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

17071737576206

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  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...on Rhawn and Verree ran out of Regular last night. When the Regular was gone, the place looked like a ghost town. I'm still furious over the demise of 94 Ultra. I know I don't NEED 94 Ultra, but it's a psychological blow. It's like finding cheap Asti Spumante in a Dom Perignon bottle.
  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    Do you know if Sunoco has stopped making 94 altogether? I would assume one reason is that it takes more crude oil to extract higher octane gas. So with refinery capacity strained, it would make sense to cut back on production of higher octane grades.

    BTW, the local Sheetz raised their price again, this time to $2.89 for 87. Premium (93) is 20 cents higher, and diesel is "only" $2.79.

    In town, 87 is $2.79 at Hess.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...I'm sure as heck going to find out! I just hope wherever it's sold isn't too far from me as it would make no sense to go there to get it only to burn it all up on my ride back home! I guess I could go back to the 'hood and find out if my old Amoco station sell Ultimate and it's still the same grade. If so, at least they're not selling me Budweiser and telling me it's Sam Adams.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    You also forget that municipal waste can be used for e85.

    I think you are confusing E85 with methane gas that is produced from municipal waste. Methane can be run in most engines. It is used to power generators for electricity in many cities.

    E85/E95 is not capable of running in a diesel type engine. That is biodiesel that is made from many different crops mainly soybeans. biodiesel can also be made from used fryer grease. Biodiesel so far is more of a small business grass roots type solution. So it does not get the national attention that ethanol has received.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I'm still furious over the demise of 94 Ultra

    Maybe it has to do with the E10 mandate coming May 5th. Are they being forced to put ethanol in the higher grades of gas?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Prices locally got jacked up again last night - umm I mean supply and demand changed again. There's now a station in Seattle charging $3.26, with 6 others in the city charging over $3 and 7 stations in the suburbs charging likewise. I also see that most stations up in Bellingham have passed $3 - that city has long had mysteriously inflated prices, which is odd as it is less than an hour from a refinery. At this rate we'll be at $4 by Memorial Day, and will hit $5 by Labor Day.

    In Vancouver proper I see gas is about $1.16 (CDN)/l which comes out to around $3.88 gallon....but more tax of course.
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    thanks , gagrice....

    I am in the market....but have not decided.
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    Is it typical for the American motorist to drive at a high rate of speed while bitchin about the cost of fuel on the cell 'phone?

    Traffic hasn't slowed on the freeway and the teeny boppers are still drag racing at the stop lights.

    Doesn't the typical motorist realize his gas dollar goes father at much lower speeds and using conservative driving techniques is common sense saving $ on fuel?

    Conclusion: Price of fuel is to go much higher before driving behavior is modified.


    YOu and delray are correct....

    Americans...indeed all motorists, must modify their driving habits....That is the best way to go.
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    agree that it should be done...

    we should get more alternatives in place....and do it now.

    better do it now, than lattter....

    I saw a website that showed how our tax dollars made it possible for the one of the oil rich middleeast shieks to build an indoor ski slope , with nice ski runs....IN the middle of the desert....!!

    better keep the money here in US
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    yeah.....

    after doing coolie labor last night, we needed gas...and most places in Oakland were $3,03 for 87....up to $3.29 for 92 ......we finally went to friend's usual quickstop store, where we got 87 for $2.99.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    "Good morning Sir. Filler up? How's Tim doing in school? That's good to hear. Your oil is OK and your fan belt is fine. Well, that'll be $3.60 please. Jake will wash your windows & check your tires while I get your change. Oh by the way since you're a regular here, have a new glass with your Green stamps and Thank you for coming in."

    "What the Hell happened?"
  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    Ah yes, the good old days. My mom used to patronize an Atlantic gas station like that, next to the Post Office, in a close-in suburb of Pittsburgh. This was when we had a '55 Chevy.

    Back to reality, Hess has now raised their prices 10 cents on all grades, starting at $2.89 for 87. So now, everyone is about the same (central VA).

