Gas Prices

[gotbeer]

I just loaded it on my iPhone4s a couple of days ago.  

 

You can see how wild the price fluctuations can be.

One city had the cheapest gas at 2.97 and most expensive at just over 4.00.

 

Yeah, in my area, the chevron near me is 3.41.  Mobile about a block away from it is 3.19.  Then about a mile away United Oil is at $3.09.

[DowningRules]

The only downside is that there will be more incentive for flatbillers to buy/convert lifted trucks.

[Angel Oracle]

Impossible with all the damn taxes that CA puts on gas.  Something like 71 cents per gallon.  National average is 50 cents.  In Texas it's 38 cents.  

Wait, it gets even better in January, another increase for cap and trade.

[mtangelsfan]

Gas prices are arbitrary as oil companies can construct whatever pricing schemes they want. Despite claims to the contrary, oil is ubiquitous and essentially limitless. 

 

Yeah, all those scientists..............................

 

so dumb. 

 

 

 

 I agree that some of the rise and fall of gas and diesel is mysterious.  But to say it is gouging is not an appropriate term.  The refineries, freight and retail end make very little comparitively.

[Brandon]

I wouldn't go that far. If there was one thing I learned at Exoon/Mobil, it's they make ridiculous money. We broke it down to $ per minute, second, etc. I think they make ~2mm a day at a single refinery.

[mtangelsfan]

Of course they make ridiculous money, I'm not denying that. But that doesn't mean they are gouging.  They are making a good profit.  Probably a 15% to 20% ROI.   I'm just saying the back end doesn't.  The term gouging is usually directed at what people can see, like the retail end. 

[red321]

Gas prices are arbitrary as oil companies can construct whatever pricing schemes they want. Despite claims to the contrary, oil is ubiquitous and essentially limitless. 

 

You should lose your advanced member monikor for statements that stupid.

[Jay]

Obviously crude oil is a global commodity, priced in USD.  Many of the OPEC nations are budgeted for $80 oil and when it drops below that, they have budgetary issues.  I wouldn't look for it to go much lower.

[Tank]

 I agree that some of the rise and fall of gas and diesel is mysterious.  But to say it is gouging is not an appropriate term.  The refineries, freight and retail end make very little comparitively.

 

it seems to me that gas prices in areas around refineries, like socal, should be a bit cheaper because transportation should theoretically be cheaper. conversely, i would think gas prices in places like nebraska would be significantly higher because of a lack of refineries nearby.

[Brandon]

Supply and demand.

[mtangelsfan]

it seems to me that gas prices in areas around refineries, like socal, should be a bit cheaper because transportation should theoretically be cheaper. conversely, i would think gas prices in places like nebraska would be significantly higher because of a lack of refineries nearby.

 

Brandon is correct.  It is almost all about supply and demand.  For instance, freigh cost my station about 5 cents a gallon from Laurel, MT.  That is about 300 miles away.

 

One other factor to consider is taxes.  One of the reasons California gas prices are high is because their state gas tax is higher.

[gotbeer]

it seems to me that gas prices in areas around refineries, like socal, should be a bit cheaper because transportation should theoretically be cheaper. conversely, i would think gas prices in places like nebraska would be significantly higher because of a lack of refineries nearby.

 

Plus you have to remember, that we have all these fun additives in our gas to make it more "eco" friendly.  Among which is I think Ethanol which I think is made from corn.  Not much corn in California.  I don't think anyone else in the nation has so many mandates on what is in gas.  So while everyone gets Wal Mart gas, we are stuck in a limited market of supermarket gas.  Mostly it's the same, but just more expensive.

[Count Orlok]

$2.99 if you pay with cash at one station here. 10 cents more for debit/credit. Most of the stations are $3.15-3.25

[Jay]

$2.99 if you pay with cash at one station here. 10 cents more for debit/credit. Most of the stations are $3.15-3.25

 

People drive cars in Transylvania?

[Jay]

Brandon is correct.  It is almost all about supply and demand.  For instance, freigh cost my station about 5 cents a gallon from Laurel, MT.  That is about 300 miles away.

 

One other factor to consider is taxes.  One of the reasons California gas prices are high is because their state gas tax is higher.

 

You own a gas station MT?  Is that a good business?

[mtangelsfan]

I don't own one, I run one for a co-op which in turn is owned by a very large company.  It can be a good business but there are so many outside factors that can strongly effect the business so as to create wild swings in my p & l from year to year.

[Schildog]

mt isn't the margin better on the convenience store side?

[mtangelsfan]

Way better.  

[Brandon]

Have you ever been robbed?

[mtangelsfan]

Probably have stuff lifted almost daily but never been robbed if you mean like cash stolen from the counter or anything.  I always have at least four people in the store.

[Brandon]

Yeah, I figure people steal a Snickers here and there, but was referring to the latter.

 

Montana doesn't really strike me as an armed robbery type of setting.

[mtangelsfan]

Had the Shopko right next to us robbed last week.  Meth head tried to rob the pharmacy for his needed materials.  The manager chased him off.  

[Brandon]

I'm guessing he went to Cici's Pizza after

[mtangelsfan]

He would have to drive a very, very long way.

[2002_halos_II]

Bought gas yesterday at a Shell at 3.279 and today it is 3.239.