Price of gas

[Bad Maxx]

Excellent picture!

I should have invested in oil.... Gas just went up a dime! $3.97 for regular grade (87 octane)

 

[robmob]

Update.....now the same station is up to $4.25.

$.10 increase in one day. That's awesome!

 

[Lessen]

Gas prices don't really bother me because I'm nowhere near spending the amount of income that I make. Har lessons learned, but some people need to learn to quit living outside of their means.

Gas prices affect everybody bro. However, not equally. We are not "well off" but between the wife and myself our incomes allow us a comfortable lifestyle. We still have to watch out spending but not to the extent that those less fortunate do. The bottom line is that the rising cost of fuel is not prorated to an individuals income. If you take a person who makes $9/hr, drives 30 minutes to work and is living within there means and jump the cost of fuel the way it has in the past 3 years, that person is no longer within their means, by absolutely no fault of their own.

Basically, I'm saying it's not fair to point that finger at everybody taht is suddently outside of their means because for MANY people there is absolutely nothing they can do about it. Folks in the lower income bracket can only cut back so far before they start to go hungry.

 

[marauder]

I had hoped this wouldn't be necessary, buy here goes...

I understand it may come across as a snide comment. My point is that we are one of the few countries that have the luxury of a personal automobile as a primary form of transportation and most people take it for granted. Some countries can only rely on their feet, a bicycle, moped/motorcycle, or bus to travel. I was just trying to simply state that some people genuinely believe that they are entitled to things that are niceties, not necessities.

Now for example, I see people who will not pay their rent or other primary bills because they claim that they cannot afford it. The same people eat out at least once daily. They have a cell phone, cable television, high-speed internet, etc…All things that a person feels they need, but are not a necessity. In fact, I see people here that are on government subsidized income who have internet phones, new shoes, clothes, etc…and they complain about gas prices, but refuse to even work a job.

I completely understand that the handicapped van is expensive; I have a close friend who does similar work with a local hospital. I was not directing my comment to anyone in specific that have a need for transportation.

My point is that if the people who could utilize carpooling, public transportation, bicycles, walking, etc… for travel actually did make use of it, there would be a lesser demand on the oil and the prices for everyone, as well as commercial use, would also drop. Its just simple supply and demand economics and I’m quite aware of that.

I really feel bad and apologize if I came across like that, sometimes I ramble on without declaring my full opinion because it would be ten times longer than this post, which if you have read this far is quite large. I understand not everyone has a great paying job, and that not everyone is taking the inflation in price equally. I just feel everyone blew my opinion way out of proportion, but keep in mind that it’s just my opinion.

I'm not going to continue this discussion because it will ultimately lead to bitter feelings.

 

[Lessen]

Oh, I didn't think it was snide at all. Just like you said, it seemed incomplete. I just wanted to put my 2 cents in there pertaining to how it affects low income folks vs. medium income folks (or higher). After your last post I think you're fully aware of the variety of situations that are out there. No bitterness here. :thumbup:

 

[CharliesTheMan]

So if you want butter, cheese, milk, or products that use any of these ingredients we better all hope for a change.

There's nothing I would love better than change, but realistically, I wouldn't get your hopes up that gas prices are going to go down. If we're lucky, the pace of the increase will slow down. I just don't see the oil companies and the US government saying "Well the people have had enough, we'll lower the cost of gas drastically to help them out, since they've been such good customers all these years." Can you imagine what the shareholders would do? Anyway, like I said, it would be really nice if all of a sudden gas was back down to an affordable price, but I don't think individuals or companies should put many of their eggs in that basket. I think the cost of petroleum will continue to increase, because the oil companies know that most people are going to buy it regardless. The only way that it's going to get any cheaper to operate a car is going to be with some sort of alternative energy, whether it be electric, hydrogen, etc... I think that we were on to something with the ethanol, but I think the farmers will raise the prices so much on corn and sugar that it's not going to be a lot cheaper than gas.

 

[marauder]

Interesting read regarding the dairy products...

Milk prices are set by a formula under regional Milk Marketing Orders, the main component of which is supply and demand of dry milk powder, whey powder and cheddar cheese. The regional MMO sets the price bottlers must pay farmers for milk. The prices are high now, thanks to a supply shortfall driven by global trends, including dairy policies in Europe, a long-term drought in Australia, growing demand for milk powder in Asia and the rapid growth of cheese consumption in the United States. Those trends have raised the base price of milk paid to California dairy farmers.
(Source: Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), USDA, USGAO)

 

[Rolex]

When prices started to climb, Exxon/Mobil (now one company) was asked if they could give up a few cents per gallon to help those struggling to pay for it. They said it was NOT up to them what it cost at the pump because they had to pay their suppliers what THEY asked.

Last quarter, Exxon/Mobil posted the LARGEST CORPORATE PROFIT IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!!
40 BILLION DOLLARS. Yes, that's BILLION. in ONE quarter, and that's PROFIT, not income.
40 BILLION DOLLARS PROFIT!!! We're being screwed by our own people. Get used to it. We need it, and apparently we'll give them whatever they want for it.

BOHICA!!

If you don't know what Bohica means, it's "Bend over, here it comes again.

 

[TWOCANE]

I'm sure he must mean $4. It's just hard to type that number when your talking about ONLY one gallon.
It's $3.79 for regular here.
I'd move to NH if it was $3, but it would cost too much in gas to get there.

I did mean 4, sorry. Man it takes 50 gallons to fill my beast!! Thats 185.00 for a tank. but I try not to drive to much and it lasts me at least 2 and a half weeks.

