 octane tank, at a proportion that would yield 89 octane. So when the 87 ran out, they lost their 89 too!
Prices in the St. Louis metro area seem to be hovering around the $1.499 mark for regular 87 octane, with 89 octane at $1.599 and 93 octane at $1.699
I think the highest I've paid in the past 90 days was $1.679 for regular, but historically, according to my data kept for about two years, the highest I've paid for 87 octane was $1.1879 in August of 2001. Probably a trip to the Chicago area, as it seemed to be a spike in my price history.
...for $1.639 a gallon last night. Small station up the road that I keep forgetting the name. Sounds kinda like "Enron." Elroy? Enroy? Something like that. One of my credit cards is supposedly offering 5% cash back on gasoline purchases, so I used it last night...we'll see when the bill comes in!
Andy, Shifty's in the SF Bay area. I agree - here in NJ, diesel is also up around premium gasoline, but that will change dramatically in about a week. Winter-mix diesel production is over, as is winter production of home heating oil (which is essentially the same as Diesel-2 without the vehicle additives). Diesel will start coming WAY down in the northern tier.
you will find a positive corollation between places that use a lot of heating oil for heat and higher diesel prices.
I think heating oil and diesel are very similar fuels, so when you fraction the crude, you probably have to choose which you get when you are processing.
Just my guess.
TB Currently in the NW suburbs of Chicago, with higher fuel prices.
The price drop spreads... 87 down to $1.559 in Happy Valley. That's a bit more spread than usual between State College and Altoona. If the Altoona price holds, we may see another drop here as well.
...than what I paid a few days ago, but I just paid $1.959 for 93 octane here in the pricey north side of Chicago. I'm just dying to get my Civic/Corolla/Protege so I can stop driving this 14mpg Blazer. Sigh.
The price of a barrel of oil has dropped from a high of around $38 a couple of weeks ago to around $28 a barrel now, wonder when petroleum products will show the price drop?
Fuel prices have dropped about 15% in the St. Louis area when I take out taxes. While it seems crude has dropped about 30-35%
What I don't know are the fixed costs such as production and so forth, so I can't say that the materials cost changes are truely reflected. But, if half the cost of a gallon of fuel is materials, and half is the production and delivery costs, then prices in St. Louis have dropped commesurate with materials costs.
Of course, my two year average for fuel prices is about $1.36/gallon and it is now about $1.50/gallon, which is 10-11% higher than my running average.
What I don't have is the running average of crude oil over the same two year period, but I think crude was running from $20-$25/barrel.
So to me, the current prices don't seem out of wack.
Of course there are other factors. The EPA has been messing around with fuel formulation requirements, so you can have local shortages and price issues.
Like I've said before:
1. Fuel is a commodity that is traded daily, so the only way oil refiners can affect price is by limiting production.
2. Fuel is one of the smallest parts of total vehicle ownership/operating costs. Furthermore, many people pay more in interest on car loans than they do on their fuel costs, yet they complain about the fuel costs more than the loan costs, very odd in my opinion.
At least your prices seem to follow supply and demand. Up here in Alaska our gas prices go up slower but they never really come down. When you guys down south are paying $2.00 a gallon we are only paying $1.70 but now that your prices are dropping we are still paying $1.70, I expect we MAY see $1.60 but I am not holding my breath.
State College, PA... 87 dropped to $1.49 today. Altoona still holding at $1.45
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While regular gas stations hover around $1.56 for 87 and $1.75 for 93, Sam's Club today had 87 for $1.44 and 93 for $1.55. I couldn't believe how cheap 93 was, it's usually only 10-12 cents less than other stations.
anywhere. For a decent price I might add. Also, a tidy choice of Gyros. As for the ghastly gas prices in the Puget Sound area of Washington state, I'm still paying between $1.79-$1.89 a gallon over here for regular unleaded. What's up with that? Thought it was supposed to be dropping. Fear is a horrible thing.
Chicago has some of the best food around, especially 'fast food' (pizza, burritos, Italian beef). It's hard not to get obese here.
