General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGas Prices Gouging Report Check in Here
I just paid 57 cents more than Friday, per gallon, for regular unleaded 87 octane at $2.57.
And I'm in North Carolina!
While I was in the store paying I spoke with a very nice man, filling the tanks of his truck and boat and various multiple containers. He said he had spoken with a friend in Texas that works for the petroleum industry and a friend that delivers fuel. He reported we haven't seen anything yet. Look for $5.00 a gallon or more, he continued. They won't send the men back to work yet in Texas, according to his one friend and full trucks are sitting still, with orders to wait, according to his other friend, not able to work or deliver the fuel they hold.
I don't know what to think.
I worry about us going into recession.
What are the prices where you are?
There were lines where I went. Do you have lines?
I'm in the Cape Fear River basin. Where are you?
What's been going on where you are?
I know that I am asking lots of questions. But I am hoping that things won't get that bad. But then, I am an optimistic person, most of the time.
♡lmsp
Skittles
(152,965 posts)I told her give me a spare key and I will find a place at 3:00 in the morning (I am always awake all night)
that is total gouging in Texas
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)We know the rubes in charge 'love them' some disaster capitalism. Plus hurricane season is just getting warmed up. Looks like we need to buckle up. So nice of you to help your friend.
I may need you to whoop my ass or talk me off the ledge if I get too crazy. But I am worried about a tipping point when the greedy don't know when to quit. I think we have ample evidence they don't play fair.
♡lmsp
Rhiannon12866
(203,023 posts)And I'm in New York. I paid $2.35 Friday before last and $2.55 last Thursday. I spoke to the couple who run a local gas station/convenience store on Friday and they were the cheapest in the area at $2.55 - but they said they were raising it to $2.79 in the morning and were worried about running out, only had enough to last the week. And I'm in the Northeast part of NY.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)These details and discrepancies are just the things that can be so confounding.
♡lmsp
Rhiannon12866
(203,023 posts)So the effects are being felt everywhere, even here in the Northeast. I belong to GasBuddy, so I keep track of local gas prices and I've never seen anything like this, prices have gone up noticeably every day. Since GasBuddy has millions of members all over the US and Canada who keep track of prices, it's a valuable resource for looking for the best place to get gas, especially now.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I'll check it out.
Rhiannon12866
(203,023 posts)I check out the prices if I need gas and post local prices on my way home.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)Regular unleaded 2.95 cash 3.05 credit/debit.
hlthe2b
(101,730 posts)gas is now up at the national average (>$2.57/gallon). But, in my community, Costco is $2.27 and Safeway, 2.37 and EVERYWHERE else is over $2.50/gallon.
So, yeah... Price gouging for sure.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)You're confirming my fears. So agitating.
phylny
(8,353 posts)The refineries are just only coming back online slowly (and personnel from other areas of the country have traveled to the area and are helping out) and the pumps that move product are coming back online tomorrow (pumps were not operational). Oil companies actually trucked in gasoline a long distance, which is extremely cost prohibitive.
I think it'll normalize fairly soon.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I'm hoping you are right, things will stabilize, but there's no doubt there's been a setback. Where are you getting your information, if you don't mind me asking?
phylny
(8,353 posts)I don't usually advertise that fact, mainly because of the negative view some at DU have of oil companies (and sometimes, rightly so.)
Sucha NastyWoman
(2,725 posts)One thing you have to say for them, they are very good to their employees. He's been with them for decades, and is paid very well for someone without a college degree.
phylny
(8,353 posts)years with a full pension, 401K, stock plan, health and dental insurance. They are indeed good to their employees, and although I have a problem with willfully ignoring global warming and petroleum's effects on our climate, I also know that I and everyone I know uses fossil fuels daily.
Sedona
(3,769 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Ron Green
(9,821 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)What are you not telling us?
Ron Green
(9,821 posts)our consumer society have remained so cheap that we're not making the necessary changes to move into a more survivable world.
When you ponder the amount of energy in a gallon of gasoline, it's astonishing that it costs less than bottled water.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)If we don't speed up a transition to renewable energy forms we'll see an even greater tipping point in the future. I do all I can, to reduce my carbon footprint now. There will be petroleum hell to pay, in the future, if there's no smooth plan transition.
By then, I will be dead, hopefully.
CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)Here in California which does not rely on Texas for fuel.
Fuckers!
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)They know they have us over a barrel, literally.
♡lmsp
rgbecker
(4,806 posts)Electric utility rates are regulated....but oil? Nothing.
These outfits will all collect tax write offs and actually government subsidies to help them out of their flooded predicament while we pay higher prices for oil coming from miles away from the flooding. They say Houston is this huge center for refineries, yet only 20% of business is done there.
WTF?
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Thanks for the reply.
♡lmsp
LeftInTX
(24,560 posts)but we're having a gas shortage.
I waited 90 minutes to get gas yesterday.
Only 20% of stations in this town have gas.
Too many local refineries are offline.
We get our's via tanker trucks directly from the gulf coast.
Tanker trucks are having trouble getting gas.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Stay encouraged.
♡lmsp
Dem_4_Life
(1,765 posts)I was so happy to see some of the panic is starting to subside. I was able to get in and get gas in about 10-15 min today at lunchtime.
Costco is still nuts so just avoiding that one but they are super organized.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)That was market driven by crude oil suppliers, just like this spike if from refiners. And the $2 a gallon price is because of low crude demand and price cutting by the Saudis. It's not a "natural" price.
There's a futures market in gasoline, and that market is spiking now, which means retail gas prices follow it up. Besides, the retailers base prices on the replacement cost of future deliveries, which is set by wholesalers, and whose price is ultimately set by the gas futures market.
Houston will survive and rebuild, we will survive $3 gas.
Think about all the cars destroyed by the storm that will be replaced by more efficient ones...
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Thanks for the reply, TreasonousBastard.
♡lmsp
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)"we will survive $3 gas..."
Who is arguing otherwise?
Lord_at_War
(61 posts)Besides, the retailers base prices on the replacement cost of future deliveries.
A gas station has to plan on refilling your tanks and what it's going to cost...
Jersey Devil
(9,863 posts)Generator filled up with 2 five gal refills. Power was out last year for about 2 days with Matthew so I am getting as ready as I can be.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)This happens all the time, whenever refineries go off-line for any reason.
It's not a sign of anything, really, except a bit of greed and uncertainty on the part of gasoline suppliers.
There are far more ominous signs on the horizon than this. Think North Korea. Really, this is just a minor blip.