Our Gas Just Dropped Again - 2.539 now

[leftyladyfrommo]

This is starting to get really irritating. I can' see where anything has changed and yet our prices are down almost 50 cents.

So why the hell where they so high for so long?

[dave123williams]

1. Gouging?

You're probably going to see an easement until the election, IMHO.

[RB TexLa]

2. Or a drop at the end of Aug/beginning of Sept like every year

I've gotten royalty checks my entire adult life, same thing every year

:shrug:

[gkhouston]

5. I've never seen the price of gas drop *before* the Labor Day weekend

down 30 cents in the past two weeks.

[RB TexLa]

15. Last year it was dropping before the spike from Katrina

before Labor Day. Happens quite often, when the next shipments are going to be the non-summer blend gas the price drops as gas is priced on replacement cost. Competition lowers the cost of someone who is maybe a half a tank from non-summer blend gas in their tanks.

[gkhouston]

24. I haven't noticed that here but

down in Texas, it's not like "summer" ends when August does. :(

[RB TexLa]

25. big difference between 100 degrees and 92 degrees

I've had patio doors open the last couple of days.

Also less humidity, I don't know the exact date they switch the gas over but it's around this time

[gkhouston]

26. I wish it were only 92 degrees.

October can't get here soon enough.

[RB TexLa]

29. TXCN shows us to be 96 today and Houston 95

What counts for the switch in gas is more the humidity and the temps at night. Last few weeks we were 102/80 now it more 95/72. When it cools at night a bit that lets the air clean out some also the lower the humidity the quicker it cleans out. If the air cleans itself overnight not as much need for the cleaner gas. It's really one of those things they have to pick a date as best they can.

[gkhouston]

30. hee. Driving into Houston on I-10 will give you

an idea of how much the air "clears" at night. We've gotta do better than hydrocarbons.

[RB TexLa]

36. But if you go at 4:00 in the morning you do see a difference between Aug 1

and Sept 1. I'm sure some years there might not be but most years there is a stated difference. Both DFW and Houston have pollution year round but there is a difference between seasons, and thankfully we have the expensive summer blend requirement or neither of us would be able to breath for a few months.

[hfojvt]

31. the drop does not show up on this chart

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp
Sep-dec 2004 prices were flat - no drop from the end of the supposed "summer driving season". Prices spiked in late August because of Katrina and then slid back down from Oct - December 2005. I cannot remember a supposed reason for the rise from March 2006 to June 2006. The media likes to talk about the supposed "summer driving season" but that is not visible and has not been since I've been tracking gas prices.

My take on this is kinda tinfoil, since I recently got a taxpayer paid brochure from my Republican Representative claiming that Republicans are doing something about high gas prices. Then a week later, prices drop like a rock. How many other Republicans sent the same type of brochure?

[RB TexLa]

35. I see the drop before the rise as Katrina entered the Gulf and then

the spike. I also looked at my statements from last year.

[hfojvt]

40. this chart shows it better

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

There is a tiny drop after the previous month's spike before the huge spike in 2005.

[RB TexLa]

41. So you now say it does show the drop in prices that was occuring?

OK

[hfojvt]

42. did you even look at the chart?

First of June 2005 gas was 2.10 by about July 23 it was 2.32. Over the next couple of weeks it dropped to 2.29 before shooting up to about 3.10 after Katrina. That does not compare to the recent sharp drop.

[RB TexLa]

50. You said there was NO drop.

As far as looking at the chart, you are the one who first said there was no drop in the chart, and then that you saw the drop in the chart.

So now, you are go to the drop that was stopped by a natural disaster wasn't as big as the one now.

Yes this year is probably a bigger drop than what the price would have dropped to last year if not for nature and the speculation that went with that, and we are at higher prices which lead to more short term volatility. But this is the time of the year the price of gas drops, around the end of Aug.

[smaug]

8. Price drop is to help Repuglicans in tight races

Price drop is to keep Repuglicans in office; they can point to lowering gas prices as a reason to keep the kleptocracy in complete power, and free of pesky Congressional investigations. I'm telling people, if you vote Repuglican, gas will be $4 a gallon within six months of voting Repug!

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. I sure hope aren't that stupid.