TB, contact me a few days before you come to town and we can have a beer or dinner. I'll try to do the same if I'm in the St. Louis metro area (I have an ex and some family friends there, so it could happen). If you're ever in West County (Ballwin), check out Hunan & Peking Gardens (on Manchester between 141 and Weinman, same plaza as Office Depot). It's my favorite Chinese restaurant on earth.
OK, back to gasoline. Dreading having to fill the Blazer once again today (it's at about three times every two weeks now, @$35-40 each). We're still hovering in the $1.70-2.00 range.
State College, PA... $1.499 for 87, but it feels like there's a change coming for some reason that I can't quite get a grip on...
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...at $1.599 a gallon for the cheapest stations around here (Crofton, MD)...WaWa, Enroy. I lucked out though with my AAA credit card, which gives a 5% rebate for gasoline purchases. So effectively, it's coming out to $1.519 a gallon.
Now, just as long as I pay that card in full, so I don't incur any interest...
I payed $1.29 per gallon last night.. All stores around that corner were $1.29 to $1.31.. I did see a store on another corner the only station around and they were still set at $1.48
(all of these figures are euros per litre - I here assume a 1/1 parity, and 3.4l to a gallon - which immediately translates to 1 euro per liter == $3.4 per gallon. This is for Diesel fuel, add 0.15/0.20 for gasoline)
Feb 9th: 0.779 Feb 23rd: 0.809 March 9th: 0.869 March 13th: 0.894 March 23rd: 0.872 March 30th: 0.849 Apr 6th: 0.806 Apr 10th, today: 0.779
In nearby Bellefonte, PA I saw a set of three self serve gas stations, two side by side and one a half-block down the street on the opposite side. Listed prces on 87 octane were $1.45 and $1.59 side by side, with $1.43 across the street. "Brand loyalty" must still exist!!
The Subaru Crew meets every Thursday at 6PM PT/9PM ET... stop by and join us to talk Subaru or anything else automotive that might come up! Hope to see you there tonight!
Here in west suburban Chicago (Elgin area)gas prices are $1.48 for regular unleaded, $1.58 for mid-grade, and $1.68 for premium. There have been some local gas wars where regular has gone as low as $1.44. Most of the rest of the metro area goes something like this:
Marathon and Citgo are the lowest. Citgo is surprising since much of their gas comes out of Venezuela. Mobil, Shell, and BP-Amoco tend to be more expensive.
At a Sheets gas station today in St. Mary's Co, Md. I had to run my Granddad down there so he could be at his great-granddaughter's 1st birthday party, so I took the opportunity to fill up down there where it's cheaper! I used my credit card that gives me 5% off gas purchases, so it really comes out to around $1.39 a gallon. I can't remember the last time I paid that little for gas! It was nice to see a fill-up for less than $20 for a change!
I don't care much about my local gas prices anymore. I look at the spot prices in the WSJ once a week and I like what I see- settling into long-term equilibrium.
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http://www.spyderchat.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=933
I don't know if all gas stations are like this, or just this one, but they didn't have a pre-mix of 89 octane. When you selected 89, the pump would draw from the 87 and 93 octane tank, at a proportion that would yield 89 octane. So when the 87 ran out, they lost their 89 too!
Oct. 2002 Jan. 2003 March 2003
Unleaded 1.399 1.499 1.899
Plus 1.499 1.599 1.969
Premium 1.569 1.669 2.039
Most places are about $0.15/gallon higher across the board for all grades. Some neigbor island sites peg regular unleaded at almost $2.30 per gallon!
If your tank is getting low, better fill-up now as the price the next morning could go up a few more cents per gallon!
I think the highest I've paid in the past 90 days was $1.679 for regular, but historically, according to my data kept for about two years, the highest I've paid for 87 octane was $1.1879 in August of 2001. Probably a trip to the Chicago area, as it seemed to be a spike in my price history.
TB
Which BTW was not true say 3 months ago.
I paid $1.859 for Shell 93 octane, diesel was $1.999. FWIW Diesel is readily available in this area, most stations have it.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
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I think heating oil and diesel are very similar fuels, so when you fraction the crude, you probably have to choose which you get when you are processing.
