Fuel prices in your area? -Feb. '08

[3RRL]

Regular Gasoline: $2.229 per USA gallon ($.59 per liter)
You got to be kidding...
That's (almost) a buck and half cheaper per gallon than out here!

 

[cwilson]

Fuel Prices are getting to be crazy everywhere i think the more rural the area is the more gas is

 

[patrick_g]

Regular Gasoline: $2.229 per USA gallon ($.59 per liter)
You got to be kidding...
That's (almost) a buck and half cheaper per gallon than out here!

Gas in OKC and metro area was available for $1.999 at some stations a couple days ago.

Pat

 

[JDeerekid]

Gas -2.29
diesel - 2.95

They dont seem to be comming down any

 

[Phil_R]

Regular Gasoline: $2.229 per USA gallon ($.59 per liter)
You got to be kidding...
That's (almost) a buck and half cheaper per gallon than out here!

Edited to correct gas price... $2.229 just wishfull thinking, correct price $3.229 per gallon. ($.85 per liter)

 

[alvanko]

$3.95 per gallon of diesel . Northeastern Ohio. 3-5-08
It's out of control !

 

[Bob_Young]

Been thinking (always dangerous) about the irrational diesel prices. It seems the market is failing us and I have an idea or two why:
1) diesel in one form or another is the fuel of choice for commercial transportation. Most forms of commercial transport are now able to pass on increased fuel costs to the end customer in the form of fuel surcharges. Shows up on the UPS bill, the freight bill, and the airline ticket. The business incentive to seek out lower cost fuel and pressure the supplier has been blunted. The increased fuel costs are passed on as a matter of routine and the end user has no leverage to combat the problem.

2) diesel, in the form of heating oil, is heavily used for heating this time of year (duh). Typically heating oil comes from a few local suppliers. When costs go up, particularly for residential customers, they're not likely to switch suppliers in search of a price break. Even if they could, they'd likely find much the same pricing. Instead the response is to hunker down and ride it out until spring. Once again, the market forces needed to drive prices down are lacking.

They raise the prices because they can and there's little we can do about it. Thankfully, there are still enough market incentives in place to keep gasoline prices a little more reasonable.

Govt. price controls too often lead to scarcity, so I don't think that's a good answer. I would like to see the fuel surcharge practice ended, however.
Bob

 

[patrick_g]

Been thinking (always dangerous)...

They raise the prices because they can and there's little we can do about it. Thankfully, there are still enough market incentives in place to keep gasoline prices a little more reasonable.

Bob

Pretty insightful, Bob.

Probably paranoia on my part but don't you think having outrageous diesel prices posted prominently next to gas prices tends to dampen the disgust and outrage of the gas buyer?

"Gee, Mabel, gas is up again but at least it is not going up like diesel!"

Pat

 

[3RRL]

Most forms of commercial transport are now able to pass on increased fuel costs to the end customer in the form of fuel surcharges. Shows up on the UPS bill, the freight bill, and the airline ticket. The business incentive to seek out lower cost fuel and pressure the supplier has been blunted. The increased fuel costs are passed on as a matter of routine and the end user has no leverage to combat the problem.

The sad thing about that is all those companies and individuals are end consumers too. It shows up in costs of goods to them (in the same manner) for whatever they need in their business or homes. It becomes a vicious circle. How do you stop that?

 

[IH3444]

Simple economics Rob.....as the cost of fuel goes up, up, up, people will drive less, less, less, until a little bulb in their head goes off, and they decide to sell the full size truck, or SUV they have been using for a commuteing vehicle, and switch to a smaller vehicle form of transport. As a country, we could most likely use about half the fuel we are now burning for just commuteing to, and from work, and also for running errands. Wait till the cost of a gallon of diesel goes to $6 a gallon. We'll finally see a real shift to smaller autos, like back in the late 70's, and early 80's. Some never had the choice, and have been in small commuter cars all along. It's all so very simple, I'm surprised at people's thought processes. We have been on a glut party of oil for decades, and it has been great, but now it is over for now. Tougher decisions are ahead for all of us.