[leftyladyfrommo]

7. This all started after the oil companies had to post their last

quarter profits.

I think this stuff gives a whole new meaning to the word "gouging."

[William769]

3. Our gas is holding steady at $2.91 a gallon.

:(

ON EDIT: thats for regular unleaded.

[TriSec]

4. Looking out the window..

2.75 / 2.85 / 2.99
Diesel 2.85

Watertown, MA. It's been over $3 for all grades since about July 4th.

It's labor day weekend...after the kids get back in school, people will start paying attention to the elections. And what hurts the most on a daily basis? Gas prices.

Yep, the sheeple will say, "Gas is down. George Bush Good." That, and an 'October Surprise', and they've stolen another one. And one more step down the road to fascism.

[durrrty libby]

11. As dumb,gullible and bigoted as 1/3 of the country is,

I don't think most people will be fooled again

[leftyladyfrommo]

17. I am constantly amazed.

We have lots and lots of people here that will just use any excuse to vote Republican. the "Democrat" party is like a cuss word in these parts.

[Chef]

6. $2.19

Anybody want to guess what gas will be on election day? Unfortunately, the means to know why the prices fluxuate the way they do is not available to us. Either the demand has gone through the floor, driving prices down or production has increased. In any event, the run up in prices was the result of higher oil prices. And what will the heating season do for the price.

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. I wondered about the problems with Ford

We have a big Ford plant here and the F150 sales dropped 46% in one month.

I am not a conspiracy kind of person but I am beginning to have really bad thoughts about all of this.

[OzarkDem]

18. Wonder what the price will be after election day?

Much higher, regardless of who wins.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

34. You forgot "manipulation of market prices through collusion" in your list

[yellowcanine]

12. I am going to continue figuring out ways to save on gasoline.

Set the cruise at the speed limit whenever it is safe to do so. Inflate the tires to the maximum. Change the oil. Minimize AC use. Accelerate slowly. Combine trips. Car pool when possible. Drive the highest mpg vehicle when possible. Get rid of the vehicles we don't actually need. Borrow or rent if I actually need a truck or van for a special purpose.

It is my way of getting back at the oil companies and the auto insurance companies. Whatever the price of gasoline, I save money.

On edit: And I forgot the best one. Walk, bike, or take public transport whenever possible.

[leftyladyfrommo]

19. Don't stop for red lights or stop signs.

I saw that on a list of ways to save on gas.

[yellowcanine]

28. Yeah, I have also heard "put car in neutral and turn engine off going down

steep hills" - that one will get you killed in a hurry also particularly if you turn the key all the way off and the steering locks up.

[leftyladyfrommo]

38. Never thought about that one.

I didn't much care for the not stopping for red lights, either. The cost of the ticket and the wreck would pay for a whole lot of gas.

[kentuck]

13. They opened up the new pipeline a few weeks ago....

Maybe it is relieving some of the temporary shortage?

[catmandu57]

14. We can see part of the election strategy then

Drop gas prices so that everyone can drive their gashog and forget what it's costs them in the past couple of years.

[OzarkDem]

20. Helps hide inflation, too n/t

[leftyladyfrommo]

23. That's a great point.

[catmandu57]

37. There goes my ss cola

it will be manipulated so the costs of living increase will be small, but by next spring prices will be soaring for everything, one step forward two giant staggers back.

[filer]

16. So I guess I should buy that new Hummer after all? n/t

[leftyladyfrommo]

21. Is that the hummer that you get a big tax break on?

That hummer?

[filer]

27. That's the one.

As long as it's over 6000 lbs loaded, and you have to use it for business.

[IChing]

22. The correlation of gas prices and Bush's popularity.

You think the oil companies are not involved with the Cheney administration
and there is no price fixing going on?



Death of military in Iraq.

[likesmountains 52]

32. Still $3.06 here...but I live in a tourist town...price has not dropped

all summer..maybe after Labor Day weekend..

[leftofthedial]

33. criminals run our economy

their friends and masters run the oil companies

an "election" is coming. the diebold/es&s machines require that the "poll" ratings are within 10% or so for the surprise GOP "upset" to be plausible. look for other good transient developments on the home front.

