Palmer,
I live less than 3 miles from downtown pittsburgh, there is no gas panicing going on. If there were I wouldn't be able to drive my car anywhere.. There is no panicing going on in PIttsburgh, and there is nothing remotely going on to justify .50 a gallon increase, over 3 incriments in 1 day here... other than pure all out gouging.
Gasoline sold in Pittsburgh, is refined generally in NJ, not LA... the pipeline is stable and fine, there is no shortage of supply yet, or increase in demand. All you have going on is folks watching the news, and raising their prices based on what they hear or see on CNN.
Price increases should hit when they get there next shipment in, and it costs them more to buy, not every few hours because some talking head idiot on CNN is saying nonsense.
THere is no panic going on in Pittsburgh, just gouging.
There are nationwide news programs suggesting major price increases so people across the country are filling up and topping off. The greatest supply of stored gas in this country by far is in the 200 million private vehicles. When Americans make a decision to fill up instead of just getting $20, that makes a huge difference in stored gasoline supplies. It does not require "panic", just speculation about prices increases and that's what's happening right now.
Am about 20 miles east of Pgh. Thanks for the info regarding where our gas comes from.