Why is diesel fuel so cheap?

[B Calm]

Are they afraid to piss off the truckers?

[youngdem]

1. Where do you live?

It is more expensive than premium here (Texas or Louisiana).

MY question would be - what in the hell happened to diesel prices, since it was $.95 in 1999 (less than regular unleaded) when I sold my diesel Benz, and today it is MORE than $3.10 and it is MORE than premium?

[Eagle_Eye]

2. We have to keep those war materials flowing to the troops.

Big money is at stake here. Those defense contractors need to get paid, and the bush administration is doing its part to keep the gravy train running.

[soothsayer]

3. it's less refined. but for awhile anyway it was higher than gas.

[NewJeffCT]

4. They're pretty close in price here in CT

Diesel vs gas, I mean.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

5. Um, until the recent rise in gasoline prices, at least here in the

Chicago area, diesel has always been more expensive than gasoline.

Mr. Wonderful's been bitching about the price of diesel for two years now.

[durrrty libby]

6. Is $2.89 is cheap ?

[B Calm]

7. No, but when compared to $3.50 a gallon gas, yes it is!

[dave_p]

8. Katrina raised its relative price

It used to be cheaper, then post-Katrina shortages raised the price for over a year: so it seems to be returning to the earlier price difference.

[elocs]

9. Where I live in WI diesel is $2.89/gal and regular gas is $3.19.

I can remember last fall when there was talk about funny business with the price of gas, diesel here was 40 cents more than a gallon of gas. Somebody posted that when the price difference is 40 cents or more that it is a sign of price manipulation.

[JVS]

10. until the upswing lately, it was more expemsive than gasoline

[pipoman]

11. If you live in a rural area

you may be looking at farm diesel prices? Farm diesel has less tax and is far less expensive than road diesel. If you are caught running farm diesel (dyed) in a vehicle on the road there is a huge fine.

[AllegroRondo]

12. Its just less volatile

deisel use doesnt go through the ups and downs that regular gas does - it tends to have a pretty steady usage. This allows refineries to plan output better, and keep prices steady. (or more steady than gas, anyway).

[knitter4democracy]

13. It's more expensive than gasoline here.

Truckers are pretty mad here about it.