[GregoryFul]

Pretty simplistic analysis based on silly assumptions. Refining operations have been suffering for most of the year - take a look at Valero (VLO: $70+ to $30-) or Tesoro (TSO: $50+ to $15-), with recent IKE related 20% pops. They should be making some profit from supplying us with gasoline, heating oil, diesel, etc., but have been loosing money (EPS going negative) because of the high input cost of crude, and the declining consumption of their product.

Most certainly, a hurricane that tears up a region where 25% of US refining capacity resides will cause refined product prices to go up, duh! And will also cause crude prices to go down - as demand is reduced. Economics 101, not the conjured wizard of OZ, are affecting market prices.

[bolobaby]

Wow - I said “NOT” including Ike related spike. With that, the price is between 3.89 and 4.39 depending on how hard the station feels like gouging you.

Finally, I realized that the price here never went over $4/gal when the price per barrel was $147. So, really, that 71% becomes 68%.

So “duh” back-at-cha for not reading reading my post properly. ;-P