 

[Bad Maxx]

There's nothing I would love better than change, but realistically, I wouldn't get your hopes up that gas prices are going to go down. If we're lucky, the pace of the increase will slow down. I just don't see the oil companies and the US government saying "Well the people have had enough, we'll lower the cost of gas drastically to help them out, since they've been such good customers all these years." Can you imagine what the shareholders would do? Anyway, like I said, it would be really nice if all of a sudden gas was back down to an affordable price, but I don't think individuals or companies should put many of their eggs in that basket. I think the cost of petroleum will continue to increase, because the oil companies know that most people are going to buy it regardless. The only way that it's going to get any cheaper to operate a car is going to be with some sort of alternative energy, whether it be electric, hydrogen, etc... I think that we were on to something with the ethanol, but I think the farmers will raise the prices so much on corn and sugar that it's not going to be a lot cheaper than gas.

Well I agree with most of that Charlie, and just to mention by change I certainly did not mean a voluntary reduction of profits by oil companies! LOL
But what I disagree with is farmers would raise the price on corn and sugar. Farmers have no say in what the market for corn or sugar (not much sugar cane raised here any more) sells for. They are both sold as commodities and the prices are set by speculators.
There are small exceptions, selling corn to your neighbor for feed etc. but for the most part the price is set and farmers in turn speculate on when to sell their crops. Sell now or wait it out and hope for a price that will not make you cringe.

When prices started to climb, Exxon/Mobil (now one company) was asked if they could give up a few cents per gallon to help those struggling to pay for it. They said it was NOT up to them what it cost at the pump because they had to pay their suppliers what THEY asked.

Last quarter, Exxon/Mobil posted the LARGEST CORPORATE PROFIT IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!!
40 BILLION DOLLARS. Yes, that's BILLION. in ONE quarter, and that's PROFIT, not income.
40 BILLION DOLLARS PROFIT!!! We're being screwed by our own people. Get used to it. We need it, and apparently we'll give them whatever they want for it.

BOHICA!!

If you don't know what Bohica means, it's "Bend over, here it comes again.

Umm that would not be so hard to swallow but either you are reading old data or the record they broke was their own. For the third quarter in a row they have had record setting profits.
Of course they claim this is not as an obscene amount as it seems as they are just recouping some of the money they use for oil exploration.

I had hoped this wouldn't be necessary, buy here goes...

I understand it may come across as a snide comment. My point is that we are one of the few countries that have the luxury of a personal automobile as a primary form of transportation and most people take it for granted. Some countries can only rely on their feet, a bicycle, moped/motorcycle, or bus to travel. I was just trying to simply state that some people genuinely believe that they are entitled to things that are niceties, not necessities.

Now for example, I see people who will not pay their rent or other primary bills because they claim that they cannot afford it. The same people eat out at least once daily. They have a cell phone, cable television, high-speed internet, etc…All things that a person feels they need, but are not a necessity. In fact, I see people here that are on government subsidized income who have internet phones, new shoes, clothes, etc…and they complain about gas prices, but refuse to even work a job.

I completely understand that the handicapped van is expensive; I have a close friend who does similar work with a local hospital. I was not directing my comment to anyone in specific that have a need for transportation.

My point is that if the people who could utilize carpooling, public transportation, bicycles, walking, etc… for travel actually did make use of it, there would be a lesser demand on the oil and the prices for everyone, as well as commercial use, would also drop. Its just simple supply and demand economics and I’m quite aware of that.

I really feel bad and apologize if I came across like that, sometimes I ramble on without declaring my full opinion because it would be ten times longer than this post, which if you have read this far is quite large. I understand not everyone has a great paying job, and that not everyone is taking the inflation in price equally. I just feel everyone blew my opinion way out of proportion, but keep in mind that it’s just my opinion.

I'm not going to continue this discussion because it will ultimately lead to bitter feelings.

LOL I can understand what you are saying now much better than how it came across the first time.
And just a hint, when "everyone" blows your opinion out of proportion, either it is not a popular opinion, or you need to go with the longer explanation...

 

[robmob]

Update.....now the same station is up to $4.25.

$.10 increase in one day. That's awesome!

Up to $4.35 now.

Do I hear $4.45?

 

[Bad Maxx]

At $4.50 it is time to sell my Van and hire a driver!

 

[MrClean]

I guess there is one benefit of living in the mid-west. Gas is $3.75 today.

 

[robmob]

The real funny part is that I know of at least 5 gas stations in Napa that are undergoing major renovations and additions.

Hmmmmmm I wonder where the money for that is coming from.

 

[h8z2luze]

you know how much gas is in canada? http://www.bcgasprices.com/ ya cry with me and say WTF!

 

[WoodiE]

Instead of writing some big long reply on my feelings about the gas prices and people complaining about it I'll just link to you an article that I found yesterday that says it all and then some...


Reality Killed the Electric Car.pdf



-Michael

 

[robmob]

I notice all the brand new gas stations in my area have gone to digital pricing signs out front. The price of gas changes so fast that it's just easier to plug number in on a computer to change the sign rather than have a guy change the numbers by hand.

 

[hamz9561]

Gas prices going higher really bites. The oil companies have been posting record profits in their profit and loss statements but have gone on the record as saying that they are not making any money. What horse-puckey! What needs to be done is to re-regulate the oil companies as they were in the late '60s and early '70s. Well, time to get off of my soapbox. And in case no one noticed, I'm baa-ackk!