Gas Prices Are Getting Hot for Summer

You make a good point, winterstorm...we need to make a priority of reducing our dependence on foreign oil and knee-jerk rejection of tapping our own resources (ANWR, the Rockies and the Outer Continental Shelf) is a mistake.

I agree with you winterstorm, boycotts aren't that great of an idea. I mean, I hate high gas prices as much as the next guy, but why should I punish a small business owner (the person running a station) for what is only the result of market forces? Oil is a commodity that is subject to supply and demand laws as much as any other product. Plenty of factors go into it-- environmental problems like Katrina, speculation, political tensions, etc. In my opinion, it's not just price gouging.

I'm sorry, boycotts are silly. They simply do not hurt the people you want to hurt. As noted, the oil companies make their money drilling oil, not selling gas.

But if you boycott their drilling, like stopping ANWR, then you hurt the country as a whole by depriving us of oil independance from the middle east and lower gas prices.

Hammertoe has it right: We need a better solution...

... in Germany we pay 4.9 Euros per gallon. That's about $6. And the Autobahns are still overcrowded.

Cheers, R

The largest factor in pump price is the cost of crude. The second is state and fexderal taxes. Moreover, when you compare profit to each dollar of revenue, big oil is not out of line with aother industries. BILLIONS of people consume gas/oil every day so it stands to reason that their profits would be huge. I just don't think big oil is the bad guy here. They are in business to make a profit and as consumers, we buy their product in astonishing amounts. They're not the bad guys--WE ARE! We need to stop all the finger pointing and start talking about sensible, long-term, comprehensive energy policy!

hammertoe, I'm not calling for a Boycott, simply pointing out my personal preference. That PR guy (actually felt sorry for the beating he was taking!) actually made a good point and I figured "Hey, Why not take my business elsewhere?"

With Prices being what they are, I find myself walking, taking mass transit a lot more often or canceling road trips out right.

With Oil companies raking in Billions per quarter, IMO, they are price gouging no matter how they justify it.

S.D.--the problem with a boycott is that so few of their stations are actually owned by them--fewer than 1,000 of the 170,000 stations around the country. The vast majority are owned by moms and pops.

I tend to avoid Exxon since the Valdez (sp?) oil spill. The company spokesman at the time got on the podium, answered some hard questions from reporters and said (paraphrasing) "If people don't like us, they should not use our gas."

Hey, it sounded good to me.

I agree, that $4.50 a gallon sounds pretty fishy to me too.

In regards to the boycott idea I just don't see it making a difference. These things have been tried before with no satisfactory results. Boycotting a certain station really only hurts the "mom&pops" that own the stations. Not only do they loose out on their gas sales but they loose out on their convenience store sales as well (their real money maker).

We need to reduce our dependance on foreign oil sources and we need to develop alternative fuels if we want to see real change. And yes, we really should think twice before we drive our cars three blocks to pick up some milk when we have a bike collecting dust in the garage! :)

I can't help but agree, Joel. How can we complain about high energy prices when we're sitting on a number of untapped reserves here in the United States?

"Perhaps if we tapped into those we'd see some relief."

Maybe, but I tend to doubt it. We're talking about Oil Companies that are making Billions in Profit per Quarter.

IMO, They have honest politicians in there corner, that is, Politicians who stay bought.

peakguy mentioned that everyone is operating at full capacity. I have to argue that the US is not -- given that ANWR and other sources of oil here in the US sit untouched. Perhaps if we tapped into those we'd see some relief.

When Exxon and other oil companies post billions in dollars in profit per Quarter, after they cook the books, even the most strident capitalist has to wonder about price gouging.

Companies only exist to make money, nothing more. Gov't by the people exist to serve the will of the people. If people are unhappy it's not unreasonable for people to expect the Gov't to do something about it.

And for the Peanut Gallery: No, I'm not advocating Communism or Socialism, but the Gov't better get a clue especially in light of Midterm elections coming up. Way things are going, pretty soon "It's the Economy, Stupid!" will be the Slogan of choice again.

Gas prices are going up because we have finally hit the peak of global oil production capacity. Everyone (including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Venezuela) is operating at full capacity and our appetite is ever increasing.

We write about what our city can do to prepare for this situation at The Oil Drum NYC. We invite your suggestions.

There is also a conference next week here in NYC looking at the full range of ideas to adapt our economy and lifestyle to be more energy efficient.

