Posted on 03/28/2006 12:11:14 PM PST by presidio9
If you've bought gasoline in the last few days knows, you know that prices at the pump are on the rise again.
Trilby Lundberg, publisher of the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations, told CBS Radio News the average price of all grades combined is up nearly 15 cents over the last two weeks, to $2.52. That's 40 cents higher than last year at this time.
Tom Kloza, an oil analyst for the Oil Price information Service told The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler Tuesday, "This is pretty much typical for this time of year. It seems a little worse because we're starting from higher numbers.
"But, generally, wholesale prices go up by about 55 percent from, let's say, mid-February to late May — and, as bad as this may seem, we haven't gone up that much right now. I'm afraid this may be the last time you see $2.50, or less than that, for about five months."
Are we looking at $3 a gallon gasoline this summer?
"I don't think we are, unless there's a calamity," Kloza says. But, he warns, "there's a pretty good chance for some calamities this year. This is going to be the summer of hurricane fears, the summer of hurricane worries.
"Oil prices are established by traders, they're established by speculators, and they're established by people who react to fear. And there's no question that this spring and summer is going to be a summer of fear about the tropics. So, I think, without any hurricane impacts or anything geopolitically in Iran, Nigeria or Venezuela, we're looking at $2.50 to $2.75 on average for the next five months.
"If we get an event, that brings $3 and all the other numbers into play. An event would, of course, be a tropical system making landfall near (oil-producing) hardware," or a problem in any of the major oil-producing nations.
"A lot of the gasoline price and a lot of the crude oil price is established by the investment community," Kloza explains. "The investment community is worried about a geopolitical hot spot. It's also worried about refineries breaking down, because we really have no margin of error.
"That investment community is not likely to be selling, particularly since the real peak driving season in the days where we use 9.5, 9.6 million barrels a day is well ahead of us. It's going to be a tough period to go through."
What can we do to help reduce the impact on our pocketbooks?
"Everyone should realize there's really no downside to conservation," Kloza said. "You might not necessarily need to cancel your summer vacations. You probably should take them.
"Measured in personal disposable income, gasoline is still pretty much a bargain, but pay attention.
"I think if you can cut back a little bit, that's a prudent measure, whether we're talking about gasoline or we're talking about appetite for other things. There is a lot of excessive consumption out there. It holds true in gasoline and holds true in a lot of other elements."
Here we go again...
a very warm winter, heating fuel usage in the northeast way down - why didn't the refineries convert to making gasoline sooner?
let the shakedown begin.
$3 this summer?
how 'bout $3 this week! LOL
http://www.gasbuddy.com
any bets on when the first refinery fires will start? that's always good for another 10 cents a gallon.
It already has. In passing I saw a $2.899 price as few days ago in the Glendale area for low octane.
CBS wrong again! The prices are already starting to drop because the stockpiles are already being transferring from winter to summer blend at the perfect time of the year. Last year they got a late start due to mechanical failures and a later winter sucking up heating oil.
$3.08 Chevron Barstow
2) Gas is already way over $3 on Colorado's wesern slope.
and that's for Unleaded Regular. LOL
2004 : 2.50 a gallon seemed to be the peak
2005 : 3.00 a gallon was close to the peak.
Ouch
$3.19 Unleaded Reg. Unocal Pukalani, Hawaii
2007 4.00
2008 4.50
2009 5.00
2010 5.50
I'm sure your wages are going up in a similar manor. /s
Gas prices in the Harrisburg-York (PA) have gone up 35¢ in the past 2 weeks. Unleaded Regular is now at $2.55/gal, Unleaded Plus at $2.65/gal, and Unleaded Premium at $2.85/gal.
We'll be over $3.00/gal by mid-Spring, IMO.
Then it must be 3.58 out in Needles.
"any bets on when the first refinery fires will start? that's always good for another 10 cents a gallon."
Yeah, but they're just "good capitalists".
Hasn't dropped in the Peoples Republic of NC
I'd be happy for 1.50 a gallon prices.
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