[TahitiNut]

39. It's down a full $0.50 here in the Detroit area in less than 30 days.

That's compared to a corresponding fall of about $0.30 nationally.

http://www.detroitgasprices.com/retail_price_chart.aspx

[mnhtnbb]

43. Paid $2.89 for premium on Wed in Carrboro, NC

Previous fill-up at same location two weeks ago was $3.13

[bluestateguy]

44. Fill up as much as you can now

because it will be back up to over $3 after November 7.

[StrictlyRockers]

46. Get rid of your car and ride your bike everywhere, like the other smarties

[bluestateguy]

47. Uh, no, I can't do that. A lot of people can't do that.

Nothing against the people that choose to do it, but it's not a feasible option for everyone.

[StrictlyRockers]

51. Can't? You are a victim of a lack of imagination maybe?

[bluestateguy]

53. Yes, can't.

Buses and trains don't operate at the convenience of everyone's work schedule. It would be nice if they did, but often they don't. In this economy, such people often can just "get another job".

In some cities, public transportation is riddled with crime and unsafe.

Not everyone is able to live near a public transit route even if they would like to.

Others are not physically able to ride bikes due to disability.

Public transit or bike riding is usually not realistic for rural people.

Freezing weather conditions in some parts of the country can make riding a bike unfeasible for all but the most athletic people.

Some people may have an idyllic vision of an America where all Americans live in or near large cities, taking publik transit
everywhere they go or riding a bicycle or walking. These are the same people who cheer on high gas prices that only hurt working people, not the upper-middle class SUV drivers, and have sheer contempt for people who commit the sin of driving to work.

Sorry. I'll pass on that vision.

Don't tell me how to live my life.

[StrictlyRockers]

54. My opinion.

Leaving out those who are physically handicapped, and therefore unable to motivate themselves around town on their own power, it is my considered opinion that the "can't" that exists for most people is self-imposed.

I CHOOSE to live close to where I work. I do this INTENTIONALLY, so that I can ride my bike to work every day.

I CHOOSE a life-style where a car is not necessary.

I don't feel I have a right to tell people how to live...until they start fucking up the place where I live. Until the people who are driving gas-guzzling MONSTERS that are DESTROYING our planet realize that they have to either (a) change their life-style so that it is not creating a catastrophe for all of us, or (b) accept their complicity and participation in a non-sustainable form of transportaion which will leave a super-heated, water world for all future generations to NOT enjoy.

Face it. YOU are the problem. If you choose to believe the bs hype they fed you on how you are supposed to live your life, that's on you right, right? I shouldn't judge you? Wrong! It's my problem, too. We all live here together. I already know how to surf, but I don't want you to come crying to me when you are forced to learn how to surf in order to commute home.

I'm not telling you how to live your life. I'm just telling you to STOP DESTROYING OUR PLANET!!

[bluestateguy]

56. I would reply to this now

but I have to go drive to the grocery store because the bus doesn't do straight there and back to my place. It would not be possible to walk the distance from the nearest bus stop carrying all of the groceries I need to get today.

I off to go destroy the planet now!

Toodles!

[Ediacara]

45. In Montana, we're the second highest in the country (WTF!)

It's averaging about $3.10/g still!

http://www.dailychronicle.com/articles/2006/09/01/breakingnews/30gasprices.txt

[OzarkDem]

48. You don't have a close congressional race?

On edit - you do have a close Senate race, don't you? You should be seeing lower prices any time now.

[chat_noir]

52. OzarkDem, good question.

Maybe we should check to see if there is any correlation between the lower gas prices and competitive races.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/

[mountainvue]

49. I know. We're just being gouged.

That's the only thing that makes any sense to me.

[Spinoza]

55. ".....I can' see where anything has changed ..."

Say, what? The price of crude oil, on the world markets, has been dropping steadily--and dramatically-- since the cessation of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. It's down nearly $10/barrel, a huge drop in such a short time.

[ellie]

57. I was just out west

and gas prices were ridiculous. $3.20 on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. $3.03 in Alamosa, CO. $2.94 in La Junta, CO. Then I came back to Toledo and gas is $2.49. I don't know how the people out west are affording it. There weren't a lot of travelers on the road out there. They can't afford it either.