    And I heard oil is up to $75?!

    We were warned...
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    "Ultra?" is now $3.13 for the watered-down near-gas.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    House: $22,000
    Average income: $4,454
    Ford car: $1748-$3151
    Milk: $.97
    Gas: $.23
    Bread $.18
    Postage stamp: $.03
    Chuck Pot Roast: $ .33 lb.
    Spareribs: $.39 lb.
    Cabbage: $.04 lb.
    Eggs, doz.: $.45
    Coffee: $.69 lb.
    Carnation Instant Chocolate Drink, 10oz.: $.33
    Rheingold Beer, 6, 12 .oz cans: $1.20

    Is gas approaching the price of being commensurate with other consumer goods? You do the math.
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    Hi euphonium:

    You hit the nail right on !! How come prices increased...but service not only decreased...but became nonexistent ?

    I am going to use your example and tell all my friends...is that OK ? I will give you full credit, so no plagiarism...eh ?
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    I was in Palo Alto...and Stanford University medical center....and Pres Bush was here at Hoover Institute..there were lots of SWAT guys and helicoptors. The swat guys in camouflage were , paradoxically, on dirt bikes that were bright red and white .

    Here, in this upscale area, 87 reg was $3.19,,, 89mid was $3.29, and 91 prem was $ 3.41

    After coming home to east bay...gas at local market was $3.03 for 87......and $3.19 for 91 prem.

    didn't catch a glimpse of Bush , though.
  • bottgersbottgers Member Posts: 2,030
    ....the market has decided not to wait for the summer driving season or any hurricane activity to actually arrive before gouging the consumer this year. I guess they figure if they get started early, they can jack the prices up to $4-$5 a gallon before summer is over. And next year? $6-$10? Where does the madness stop?
  • bottgersbottgers Member Posts: 2,030
    ....is getting hurt by these ridiculously high energy prices, isn't there some way that EVERYONE can put pressure on the energy barons? But how?
  • kernickkernick Member Posts: 4,072
    And who? Should we pressure the traders? should we pressure the OPEC countries? or everyone who owns energy stocks in their mutual funds and is profitting, or kidnap the prime minister of Canada since they're our chief oil supplier? or do you think we should fund that group that burned Hummers? Maybe we should just go after people who decide to commute more than 20 miles each way to work?
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    These gas prices are not the result of oil company gouging. Just look at the EPA, Congress and BIG AG lobbyists. It is typical panic buying. We have become a knee jerk society.

    April 21 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the switch to ethanol in gasoline may cause supply disruptions for several months.

    At least six filling stations in Philadelphia and the surrounding region were out of fuel yesterday because of the switch, according to AAA, the nation's largest motorist organization. Refiners are seeking to replace the additive MTBE in gasoline by May because of changes in fuel requirements in the energy bill that President George W. Bush signed in August.

    ``We're going to see some problems,'' he told reporters after giving a speech at a conference in Washington. ``I do believe over a period of time -- that is, a matter of months -- it will level out.''


    Why gas is high
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    Interesting article. Thanks.

    The shortage of refinery capacity due to the NIMBY folks and the EPA throughout the decades who wouldn't allow any to be built and the switching to ethanol is causing spot supply problems. The stations and companies are using this to raise prices artificially higher. That will make it easier to get them over these levels in the summer driving season.

    Add to that the relatively shallow intellect of the writers for the media articles who write from the news releases from the petroleum institute and can't really profess to any business acumen of their own, and the media ends up helping the panic attitude. Everyone fills their tank rather than averaging 1/2- 3/4 a tank and the extra gallons being hauled around in their cars because they're afraid of the shortage or of higher prices causes additional short fall.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    They used to import 85% of thier oil...and had sky high debt as well as inflation. Now they have net surplus...

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060421/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/brazil_oil_sufficiency

    Today's SF chronicle , on front page, says the prices have pushed some drivers off the road...and transit agencies see more riders....

