Holiday Drivers See Record-High Gas Rates

[newyawker99]

Many American drivers got a nasty surprise as they took off for the Labor Day holiday: record high gas prices in many areas of the country that averaged nearly $1.75 per gallon, up 15 cents in the last two weeks.

AAA predicted 33.4 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home for the three-day weekend, the highest number since 1995. And 28.2 million, or 84 percent, were expected to travel by motor vehicle.

"I guess that will just mean a few less beers," joked Mitch Painovich, 32, of Denver, en route to Aspen for a beach volleyball tournament. The group had originally planned to take separate vehicles but ended up carpooling to save gas money.

Sporting shorts, sandals and sunglasses, Michael Moses was ready for the beach, and he wasn't about to let a spike in gas prices ruin his fun.


holiday gas prices

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. I don't remember the prices being so consistantly high

for such a protracted length of time.

And not one question about this Administration's role in the causes. Hell, this misadministration is acting like there's nothing wrong with the price hikes.

[lanlady]

2. 'cuz Bush gets to send his travel bills

to the taxpayer.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

7. Remember when Poppy couldn't answer the question

about the price of a gallon of milk?

This family has NO effing clue as to the realities of life in America.

[Peace_2_Everyone]

3. NBC’s morning show just

said “NEAR record high gas prices”

I am sure they are splitting hairs to create that spin, I just thought it odd to hear the spin masters spin their web as I was reading your headline.
In Smallville NW Ark. gas was down yesterday $1.61.9 for the cheap stuff.

[TahitiNut]

4. "Red" vs. "Blue"?

From the data at EIA, it sure seems that the price increases have a strong inverse correlation to %GOP by state. I guess it's just my imagination. :tinfoilhat:

[UpInArms]

5. historical reminder time

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/DailyNews/gasprices_000623.html

Bush said an effort to blame him for the “energy crisis” because he is a former oilman from Texas “isn’t going to work.”

Also, Bush repeated the Republican charge that a lack of energy policy within the Clinton administration had caused the United States to be dependent on foreign oil.

edited to add:

in 2000, oil was about $38 per barrel and gas was priced at around $1.50 a gallon - currently oil is about $32-33 a barrel and gasoline is now averaging $1.75 a gallon

so - what's up with that???

[treepig]

6. in 'real' dollars, the prices are far from record highs

they reached almost $3/gallon (in today's $s) back in the early reagan years:



"In order to make price comparisons over time, it is necessary to factor in inflation. For example, in 1981 motorists paid $1.35 per gallon for gasoline. Due to inflation, this is equivalent to spending $2.74 on a gallon of gasoline today."

http://www2.exxonmobil.com/corporate/Newsroom/NewsReleases/GasolinePrices.asp