"ConocoPhillips, which produces a sixth of the nation's gasoline, said its plants are operating at 97 percent of capacity. No new refineries have been built in the U.S. since 1976 because of the difficulty in getting approval to build plants and the cost of construction, said Drevna of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association".
I suspect the above has far more to do with the supply problem than mergers. I just read an article on the CNN website of all places that said there's currently a $5 to $10 premium on the price of a barrel of oil because of the terrorist problem. Seems to me that mergers don't even come into play as far as gas prices are concerned but that's the best way for this author to try and pin the blame on Bush. What a pile of feces!
bump