I had a friend who traded in his SUV for two honda accords...

adam - i don't know if you are necessarily safer in your SUV than a smaller car. the new yorker had a fascinating article about SUVs last year. one of the myths is that SUVs are safer. they are manufactured to a truck's safety standard which are more lenient than a passenger car. also, a study (studies?) were cited that drivers of smaller cars got into fewer accidents as they drove more defensively. i showed it to a SUV driving friend of mine who didn't seem to appreciate it.

True enough. I thought I would *never* be able to live without certain things (gym membership, expensive haircuts). But once the price got to be too much for me, I did find alternatives. And it really was not that bad. And now, I don't miss them at all.

As people, we generally don't change unless we have to. Actually, the best thing we can do for the Earth is to let the oil companies rip us off. It's the only way we will change.

tard: sounds like you have issues with IDing yourself or you're an insecure gay guy.

Stay on topic Children.

Let the market figure itself out. Nothing is going to make the consumer change their driving habits and what car they drive except how much it costs.

High oil prices spur growth in alternative forms of energy for transportation/home heating, etc.

This rise in prices, although a boon for the time being for the oil companies, will eventually be their undoing when more and more people move to alternatives.

That particular gas station always has wayhigh prices for the simple reason that he's not interested in selling gasoline. The tanks are in front of an excellent garage that does lots of work on vintage cars and pumps hardly any gas. This ain't no Hess station we're talking about.

edEx sounds just like the people that got conned by the Nigerian 419 scam. "I know there is a Prince. He wants me to send him money so he can give me his millions!!"

yeah, I'm a tard cuz I know what's real... keep livin your lies.

Grammar Nazi: You forgot to make your "I" a capital.

That's what happens when YOU'RE at work and have no time to spell or grammar check... Thanks for the call out— although non relevant to this post, it's good 2 c people like you exist (that was a compliment).

I posted relevant material, and then was attacked by a yutz who knows next to nothing about ownership and price guidelines ( every action has a reaction), that is why I got all snotty on YOUR asses!

Well, I think everyone can agree that a campaign - grassroots, political, municipal, internetical, whatever - needs to be developed that encourages conservation before someone even GETS to the pump.

Joe Apology is right: It starts at the level of the consumer. Change the current mentality and who knows? Maybe the perennial oil crisis will turn into a surplus in several years.

edEx: if you think "a" was sent home too early by a social studies teacher, then undoubtedly your english teacher sent you home too early.

"A, you're social studies teacher sent you home too early. Being happy about high gas prices? You're literally a fuckin idiot. High gas prices do not just effect the consumer at the gas pumps... it's effecting us elsewhere too"

should be "your", not "you're". "you're" means "you are".

should be "affect", not "effect"

affect=have an affect on

effect=a change that is a result of an action

you also spelled environmentalist wrong, as well as efficient.

i wouldn't even be pointing this out if you didn't start getting all snotty and attacking people personally...

A good 25% of the $3.50 you are paying is tax. If people drive more fuel efficient vehicles or use public transportation the government will just increase the tax to offset the reduced consumption. Supply and demand.... either way you lose!

edEx must've been inhaling his own methane pollutants! 99 year patent my ass. Obviously he's a chain-mail believer.

Boo hoo you guys. A gallon of gas in Amsterdam now costs $7.13, compared with just $2.61 in America. In fact, we should be paying more than we do since our cars are polluting the world more than our fair share.

As "a" said: People will buy smaller cars and drive less. Yup. That is what we need to do. It is not our right to pollute the world and destroy the earth, even if we have the ability to. Just because we can doesn't mean we should.

edex, I think the crackpipe comment was in response to this gem:

Another thing that gives me the jitters (but was a great business move), is that some of the major oil companies have purchased 99 year patents for alternative energies such as electric, solar, hydrogen etc and this is a major reason NOTHING has been done by anyone to help curb oil consumption.

Really? 99 year patents? What section of Title 35 would I look up to find this provision?

"$4 dollars a gallon is insane."

To us it is, but then the buck stops there. That’s what Europeans and a chunk of Asia pay on a regular basis. The US is just a country of gluttons used to the idea of 1.40 for gas.

Venezuela's gas is $0.14 per Gal i hear...