    Oil here in California has almost surpassed the inflation adjusted 1981 prices of $3.12 /gal for reg.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    There's a station in Seattle now charging $3.59

    Yeehaw!
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    most stations trying to stay under three dollars a gallon.
    just spent 400 dollars on gas this week in one vehicle.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Gas luckily is ONLY $2.89 a gal. still. :surprise:

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    And while gas prices continue to increase... People still need to get to where they are going.

    So to get money to fill up their tanks, some people are hitting the pawn shops.

    People are going in more and more to local pawn shops selling bikes and lawn mowers to get some cash to fill up their vehicles.

    In the last month, the Erwin Pawn shop has seen more than 50 customers come in and sell items to get money for gas.

    "This year's worse. I think people are already overextended and the gas prices don't help out much more," says David Erwin, owner of the Erwin Pawn Shop.

    In a matter of just 30 minutes today, we ran into one of David's customers making his second trip to pawn belongings for gas money.

    "To get gas money, pawn some stuff to get gas money because gas money is really high," Adam Inma told us.

    And just down the road, we ran into another person who has also been in the same situation.

    "I would, yes. I've had to do that before as a matter of fact because this car uses a lot of gas so yeah I would have to do that," says Aimee Evans.

    Aimee says she is able to worry less now because of her job...

    But still understands how it is for others who aren't as lucky.

    "I think it depends on the kind of work you are in, if you make enough money. I'm an escort driver for pilot trucks, but if I wasn't doing that, yeah I would have to go and pawn stuff so I could make gas because I live all the way on Cherry Avenue," says Evans.

    Everyone we spoke with today says they hope gas doesn't increase, but all signs point to it continuing to rise and that means some of people may to have to part with their valuables to get extra cash.

    http://www.newschannel10.com/Global/story.asp?S=4798122

    Our local news story on gas. Watch the video if your interested. :surprise:

    2 Famous Quote, and I'm sure everyone knows the guy who said em'. :P

    "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2000 :surprise:

    "The really rich people figure out how to dodge taxes anyway." —explaining why high taxes on the rich are a failed strategy, Annandale, Va., Aug. 9, 2004 :D

    Rocky

    P.S. Gas at one station reached $2.90 in Dumas, Tx according to a friend :cry:
  • jc9799jc9799 Member Posts: 70
    Hi all.
    This is my first post in this thread. Here's something you might be shocked at:
    I filled my van up on Thursday: $2.779
    Filled up my wife's Passat today: $2.769 :surprise:
    (Yes, it was the same station. And yes, I did put regular in the VW by mistake.)
    I'm sure it'll start going back up next week.

    Maybe we're lucky here in Portland. Some places are still in the $2.60s. There is one station that has topped $3.00.

    I try to fill up at the same 76 station. It's prices are pretty good, and it's only about a mile out my way. I keep a log of my fill ups. The following will be no surprise to anyone (again, this is from the same station, regular):

    2/16 $1.989
    3/07 $2.029
    3/19 $2.259
    3/31 $2.349
    4/13 $2.559
    4/21 $2.779

    Heck, it's not even close to Memorial Day.

    Vic
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Welcome to the tread. Question: What will the price of Regular be that encourages drivers to really slow down on I-84, I-5, and I-205?

    Oregon drivers are the fastest in the NW averaging 15 over the limit on the freeways and suburbs so I wonder what will be the price of gas that gets them to slow down.

    I conclude price increases is a form of rationing! :(
  • jc9799jc9799 Member Posts: 70
    "Welcome to the tread. Question: What will the price of Regular be that encourages drivers to really slow down on I-84, I-5, and I-205?"

    You seem to know our states 3 main interstates. Are you a fellow Oregonian, or just very knowledgeable, or did you just look on an atlas? Also, where is the info about fast drivers coming from?

    You may be right. Heck, maybe that's cause we're the only NW state touching California. ;) (On our recent trip to LA and OC, I was driving 65-70 in LA and was slower than almost everyone else on I-5.) FWIW, our interstate speed limit is 55 (urban) and 65 (rural), which is 5 mph less than WA. Guess I'm wondering if you're talking about actual speed, or just how much above the speed limit we drive.

