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Posted on 03/03/2011 10:58:51 PM PST by Libloather
High pump prices rattle drivers and businesses
By JONATHAN FAHEY and SANDY SHORE
The Associated Press
Monday, February 28, 2011; 9:12 AM
NEW YORK -- High fuel prices are putting the squeeze on drivers' wallets just as they are starting to feel better about the economy. They're also forcing tough choices on small-business owners who are loathe to charge more for fear of losing cost-conscious customers.
Gasoline prices rose 4 percent last week to a national average of $3.29 per gallon. That's the highest level ever for this time of year, when prices are typically low. And with unrest in the Middle East and North Africa lifting the price of oil to the $100-a-barrel range, analysts say pump prices are likely headed higher.
Bryon Gongaware, an owner of The Floral Trunk and Gifts in White Bear Lake, Minn., didn't raise his $7 flower delivery charge when gas prices spiked in 2008, and he doesn't plan to do so this time, either.
"I don't think the economy is solid enough that you can be careless about raising prices," he said, standing among the flower clippings on the floor of the shop he has run for 21 years.
That means the extra costs that come from driving the store's delivery van 70,000 miles a year come from only one place: "right out of the bottom line," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Where's the Outrage Over Skyrocketing Gas Prices?
RUSH: I raised this question yesterday. In fact, I was in the third hour of yesterday's program. Last February, the average price of gas was $2.67 per gallon. This February, it's $3.67. It's not up a dollar, but it's close. And it's close to four bucks which is what everybody was just panicking, and I asked: Where are the news stories about this because that price was inching up toward four bucks? All you heard was about the gasoline price and the harm it was causing people and the economic damage that it was wreaking and, "Oh, woe is us," every day.
Where are those stories now? Well, somebody must have been listening. Investor's Business Daily: ""Unrest in the Mideast has hit American consumers hard, driving up gas prices that had already been above $3-a-gallon since Dec. 23. The national average for gasoline hit $3.36 on Feb. 28..." Yeah, that what it was. It was 2.70-something a year ago; $3.36 this February. "But the amount of network news coverage of rising gas prices did not reflect it.
"All three broadcast networks together averaged just one story about rising gas prices per day. In contrast, when gas prices rose similarly in 2008, the networks averaged more than one story, per network, per day. In contrast, when gas prices rose similarly in 2008, the networks averaged more than one story, per network, per day." The bottom line is, the ratio of stories linking Bush to rising gas prices to stories about the rising gas pride today in the same period are 15 to one.
For every story about rising gas prices today there were 15 about Bush causing it, being responsible for it in 2008. And of course it was my superior, superb instincts that led to the question: "Where are these stories? I mean, the price is inching up: $3.30, that's 70¢ away from four bucks," and four bucks, we know, is the tipping point. So where's all this catastrophic reporting? It just isn't there. There's no point about it other than it is what it is. The media's not interested in reporting it. This is Obama reelect time.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_030311/content/01125104.guest.html
Crisis, things are bad, etc. That’s for when the Republican is in office. It’s also all the President’s fault.
When it’s Obama — who has done everything possible to make us MORE dependent on foreign oil — “Non-story!”
Or, “Not his fault.” It’s the Jimmy Carter “Just unlucky victim of bad timing and world events beyond his control” mode.
It’s simple, just “DEEM” 20.00/gal is the “New Normal”. Now just shut up!!!!
This story is 5 days old and has been posted more than a few times.
ALL of the Media and ALL of TV are s**t and they support Obama yet Republicans and others keep watching which supports them. Not very bright of the public but the public are sheep.
They always try to slip their lies in while talking about something else. Subtle.
"They" being the Chinese?
BTW, where did all the homeless people go?;) Don’t forget, in 2008, the MSM knew they had an upcoming election to influence/s
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Well add this sentance after the one you cited which is how it is in the article “They’re also forcing tough choices on small-business owners who are loathe to charge more for fear of losing cost-conscious customers.” and ask yourself does this make sense—If they are feeling better about the economy this would mean there is money to spend and not so much need for cost-consciousness-that is for a bad or weak economy. The media are liars. My gas staion down the street is now at $3.88 for regular it went up .13 cents yesterday alone. Obama is releishing it I bet it goes to $5.00 and even if you have some rice gouging going on I doubt they would do anything about it.
That’s objectivity you can believe in.
Well now I'm feeling much better, because my station only went up .08 DOLLARS ( N.B. ) from $3.61 to $3.69 yesterday. Sucks to be you.
A crisis is a terrible thing to waste...unless you’re a ‘tat.
However, Obama has said that electricity would necessarily skyrocket under his admin. Why not gas prices, too?
Gas prices and homelessness...both of which don’t exist unless the president is a Republican.
I don’t think gas prices will be coming down anytime soon either. Not when the administration in power WANTS high gas prices as an incentive for “green” energy.
Patty Murray (dimwit mom in tennis shoes) campaigned on $5 a gallon gas so as to make electric cars more accessible.
Did you see the news item that 281 Chevy VOLTS had been sold in February? That’s total. In practical terms, we might expect a resurgence of carpooling. And with all this twittering and what not, what about hook-ups for longer trips? I believe there are, or have been, protocols in place for these. There remain the obvious dangers of an unknown fare, but these are pretty well dealt with by documenting the identity of the second party, I believe. We shall see.
Los Angeles just hit $4.19 if that’s any indication where it’s going
It’s all quite clear. From an individual point of view, just sit tight. Stay home. But of course this collectively impacts retail stores, and other optional destinations. You know that whole regions are supported by trade along the interstates. These will be hit hard. All in all, not good.
“National average of $3.29/gallon” — what a joke. Here in Silicon Valley you can’t find regular for less than $3.80 a gallon. It’s shooting up a nickel a day. Unfortunately, I’m down to the last 35 miles on my current tank which cost me about $3.35/gallon a week ago.
well since the price is high might as well add a 5 dollar a gallon tax since oohbozo needs some cash...aw pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaase...we need a national effort to drill and build our own energy, not green BS, natural gas, drill baby drill, nuclear, wind is ok, solar forget about it..shale etc..like a war effort now !!!
Are media stories really necessary? I’m pretty sure everyone is aware of the price of gasoline.
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