Bastards

A: it would help when you criticize to point out what you're critiquing about my post... not " are you on crack?" wow, I know exactly where you don't agree.

*People who whine about price fixing are clueless. The whole concept of price gouging when a competitor can steal all their business with lower prices is just crazy.* but when there's no competitor price gouging is common and at $4.15 for regular it's not unlikely. if there's no other station around for miles, yes then it's called price gouging. the very fact that the "ghost station" across the street is charging a dollar less, is my very point... let me reiterate it again... there are prob no stations around for miles, this is why their prices are $1 more, it makes perfect sense.

A, you're social studies teacher sent you home too early. Being happy about high gas prices? You're literally a fuckin idiot. High gas prices do not just effect the consumer at the gas pumps... it's effecting us elsewhere too in just about every corner of our lives: higher food costs, higher clothing costs, air travel costs will go up considerably, so will train and bus costs as well. and as of last fall electricity was up 50% why? oil demand... So, before you make yourself into an idiot, get the facts straight...

also, we, as americans need to start drilling in Alaska. The amount of land that will be used for drilling (for oil) does not exceed even .1% of 1% of the entire state's land. I know, you eveironmentalist will scream "alternate energies!alternate energies!" and i'm for alternate energies, but as it stands, there really is nothing the average consumer can afford that is an alternate energy item, so in the mean time while we invent some coast efficcient cars and trucks that run on ethanol or the sun, perhaps we can make our cost of living not so extreme, especially in new york city and other met areas.

maybe if adam drove a smaller, more maneuverable vehicle, he wouldn't be killing so many honda owners.

I can't stand SUV-haters. They're safer, plain and simple. When I get into an accident with my SUV, I'll walk away. And you'll be dead in your Honda Civic.

Chuck Schumer is becoming increasingly idiotic. New Yorkers need to realize that Schumer is a grandstander and nothing more. Worse than not caring about his constituents, it's not clear that he even understands how the market works.

Sometimes when gas prices spike we all like to poke fun at people who drive SUV's, because they're the ones buying the most gas. But, seriously folks, SUV drivers are pushing up gas prices for everyone else by pumping up demand and pulling down supply. Other peoples' Hummers aren't just tacky, they're costing you money.

It may not be a huge issue for your daily travels, but it is for anything you buy -- think of all the goods that have to be delivered to the city. And of course farming and manufacturing takes gas, too. Am I the only one who's noticed the price of food going up @ 25% from last year? I've read that real inflation (not the phony "core inflation" reported by the government) is running at 6.6%.

People who whine about price fixing are clueless. The whole concept of price gouging when a competitor can steal all their business with lower prices is just crazy.

And edEx. Put down the crack pipe and tinfoil hat for god's sake. What the hell would your mom think?

Am I the only one happy about the high prices? People will buy smaller cars and drive less. Isn't that what we want?

*The NY Daily News has found a station under the Brooklyn Bridge selling gas for $4.50 a gallon. Granted, that's for premium gas, but regular was a whopping $4.14*

This is a very good example of price gauging and it's illegal. The Mayors Office should be notified.

if every american did not buy exxon/mobil for one day, "they" would get "the picture" and lower prices dramatically.

What bothers me, is that forcasters have predicted a bad hurricane season and thus prices have skyrocketed. Which is bullshit, because hurricanes in August have nothing to do with the gas currently at stations' underground tanks. it's a scam and no one not even the consumer is doing a damn thing to curb this trend...

If new yorkers and americans alike had the least amount of common sene they would stop buying foreign oil and start buying american and canadian oil... i.e. HESS.

another thing that gives me the jitters (but was a great business move), is that some of the major oil companies have purchased 99 year patents for alternative energies such as electric, solar, hydrogen etc and this is a major reason NOTHING has been done by anyone to help curb oil consumption.

Also, if you have an SUV, go fuck yourself!

$4 dollars a gallon is insane. When the hell is GM going to stop advertising for SUVs? Much less making them? Sell them in Montana or Maine or Upstate ONLY. Otherwise, they're just taking advantage of fools. I feel sorry for anyone not driving a car with an engine under 3 liters in size.

To those people who drive Hummers in the city: we're all laughing at your stupidity. Get a car.

Let's see, suggestions? Well, since we're pretty much screwed on the political front, we consumers can start with baby steps: hybrids, public transportation, cutting back on driving (only necessary trips), and bicycles?!