    In answer to your question, I don't know. Probably, for many folks, never. Or at least till the state patrol really starts cracking down.

    Vic
  • kernickkernick Member Posts: 4,072
    Here's the story of someone I know, who is having trouble paying for their gas. They have just had to move out of their new mobile home that they rented, and move in a house with their friend.
    He is hard-working, working a regular job and doing odd jobs on the weekends. Unfortunately he had a child with a woman once and pays child-support. He is remarried and has 2 kids. The family has a Chevy S-10, a van, and a car. They also have 2 horses they feed and a dog. Of course they spend a lot of time taking care of the horses and driving to where they're kept. He had health insurance (town employee) at a job, and then quit and went to a job without it. Now he has a $12K hospital bill.

    Now these gas prices are causing them real hardship. ;) Or is it that some people aren't making very good choices otherwise? They don't know how to manage money - how to make money, how to NOT spend money, and how to invest money they save. It is never a good-time in history to be ignorant of these concepts; and yet we have such great opportunity in this economy to succeed. I used to see success, it in an immigrant city I lived in. People who literally got off the boat a few years ago, who would work and save and have several businesses and Lexuses within a few years.
  • kernickkernick Member Posts: 4,072
    http://channels.netscape.com/pf/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001/20060422/2110935235- .htm&sc=1333

    Kudos to those who realize they can conserve, and/or reduce other optional spending.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    They should just get some cookie cutter MBAs, become 'entrepreneurs' and subscribe to the dogma of the Mises Institute...their problems will evaporate, and they will become better people.

    According to gasbuddy, a month ago the national average was 2.47, today it is 2.89. It's April 23rd...around 4 months to Labor Day, when the real gouge historically takes place. At that rate, the national average will be $4.50 or so, barring any unforseen hurricanes or attention-diverting wars.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...well, not lucky in the sense their gasoline prices are as ridiculous as Philadelphia's, but lucky in the sense they still have the REAL ULTRA 94 and Real Super 93 out there though at very high prices $3.30 and $3.22 respectively. I treated my Park Ave to it on the way back from Carlisle this weekend. We have to settle for this watered-down "ultra?" 93 and 91-octane slop.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    Gas prices falling faster than an anvil on Jupiter in Louisville, Ky. Has dropped from $2.98 to $2.88...overnight. :shades:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    My usual Chevron in Bellevue WA - 2.89/2.99/3.09
  • kernickkernick Member Posts: 4,072
    fin: They should just get some cookie cutter MBAs, become 'entrepreneurs'

    me: Well you don't need an MBA. My sister-in-law starts businesses with minimal knowledge but hard-work. She started a business placing competer programmers for years, and when that field declines, she closed the business and now provides servers for functions, parties and conventions. She makes over a $100K/year and drives an Escalade. Anyone could be doing that (no degree needed). There's plenty of opportunity in the economy for those not sitting on their hands waiting for someone to give them a handout good paying job.

    Here's a good way to save gas money, but is it worth it? http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/04/23/would_you_spend_14000_for_t- his_bike/
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    So we can all just become random "entrepreneurs' then...everyone can sell suspect overpriced services to everyone else. Problem solved! Gas can be $10 a gallon, crooked governments can bend over and give big oil endless breaks and perks, and everyone will be more prosperous than ever.

    " and drives an Escalade"

    You're not helping your case.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    I live downriver on the N side and travel frequently to PDX and SEATAC. My travels take me up I-84 once a year and at 60, I don't pass anybody on that road. 26 over Gov't Camp has needed to be at least four lanes for 25 years, but that "Death Alley" keeps right on killing them.
    Government money can build a tram, but let highway expansion slide. :(
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Agree. There are Spenders, there are Workers, and there are Owners. Owners make the big bucks and pay the Workers what they are worth. What you are is up to you. ;)
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Did the State College to York to State College trip again this morning. Pretty much $2.89 most places. Saw a couple of $2.95s
  • jc9799jc9799 Member Posts: 70
    For the most part, things still going up here in Portland. The closest 76 station to my house (I don't use this station since it tends to run about 10-15 cents higher than the 76 I frequent) was $2.89 yesterday morning; today around noon it was $2.97.

