Gas Prices

[D. Medvedev Fan]

Why are gas prices going up again?

[Xavier]

Price of crude jumped again... Usual as we approach Spring Break time, but worse this year because of the outstanding circumstances in the market (production shortages, terrorism, schedule off-line time, etc.).

[D. Medvedev Fan]

Is there any way that it could have been avoided? How?

[Tfbandie]

I now can't find the article, but I read on friday that gas prices were going to shoot up by as much as 20 cents a gallon over the weekend, so I filled up at 1.86 on friday, today same gas station, 1.99

[Xavier]

Is there any way that it could have been avoided? How?

Well, no. Market presures cannot be avoided.

Obviously, some of the market presures might have been different given different variables (demand, war in Iraq, etc.)

Tapping reserves is not the answer either, MR PRESIDENT... :glare:

[mossrose]

What really bugs me......well, one of the things, anyway.......about it is, when the price of crude jumps, the price at the pumps goes up immediately, even though the gas in the underground tank is still the old gas at the old price.

But when the price goes down, it takes weeks before the price at the pump comes down. That just isn't right!

:rant:


We are paying 80 cents a litre right now, and we make the stuff here! (Multiply by about 4 = $3.20 a gallon, figure in about a 20% exchange rate right now, and we are still paying the equivelent of about $2.75 a gallon!

:doh:

[Tfbandie]

And Rando grows ever happier with his choice of getting a hybrid...

[cbro]

Is there any way that it could have been avoided? How?

YES, have enought people stop buying the gas or more likely to happen, stop buying one kind of gas until they lower the price, then stop buying the other kind. However the best idea is to have mature christians in charge who don't have too many demands to get every penny they can, because enought people have a good future by faith in God instead of by their money.

[NSMinistries]

time to invest in oil companies again...

[CatholicSage]

Long term answer: China.

[Arnold]

Why are gas prices going up again?

It's all W's fault. He jacked up prices so Haliburton and his oil buddies in Texas make more money.

[Lazy Agnostic]

the best idea is to have mature christians in charge who don't have too many demands to get every penny they can, because enough people have a good future by faith in God instead of by their money.First let's have mature Christians summon the courage to demand that the clergy eschew worldly perquisites.

"There is nothing more insulting to God than a preacher in a $1200 suit."

[Arnold]

First let's have mature Christians summon the courage to demand that the clergy eschew worldly perquisites.

"There is nothing more insulting to God than a preacher in a $1200 suit."


Chapter and verse please...

[cbro]

[QUOTE=LutheranSage]Long term answer: China.

Why? Do you think they are any less greedy than anyone else?

[cbro]

[QUOTE=Lazy Agnostic]First let's have mature Christians summon the courage to demand that the clergy eschew worldly perquisites.
That is not how salvation or revival has happened and so you have no more of a reason to think lower prices will happen that way then you have a reason to doubt God
"There is nothing more insulting to God than a preacher in a $1200 suit."

I would agree if you had added "in a poor neighborhood"

[Tfbandie]

And they'll keep going up this year.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/08/news/economy/gas_prices.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

Best hope, stop wasting it.

[mossrose]

Went up 5 cents a litre overnight here. Now 85 cents a litre. In Alberta! I understand the rest of Canada, but not here!

And we are still using the old stuff!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

[Teallaura]

Went up 5 cents a litre overnight here. Now 85 cents a litre. In Alberta! I understand the rest of Canada, but not here!

And we are still using the old stuff!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!
Yes, but the station has to buy the new stuff at higher prices - if they didn't raise prices many would go out of business before they could recoup the loss on the next tank (I mean if done consistently). As prices soar, the stations get caught in the crunch. Lower initial prices, even though in line with what was paid for that tank, may prevent the station from being able to afford the next - not to mention eating up anything resembling a profit.

For example, Station X pays $1000 to fill it's main tank. It expects to make $1500 by selling that gas. However, prices begin to increase and the next tank will cost $1500 - there goes Mr. Profit Margin. But if it's not a single fluctuation and prices continue to climb, that $1000 tank may now cost $2500 - a $1000 loss. Eventually the stations pricing would catch up - but in the mean time the station is paying out more for gas than it is making. No business can operate like that for long - and there's no way to know when the prices will stabilize. The smart move is to raise prices as oil prices rise in order to offset the lag in profits. On the reverse side, when prices are dropping, the station is now catching up with the initial lag in pricing - they are making back the money they had to 'front' initially as prices increased. From the consumer side is looks like a raw deal, but it really isn't gouging - they are just trying to stay in business. And prices do eventually drop to reflect the new pricing.