$2.39 Gas

MikePA · Sep 22, 2006

AndyMA said:
If they are not fixed...

In other words, anybody who does not believe price fixing is happening, has to prove it's not occuring? That's like saying, "There's daily, empirical, evidence the rooster crowing causes the sun to come up. If you disagree, you have to prove something else causes the sun to rise."

In 30 years, no one, of all the thousands of people who would have to have been involved, no one has leaked information about this grand conspiracy to the press? And no one in the press, in 30 years, has uncovered anything?

texbaylea · Sep 22, 2006

AndyMA said:
Mike

If they are not fixed, then how come in a given area all of the stations regardless of brand have exactly (to the penny) the same price. And change them on the same day. I just don't think our government really wants to get to the bottom of this. Big oil gives too much to political campaigns. All I hear is a bunch of politicians saying they will look into it but nothing useful ever happens..

I don't care how they are arrived at, if the prices at all the stations in an area are the same the PRICE IS FIXED. It's like a "Black Box" in engineering, You look at the input and output characteristics to determine what is going on. Only then do you look inside. Someone needs to determine from the input (costs vary even if OPEC is the same) and Output (price remains relatively constant in an area). The processing and delivery cost for all oil companies cannot be the same so something is clearly holding the prices constant.j

Andy

Andy

Any price setting is local. There are a very limited number of ditributors regardless of brand in each community. Every station owned/served by that distributor. is going to be within a penny of each other. Almost all stations are leased with the price set by the distributor/lessor. There are very,very few stations owned by the operator as most have been squeezed out by the high costs of location, building and equipment.

In our area most distributors are independent not owned by the "big oil companies".

Vernon

Bird · Sep 22, 2006

AndyMA said:
Mike

If they are not fixed, then how come in a given area all of the stations regardless of brand have exactly (to the penny) the same price. And change them on the same day. I just don't think our government really wants to get to the bottom of this. Big oil gives too much to political campaigns. All I hear is a bunch of politicians saying they will look into it but nothing useful ever happens..

I don't care how they are arrived at, if the prices at all the stations in an area are the same the PRICE IS FIXED. It's like a "Black Box" in engineering, You look at the input and output characteristics to determine what is going on. Only then do you look inside. Someone needs to determine from the input (costs vary even if OPEC is the same) and Output (price remains relatively constant in an area). The processing and delivery cost for all oil companies cannot be the same so something is clearly holding the prices constant.j

Andy

Andy, first let me say that from my house to my daughter's home 15.5 miles away, today I saw the regular unleaded gasoline prices posted from $2.039 at a Walmart to $2.379 at an Exxon station. In between, we saw $2.089, $2.099, $2.149, $2.279 and probably some others, but that's all I can remember for sure.

So you, and everyone else, is free to believe whatever you want, with or without any proof or evidence.

Slamfire · Sep 22, 2006

I think one reason diesel is staying higher is the need to build up stockpiles of home heating oil, which comes from pretty much the same fractions of crude.

Doc_Bob · Sep 22, 2006

MikePA said:
With the rampant hatred of the oil industry, for more than 30 years, you'd think someone, somewhere, at some time, could have uncovered some evidence of price fixing. No one has, yet people still think they do.

The only segment of the gas/oil industry that fixes prices is OPEC.

Thank you for stating the truth. It is so refreshing.
Bob

Michael_E_Tx · Sep 22, 2006

Saw diesel in my neck of the woods today for $2.45 9/10. Lowest so far around here.

Mike

Wesdor · Sep 23, 2006

My son filled up with regular for $2.17 in Davenport, Iowa. Bio-Diesel was $2.39 when I was in Clinton, Iowa on Friday.

But like Bird says, prices are all over the place.

BTW - do you all know that CITGO is Venezualan owned? Hugo Chavez nationlized the oil industry and is using CITGO money to fund his favorite projects.

mjarrels · Sep 23, 2006

186.9 today

mark

Ken_CT · Sep 23, 2006

On Gas Prices - MSN Autos a site for your local gas station prices by zipcode, the highest in the country today is $3.929 in Kaunakakai HI, and the lowest is $1.799 in Richmond MI. This is a pretty accurate site.

MikePA · Sep 23, 2006

Ken_CT said:
On Gas Prices - MSN Autos a site for your local gas station prices by zipcode.... This is a pretty accurate site.

Now what fun would there be if everyone went to this site? We wouldn't have threads like this.

5030 · Sep 23, 2006

Wesdor said:
My son filled up with regular for $2.17 in Davenport, Iowa. Bio-Diesel was $2.39 when I was in Clinton, Iowa on Friday.

But like Bird says, prices are all over the place.

BTW - do you all know that CITGO is Venezualan owned? Hugo Chavez nationlized the oil industry and is using CITGO money to fund his favorite projects.

You gotta admit one thing....Hugo speaks his mind and while not a popular stance, I tend to agree with him.

Casey1 · Sep 23, 2006

Gas prices all over the place, inconsistencies everywhere and yet people get in line up to defend the oil industry. These same people get raked over the coals like everyone else at the pump yet they are quick to let those who question the off the wall pricing know how dumb they are. Go figure.

Just pay whatever price it is no matter how ridiculous and illogical and be happy. I wonder who that would benefit? Hmmm...

