Gasoline gouging is official

Daily Herald ^ | October 14, 2006 | PAUL FOY

[thackney]

While Giani blamed retailers, she couldn't get the gas stations or Utah's five refineries to reveal their profit margins for a definitive analysis.

[Paladin2]

Take a look at:

http://gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

See if you notice a geographical discontinuity in price.

[2banana]

What percent of the cost of a gallon of gas is state tax in Utah? Is there excessive regulations and red tape? Yes - we do need a FULL investigation.

[soloNYer]

Headline: "Gas Gouging is Official."

Article: "What hasn't been uncovered is criminal intent or a conspiracy to artificially inflate gasoline prices," he said. "Had there been actual proof of price gouging, then the Attorney General's Office would have gotten involved."

So there is no proof, yet it's official. Do they write the headline and then just put anything in the actual article? I hate the press.

[Paladin2]

It would seem that state and fed taxes don't always end up directly reflected in gas prices. Che3ck out OH & MI. Much more difference in taxes than prices. Something is going on, but exactly what, I don't know. (Doesn't make much difference to me as I'm still burning Diesel purchased July 10, 2006)

[albie]

There's no such thing as price gouging in a free market. You choose to pay what you want. You shop prices or you don't drive etc. This article and that Gov is a bunch of BS!

[sbMKE]

Gouging? That's what it's called when the people who actually do the work make a profit that's 1/3 that of the government's take on each sale? Sure, makes sense -- business owner takes the risk, runs the shop, takes responsibility for upkeep and liability and then is painted by the government as dishonest when they dare to take a profit on their efforts. Heaven forbid!

[VeniVidiVici]

While the gas retailers haven't been found to have violated any Utah laws, that doesn't mean the Governor's Office will stop monitoring gasoline prices in Utah, said Mike...

Ladies and Germs, come and get your can of "Doublespeak"! Now you too can change a non-story into a story, just like professional journalists! Today only just $19.95!!!!!!!!!!!

[hosepipe]

[ A report ordered by Gov. Jon Huntsman blames gas stations, not refineries, for "gouging" motorists with stubbornly high gasoline prices. ]

Why not?... The federal, State and local givernments are gouging also(TAXES).. TAXing energy in ANY form should be illegal.. It raises the prices literally everything.. and adds to the economy NOTHING.. but is a second shearing of the sheeple..

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Do they write the headline and then just put anything in the actual article?

Yes.

[Onelifetogive]

For much of the year, Utah gas prices were lower than the national average...

Someone call the Attorney General, consumers have been "gouging" the retailers!!!!

[savedbygrace]

http://www.utahgasprices.com/tax_info.aspx

[RobbyS]

If you have a free market. Hard to do when government puts so many regulations on a necessary commodity and forgets that the company has the power to pass it onto the customer.

[outdriving]

"While Giani blamed retailers, she couldn't get the gas stations or Utah's five refineries to reveal their profit margins for a definitive analysis."

Gee, I wonder why that might be. They would be holding news conferences to whine about profits if they were way down, and providing information to prove it.

On the other hand, if Mike Wallace is banging on your door with a camera crew, you lock the deadbolt. Even if you have no idea why he's coming around. Same for publicity hungry politicians.

All I really know is that gas retailers, refiners, and shippers around here are far quicker to raise prices in response to market conditions than to lower them. I guess it's a mentality of "my current stock is suddenly more valuable" vs "I already paid X for this stock before prices fell."

[TYVets]

While Giani blamed retailers, she couldn't get the gas stations or Utah's five refineries to reveal their profit margins for a definitive analysis.

No information from RETAILERS or REFINERS

So being a typical politician, the governor grabs a headline without having a definitive analysis.

[Dan Evans]

There's no such thing as price gouging in a free market.

Ditto. A retailer adjusts his prices to maximize his profits. At the correct price, his profits decline if he either raises or lowers the price. If he raises it, he loses customers, if he lowers it he loses revenue.

[katyusha]

--There's no such thing as price gouging in a free market. You choose to pay what you want. You shop prices or you don't drive etc. This article and that Gov is a bunch of BS!-- If you really believe that, well drink up!

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Flagstaff, Arizona current prices around $2.32 per gallon.

[LukeL]

I know someone who runs a gas station and he gets in constant arguments with people over this, and he has to constantly tell them, that their profit margins are in the range of 8% per gallon regardless of the posted price.

[outdriving]

"There's no such thing as price gouging in a free market. You choose to pay what you want. You shop prices or you don't drive etc. This article and that Gov is a bunch of BS!"

If you think there is a "free market" for almost anything, with the exception of labor, I'm willing to give you a good price on a bridge linking Manhattan to Brooklyn.

Nothing imported into this country is "free market". And nothing produced here is, unless it is not subject to taxation or regulation. Classical Adam Smith economics is kool aid for the masses, while the rape of the middle class goes on.

Watch some Lou Dobbs on CNN, or read some Pat Buchanan.