Just my guess.
TB
Currently in the NW suburbs of Chicago, with higher fuel prices.
Across the street was an open but deserted Mobil station charging $1.699 for the same 87 octane regular.
Heading North on Arlington Hgts Road up to Golf road for dinner I saw 87 octane go for prices ranging from $1.649 to $1.779
All within about 10 minutes drive.
I topped off so I should have enough to get downstate, back to my $1.499 fuel at home, LOL.
TB
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What I don't know are the fixed costs such as production and so forth, so I can't say that the materials cost changes are truely reflected. But, if half the cost of a gallon of fuel is materials, and half is the production and delivery costs, then prices in St. Louis have dropped commesurate with materials costs.
Of course, my two year average for fuel prices is about $1.36/gallon and it is now about $1.50/gallon, which is 10-11% higher than my running average.
What I don't have is the running average of crude oil over the same two year period, but I think crude was running from $20-$25/barrel.
So to me, the current prices don't seem out of wack.
Of course there are other factors. The EPA has been messing around with fuel formulation requirements, so you can have local shortages and price issues.
Like I've said before:
1. Fuel is a commodity that is traded daily, so the only way oil refiners can affect price is by limiting production.
2. Fuel is one of the smallest parts of total vehicle ownership/operating costs. Furthermore, many people pay more in interest on car loans than they do on their fuel costs, yet they complain about the fuel costs more than the loan costs, very odd in my opinion.
FWIW,
TB
Sams is at 1.49
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87 octane $1.829
89 octane $1.929
93 octane $2.029
This is in the epicenter of the north side, so definitely on the pricier side of averages, but it gives you an idea of what we pay here.
TB
Back in St. Louis, wanting an Italian Beef
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
TB, contact me a few days before you come to town and we can have a beer or dinner. I'll try to do the same if I'm in the St. Louis metro area (I have an ex and some family friends there, so it could happen). If you're ever in West County (Ballwin), check out Hunan & Peking Gardens (on Manchester between 141 and Weinman, same plaza as Office Depot). It's my favorite Chinese restaurant on earth.
OK, back to gasoline. Dreading having to fill the Blazer once again today (it's at about three times every two weeks now, @$35-40 each). We're still hovering in the $1.70-2.00 range.
TB
87- $2.159
89- $2.259
91- $2.359
This at the cheapest branded station I can find. This happens to be at a Chevron. Some of the independents are even higher!
Texaco at IL Rt 203 and I70 $1.629
QuikTrip in St. Charles county near MidRivers Mall $1.599
Texaco about 50 miles east of KC on I70 (sorry, didn't get the specifics) $1.699
My usual Sunoco truck stop, Palisades Park, NJ
87 - $1.539
89 - $1.639
93 - $1.699
94 - $1.739
diesel - $1.699
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Name brands like Shell/Chevron still running about $2.25/gal.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
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Now, just as long as I pay that card in full, so I don't incur any interest...
They have concluded their investigation into possible gasoline price-fixing in California, and have confirmed that there isn't.
Arco, $1.99, 76 station, $2.25 per gallon today for regular unleaded.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Feb 9th: 0.779
Feb 23rd: 0.809
March 9th: 0.869
March 13th: 0.894
March 23rd: 0.872
March 30th: 0.849
Apr 6th: 0.806
Apr 10th, today: 0.779
0.75 is close!
And that guy with the FULL SERVICE Station across the street is now having to deal 87 at $1.47. Not bad for the lazy.
Mr. Bubba (down the street) has 93 premium @ $1.47. That is an improvement too...
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Full-serve reg-$1.659, hi-test -$1.899
They're getting quite a premium for Premium.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Regular: $1.59--$1.69
Mid-Grade:$1.69--$1.80
Premium: $1.79--$2.09
Marathon and Citgo are the lowest. Citgo is surprising since much of their gas comes out of Venezuela. Mobil, Shell, and BP-Amoco tend to be more expensive.
Exxon and Shell are similar.
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TB
Just trying to help
New owner of a 1994 Geo Prism, had my first inconsiderate buyer for the 87 LeSabre today.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)