MikePA · Sep 24, 2006

Casey1 said:
Go figure.

Yep, go figure. Got any solutions to this 'Gas prices all over the place, inconsistencies everywhere...' problem?

MikePA · Sep 24, 2006

5030 said:
You gotta admit one thing....Hugo speaks his mind and while not a popular stance, I tend to agree with him.

Except for the 'Diablo' comment, he didn't say anything we haven't been hearing for years.

bill177 · Sep 24, 2006

Near Albany, NY - $2.83 down to $2.71 for regular. Depends more where you are in the area than which brand. Better than $3.35 last August. Now just waiting for the other shoe to fall after the election.

Bird · Sep 24, 2006

Casey1 said:
Gas prices all over the place, inconsistencies everywhere and yet people get in line up to defend the oil industry. These same people get raked over the coals like everyone else at the pump yet they are quick to let those who question the off the wall pricing know how dumb they are. Go figure.

Just pay whatever price it is no matter how ridiculous and illogical and be happy. I wonder who that would benefit? Hmmm...

Casey, aren't you assuming facts not in evidence?

Some posters believe the oil companies are engaged in "price fixing". I suppose it would depend on your definition of "price fixing", but apparently no one has found any evidence of price fixing, as defined in the law. Now for me, or anyone else, to make that statement is not exactly "defending the oil industry".

Yes, I believe the oil companies are doing whatever they can to maximize their profits and at our expense. And yes, I pay whatever the price is because I have to, and no, I'm not happy about it. But accusing the oil companies of doing something illegal without any evidence to back up the accusation won't do a thing to help the situation.

However, if you have a solution, I'll sure be happy to hear it and willing to help you implement it.

Casey1 · Sep 24, 2006

Bird said:
Casey, aren't you assuming facts not in evidence? Some posters believe the oil companies are engaged in "price fixing". I suppose it would depend on your definition of "price fixing", but apparently no one has found any evidence of price fixing, as defined in the law. Now for me, or anyone else, to make that statement is not exactly "defending the oil industry".

Yes, I believe the oil companies are doing whatever they can to maximize their profits and at our expense. And yes, I pay whatever the price is because I have to, and no, I'm not happy about it. But accusing the oil companies of doing something illegal without any evidence to back up the accusation won't do a thing to help the situation.

However, if you have a solution, I'll sure be happy to hear it and willing to help you implement it.

"Yes, I believe the oil companies are doing whatever they can to maximize their profits and at our expense." - Bird

We agree!

I did not mention any price fixing conspiracies or anything illegal. Big business is the law nowadays and it's not hard for them to do most anything they want and keep it within the "law". They are not willing to do the "fair" thing however like offering a price that is consistent to the price for them with a "reasonable" profit included. Competition is low so there is very little free market pressure and with battalions of corporate lawyers and accountants on board they can make sure everything is on the up and up. The industry is rotten from OPEC on down but it is "legal". Almost anything can be legal if enough power is involved.

Do I have a solution? No. Do I like it? No. I do know there is something wrong (you know, inconsistencies and prices all over the place) but I have no ability to fix it.

At least I will not come on here and try to convince people that we are getting a fair shake. Why do that? What is there to gain by accepting high prices? (besides just getting higher prices still)

Just roll over and take it? Is that the American way?

Legal perhaps. Fair? No way.

Bird · Sep 24, 2006

OK, Casey. I don't disgree with you except when you mentioned folks lining up to defend the oil industry. The fact is that we don't like the high prices, but why single out the oil industry? How do you think Bill Gates got to be so wealthy and what kind of profit margin did he work for? Ford Motor Company is losing money, so they hire a new CEO for $18 million the first year.

I guess I'm just gettin' old, but a lot of these things seem absolutely ridiculous to me.

I remember an old saying from years ago that "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" and it seems to me that it's becoming more true all the time.

Casey1 · Sep 24, 2006

Yeah Bird, I have to agree the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I singled out the oil industry since it is related to this thread. With Bill Gates and Ford at least we have a few other choices there (Apple & Chevy). I need the oil though. I can't give up my tractor! LOL

Farmwithjunk · Sep 27, 2006

I KNEW it was coming. Just didn't know when or how soon.

Yesterday the rollercoaster ride started to leave the station again. Local "independent" with hundreds of stations in Kentucky/Indiana/ect started RAISING prices again. (Thorntons for those who live in this area) One station near the house, which seems to be typical of all the others in the area was $2.01 yesterday morning. On my way home from work, they were $2.19. Later yesterday, they were back down, at $2.09. This morning, $2.17. One local (BP) station is $1.84. On my way in to work this morning, I noticed several other brands that had raised prices overnight. ($2.09 to $2.17)

Station (owner) nearest the house where I do 99% of my business said he'd not heard of any price increases from Wholesale level. (The $1.84 priced station)

Thorntons seems to dictate local gas prices. When they go down, everyone else is forced to drop to keep pace. When they go up, everyone else follows in line. They're almost always the first to change one way or another.

I may be in the minority, but I don't believe the recent drop in gas prices is tied to the Nov. elections upcoming. But I was content to expect prices to remain stable until then. I sure hope yesterday/todays spike(s) aren't a sign of things to come.