So ... Why ARE gasoline prices going up ... THIS time ?

self ^ | May 21, 2009 | knarf

[Dixie Yooper]

Yeah, that and refiners having to change to "summer grades" which are more expensive to make.

Until they have to switch to "Winter grades" which are more expensive to make...

[NavyCanDo]

“Memorial Day weekend Happens every year...”

True enough, But the gas prices have been going up since around February. I track my own fill up cost on a spreadsheet and Every fill up has been more expensive than the one before.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Inflation.

0bama is debasing the currency. By artificially increasing the money supply we will soon be enjoying Zimbabwean levels of prosperity.

Dollars are far cheaper, it takes a lot more to them to buy a Euro or a barrel or oil.

I agree with Cole Porter, “You're the top, you're a Coolidge dollar.”

[Little Ray]

‘Cause people are using more? You know - Memorial day, summer, end of school, camp, soccer, etc.?

[Dr. Ursus]

You left out April showers and the start of the NFL season!

[plsvn]

Until they have to switch to "Winter grades" which are more expensive to make...

Not true, there are fewer "winter grades" hence less expense to the refiners. Don't you notice prices tend lower in the fall?

[nuconvert]

“So ... Why ARE gasoline prices going up ... THIS time ?”

It’s summer

[ArrogantBustard]

Price of crude is going up.

Don't know why ... bounce after the price crash last fall, maybe?

[taxcontrol]

Ethanol bad, Butanol good

[Dixie Yooper]

It’s 57 different blends. One for each state!

Has California already been carved up into 8 states? What are the new states called?

[TomGuy]

I admit to being confused.

No need to be confused. It is the same pattern that has been going on since the mid 1970s:

Price goes up. People complain. Price slowly drops, but only by about half of the increase. It is now higher than at the start, but lower than at its peek.

Example:

At 1.00, it rises rapidly to 1.49. People growl. It slowly declines to 1.19. People smile. [Note that it is 0.19 higher, however, when the dust settles.]

Six to twelve months later,
at 1.19, it rises rapidly to 1.89. People snarl. It slowly declines to 1.59. People smile. [It is now 0.40 higher, but is 0.30 cheaper than where it peeked.]

Months later,
at 1.59, it rises rapidly to 2.39...

and the pattern continues, just has it has for the last 40 years.

[randita]

Government mandates are a big part of it. Also speculators back in the market on the eve of potential cap and trade laws which would make gas more expensive and less plentiful.

Don’t complain. Just check your tire pressure and drive 55 MPH.

[onedoug]

I’m surprised 0bama hasn’t ordered gas stations closed.

[Dixie Yooper]

Don't you notice prices tend lower in the fall?

Like in 2005...

[Paladin2]

Gasoline price needs to be above Diesel price?

[tx_eggman]

A few players controlling a commodity which everyone needs is NOT a true free market.

The majors (evil big oil) control less than 7% of the world's reserves. The rest is controlled by state run companies.

On this, I agree with Bill O’Reilly.

O'Reilly is an idiot.

[Toespi]

Bush and “BIG OIL” (aka Dick Cheney) is engineering another huge gas hike to sabotage Obama’s brilliant Presidency.

[Recon Dad]

That might be true if it were not for the fact that there is vast amounts of crude in storage everywhere that can hold it.
I believe what we have is a controlled squeeze on the part of the refiners.

[what's up]

Summer driving season. Pure and simple.

[knarf]

Dixie didn’t think it was necesary to add .. /s.