I'm relieved that it's not just my area. When I got up this morning, prices had gone up to $2.499!
Stuff like this puts me in the mood for gov't regulation and that's not my usual feeling. Free Market economics doesn't seem to affect your prices when you're in collusion to artificially inflate 'em. It ticks me off, but I'm at a loss as to what to do about it. Protest by NOT buying gas? Sorry, I have to travel 35 miles to work. Write a letter?-- to whom?! Ugh. I don't really want the government to take a hand, but is there another entity large enough to affect oil companies that we could make give a damn?
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Why, does anyone know, is the price of petrol twice as much in one island (England) as it is in another (admittedly larger) one? (Australia). It looks like Oz is not that much more than ours - looks like it converts to about 3.30 a gallon or so, while England is over $6 a gallon.
Here it is funny. On this side of the river (Kentucky), it's $2.45 or so, but in Indiana it's more like $2.55. So I guess it is taxes on that.
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
Originally posted by AWArulzWhy, does anyone know, is the price of petrol twice as much in one island (England) as it is in another (admittedly larger) one? (Australia). It looks like Oz is not that much more than ours - looks like it converts to about 3.30 a gallon or so, while England is over $6 a gallon.
Gas tax. OPEC is a cartel so to try to some of that money, countries will tax the gas at different rates. I remember reading in my ECON class two years ago that if every country removed their gas tax, the price of gas for them would be around $1.50 or much less a gallon.
Originally posted by in the linkIn Europe, fuel tax can amount to more than 75% of the price at the pump. Comparatively, gas taxes in Canada represent approximately 40% of the price at the pump, with variations between provinces and territories. In the U.S., the tax percentage is only 12.5%. Why the disparities? Well, because just like businesses, countries have different goals -- and taxes are placed on consumption goods as a vehicle by which governments attain these goals.
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Originally posted by rinbergStuff like this puts me in the mood for gov't regulation and that's not my usual feeling. Free Market economics doesn't seem to affect your prices when you're in collusion to artificially inflate 'em. It ticks me off, but I'm at a loss as to what to do about it. Protest by NOT buying gas? Sorry, I have to travel 35 miles to work. Write a letter?-- to whom?! Ugh. I don't really want the government to take a hand, but is there another entity large enough to affect oil companies that we could make give a damn?
I can't speak for where you live, but in the most populous counties in Texas, the government mandates a different formula for gas during the summer. In general, that means a price spike around spring as the refineries have to change their production process. Making matters worse thie year, the government changed the composition of that mix this year. This costs the companies money and means the price spike was more dramatic this year than last year. So, before you ask government to help, you may want to consider the idea that they may be part of the problem. In Texas, that is certainly the case. I have no idea if this is true in other parts of the country or not. It's why I also woke up to a 25-30 cent increase in price.
And, just because it was brought up--what should the government do anyways? Price ceiling? Great, we'd have cheap gas that no one could buy. Windfall tax legislation? Great, Congress can't even accurately estimate their own revenue and expense; I don't see how they could do it for someone else. Regardless, if you want to get Congress involved, look for even higher gas prices or a lack of available gas. Just look at Congress' past responses to high gas prices to see this at work.
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It's definitely edging up here too. I was out today and saw $2.49 at the cheapie places, $2.60-$2.65 at the name brands. I wouldn't be astonished to see $2.75 or more by the time Memorial Day rolls around.
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Originally posted by Shem the PenmanIt's definitely edging up here too. I was out today and saw $2.49 at the cheapie places, $2.60-$2.65 at the name brands. I wouldn't be astonished to see $2.75 or more by the time Memorial Day rolls around.
It went to $2.59.9 at most places, then dropped to $2.55.9 a few hours later. I'd take $2.75.9 at Memorial Day and consider it a steal. Considering Venezuela is causing problems with Exon, Iran is Iran and the usual jump come Memorial Day, $2.99.9 might be inexpensive come Memorial Day. And, because of the wonderful Iowa Caucuses, the .53 tax on ethanol from Brazil to supplement the woeful supply being produced domestically means even if you want to go with alternative forms you can't catch a break.
There was a nice little shot at the Oil companies on the editorial page of our local newspaper yesterday about Big Oil's denial of price gouging and gas spiking right before Spring Break (at least for schools here).
Spent $31 filling up my Saturn a couple of days ago, and that will only go up this summer. Yikes.
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Usually, all the BP stations along my commute list the same prices. For the past few days, however, the closest station on my commute is listng regluar at $2.65. Another, halfway in my commute, lists it for $2.58.
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There seems to be a pattern for the stations around here. The ones around campus, and other colleges, all are about 20 cents more than any other place (excepting the country). Right now the BP just outside campus here sits at $2.899.
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$2.45 when I drove home from the train station last night and $2.53 this morning when I drove by on my way to the train. By law in NJ the price can only be changed once a day, I fully expect to see an even higher price tomorrow. I'm glad I filled up on Tuesday night.
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