Gas prices up even as crude goes lower

[NeoConsSuck]

Prices jumped nearly 11 cents over the past two weeks to $2.35 for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline, even though the price of crude oil dropped, a national survey said Sunday.

The hike obliterates the 9-cent drop that had begun January 20, said Trilby Lundberg, publisher of the Lundberg Survey.

"Those five weeks of declines were due largely to our being at the bottom of our gasoline-demand curve," she said.

Lundberg said an expected increased demand for gasoline in the spring and new government gasoline formulation requirements conspired to drive up prices at the pump.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/12/gas.prices/index.html

[0007]

1. Argh!

[LostinVA]

2. Color me surprised... NOT

[Nickster]

3. I'm sure it has nothing to do with scaled back refining of the crude oil

at the refinerys. Some of the refinerys are at 83% of capacity.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "All your cash moneybucks are belong to us" - Republican Oil Cronies

eom

[B3Nut]

5. Rebel - buy a hybrid or economy car!

:D

The high-mileage puppycar segment is heating up...the new '06 Kia Rio/Hyundai Accent twins (astonishingly good, light years ahead of their prior efforts), Scion xA, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa.

Also, more vehicles are E85-ready nowadays, including the monster Chevrolet Tahoe...21MPG highway (not bad for such a huge land barge) and can run 85% ethanol. If you have to have a big SUV/truck-shaped object, this is about as green as such a ride gets.

A part of me does indulge a bit of Schadenfreude when I see a Hummer or older Tahoe/Yukon (13-15mpg!!!) at the pump when gas prices are high...and grin at my little Escort ZX2 (which usually averages around 30 in mixed driving). Now if someone gives the subcompacts I like the ability to run E85, I'll be a happy puppy...Ford should make the Focus E85-compatible.

Todd in Beerbratistan

[Mountainman]

7. OK, you finish the 3 years of payments I have on my vehicle now and I'll

trade it in for a hybrid OK?

[indypaul]

10. Is there some part of the

Cheney energy policy that you don't understand?

[pdurod1]

14. Peoples driving habits need to change...

There would be an immediate drop in consumption. People aren't happy unless they're standing on the gas pedal. It's like a morphene feed or something.

I switched over to a civic gets great mileage --get a KNN filter, the silverado gets turned over once a month and the 71 super sport hasn't been started for a couple years.

[B3Nut]

16. What's funny

is my ZX2 returns 30mpg in nice weather even with bouts of spirited driving. I've had it hit a smidgeon over 40 on the highway with mainly 60mph driving. It won't hit that high right now (needs a PCV valve and some other bits, dang PCV breather tube has holes in it!) but I'm about to turn it in, so I'm nursing the poor mutt along.

Most likely getting an '06 Kia Rio5 hatchback for my next vehicle, 29 city/38 highway with the slushbox tranny (my wife can't drive a stick, hence the order to toss my ZX2 at 160K rather than put a clutch in it). Good driving little car, and lots of room for musical stuff with the seats folded down (amps/keyboards/basses/etc).

Todd in Beerbratistan

[NickB79]

17. Having sat in all those cars this past weekend

And driving an 05 Scion xA for the past year, I recommend the Nissan Versa. It was by far the best of the compact hatchbacks available at the MN Auto Show. If Honda introduces the Fit in a hybrid drive though, then I recommend that one.

[Benhurst]

6. The miracle of the market place.

[customerserviceguy]

8. I figured

the respite in gas prices was seasonal. Now, it seems to be confirmed. I'm glad my new job is only five miles away, that should make a tank of gas last a couple of weeks.

[Nabia2004]

9. Heating oil has risen even more - 2.38 Feb 1st, now 2.75

This is in the Seattle area.

[Rainscents]

11. Haven't they made enought money yet?

I guess not.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. They'll let us know when they've made enough, maybe.

:grr: Gas has increased almost 15 cents here in the past two weeks.

[alarimer]

12. They raised prices because of spring break

And because they can. It ought to be against the law to do that.

[fasttense]

15. Well of course gas prices are up, there are still some Middle Class people

who haven't gone into excessive debt yet. Need to get every buck they can from the Middle Class before it completely disappears.

[taught_me_patience]

18. Wait for this summer

my bet is that gas will be $3.50 by then (no matter what the price of crude is).


taught.

[japple]

19. Gas prices in my area (N. GA) have gone up an average of 30 cents

per gallon since I filled up my tank last week. This is incredible, and has anyone heard a peep about it on the "news." Well, I don't actually turn on the the TV or radio anymore except for about 1 hr. of NPR on Mondays and Fridays when I'm driving to work.