    Going through my records this morning, I realized the highest I paid last year was $2.69, and that was just after Katrina.

    Vic
  • jc9799jc9799 Member Posts: 70
    My travels take me up I-84 once a year and at 60, I don't pass anybody on that road.

    Well, since the speed limit is 65 once you're out of Portland, no surprise you don't pass anyone.

    Government money can build a tram, but let highway expansion slide.

    Well, if OHSU had a campus in Gov't Camp, then they would have expanded the road years ago...or at least built a tram from downtown. ;)

    Vic
  • kernickkernick Member Posts: 4,072
    you: So we can all just become random "entrepreneurs' then...everyone can sell suspect overpriced services to everyone else.

    me: Well I've seen Vietnamese immigrant families who can't speak a word of English, become homeowners and business owners within a few years of coming here. Their driving used BMW's Lexuses, Mercedes, and Toyotas. It sounds preferable to working retail or fast-food for your primary job, and complaining as if you're forced to work there.

    you: give big oil endless breaks and perks, ...

    me: Again show some links to these perks. Are they more then the $90 billion in taxes I showed you that Exxon paid just last year? That does not include of course the additional taxes that their employees paid in income and property taxes, and the taxes on dividends to their stockholders. No wonder the government likes oil companies; I would too if I had someone generating $100B in taxes for me. ;)
  • gtgtcobragtgtcobra Member Posts: 268
    Beat the high gasoline prices!
    We can all just start our own business and work from home.
    Check out companies like Melaleuca, Amway, Herbalife, ect..
    There's many opportunities out there for all of you to start working from home so you don't have to commute to work at your dead end jobs.
    Make the move today. Work from home. And quit your dead end job.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Do you really want me to link to all the favorable legislation given to big oil in 2005? Have you forgotten the energy bill? Although you're another right-leaning supply-sider, I doubt you live in a cave. You get the representation you pay for, I suppose.

    And as I have said many times before, those who benefit the most from the maintenance of the status quo need to pay the most to maintain it. Quit whining about taxes. I'm not asking.

    Any ideas how long it will be until we hit $4/gal average? $5? Or will public outcry cause a retreat again? The peasants might soon light their torches and gather their pitchforks.
  • w9cww9cw Member Posts: 888
    $2.96 for standard unleaded at the discount stations in central Illinois.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Just filled the RV with diesel at Diamond Shamrock, $2.67 per gallon. Unleaded is $2.79 at the same station. Highest price from San Diego to El Paso was $2.93 for diesel. In El Centro CA Chevron was $3.46 for the highest regular price we saw. Headed toward San Antonio and will keep you posted. So far the RV is averaging over 21 MPG, temps in the middle 90s. AC running all the time, cruising about 70 MPH. Any slower than that and the trucks ride your bumper. We have bucked wind the whole way. Will take a different route home into cooler climate.
  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    Total new vehicle sales in China in the first quarter of this year were just under those in Japan, at about 1.7 million units. It's predicted that this year, China will pass Japan to become the No. 2 purchaser of new motor vehicles. Of course, the good old USA is No. 1, at least for now!

    So that's partly why demand for gas is rising.

    Gas in central VA this weekend: mostly $2.89 for 87, with a few places lower: Kangaroo at $2.83, sandwiched between BP and Chevron stations at $2.85.
  • gtgtcobragtgtcobra Member Posts: 268
    I just heard in the news that oil prices here in the U.S. will go up to $100+ per barrel between summertime and fall of 2006. How much will it cost for a gallon of regular gasoline if oil goes to $100 a barrel or even higher?
    Will regular gasoline cost $5 per gallon or $6+ per gallon?
    I would like to know.
This discussion has been closed.