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Collapse in oil prices: producers howl, consumers cheer, economists fret
The Guardian ^ | Tuesday, December 16, 2014 | Staff

Posted on 12/16/2014 9:55:53 AM PST by Star Traveler

The price of oil has fallen by nearly half in just six months, a surprising and steep plunge that has analysts arguing over whether this is a good or bad thing.

The price of oil has fallen by nearly half in just six months, a surprising and steep plunge that has consumers cheering, producers howling and economists wringing their hands over whether this is a good or bad thing.

The price of a barrel of oil is just under $56, down from a summer high of $107, and lower than at any time since the US was still in recession in the spring of 2009.

So what’s going on? A global imbalance of supply and demand that is rippling across the world economy, for better and worse.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: energy; fracking; gasoline; keystonexl; oil; opec; texas
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To: RedStateRocker

most of the cost of gas and anything is due to your government regulations and taxes not the efficient private industry . you live in california and are blaming oil producers in another state . you live in practially a communist regime where the price of everything is skyrocketing , gas there in california is almost $2 more expensive per gallong than Here in Louisiana, a House is $400,000 in california, an operation is $50,000 everywhere because of government regulations not the free market which usually drops the price to near zero (evidence the dollar tree where every item is a $1)


21 posted on 12/16/2014 11:02:33 AM PST by Democrat_media (The media is the problem. reporters are just democrat political activists posing as reporters)
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To: Made In The USA; All
Right now gas is about $1 less per gallon - so that’s about an extra $180/month ($2,160 year) in our pocket.

And, what happens to that extra cash? Consumer spending. It's a plus for the entire economy.

The shale oil producers have done a great job of leveling the playing field and bringing us closer to energy independence. Prices will stabilize at fair market... they should have realized that.

22 posted on 12/16/2014 11:04:53 AM PST by DaveMSmith (Evil Comes from Falsity, So Share the Truth)
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To: RedStateRocker
most of the cost of gas and anything is due to your government regulations and taxes not the efficient private industry . you live in california and are blaming oil producers in another state . you live in practically a communist regime where the price of everything is skyrocketing , gas there in California is almost $2 more expensive per gallon than Here in Louisiana, a House is $400,000 in California, a medical operation is $50,000 everywhere in the USA because of government regulations not because of the efficient free market which usually drops the price to near zero (evidence the dollar tree where every item is a $1)
23 posted on 12/16/2014 11:05:39 AM PST by Democrat_media (The media is the problem. reporters are just democrat political activists posing as reporters)
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To: yoe

We should be thanking Saudi Arabia for doing what Obama won’t do in stopping Iran!

Saudi Arabia’s oil war against Iran and Russia
http://nypost.com/2014/12/14/saudi-arabias-oil-war-against-iran-and-russia-2/


24 posted on 12/16/2014 11:06:16 AM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Star Traveler

....what’s going on? A global imbalance of supply and demand....

Occam’s Razor applies.


25 posted on 12/16/2014 1:04:36 PM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: SoFloFreeper

My pet theory, QE stopped flowing, hedge funds and investment banks lost their free money to gamble and speculate on oil futures, price per barrel adjusted down to the actual demand curve.

With 98M not looking for jobs, a majority of Millenials not driving, and the actual cost of living for the average guy going up, the demand for oil will most likely continue dropping the price.


26 posted on 12/16/2014 1:56:43 PM PST by Gen-X-Dad
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To: Star Traveler

I bought diesel for $2.82 at Sam’s today


27 posted on 12/16/2014 1:59:54 PM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc.;+12, 73, ..... Obama is public enemy #1)
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To: yoe

I have family members who own oil, natural gas, and coal concerns. This won’t affect them much at all, because they have enough wealth to see them through.

I also have family who are on the other end of the stick - working in oil fields, refineries, and on oil rigs.

They know that the work they do is cyclical, and always have something to fall back on. Every boom has a bust. Always.

From top to bottom, energy is a cyclical endeavor. Those who fail to plan are bound to fail.

OPEC isn’t killing anything. The Bakken Fields will still be there when prices rise again. This isn’t the first downturn and it won’t be the last.

What is temporarily bad for some people is going to be good for others. I hope it spurs technology in the direction of getting energy out of the ground in better/cheaper ways.


28 posted on 12/17/2014 1:53:38 AM PST by mountainbunny (Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens ~ J.R.R. Tolkien)
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