This problem was explained pretty well on NPR this evening (Marketplace-weekend I believe).
Demand is down here and we are producing more however, the little publicized fact is that our refineries have been and are being shut down ...by this insane administration. So even though we have reserves of crude...the refineries are supposedly going at capacity and there is a shortage of those.
But we all knew this was coming..right?
Not true. We are refining more than we use, leading to us becoming a net exporter of gasoline. We had so many refinery expansions combined with a falling demand, our refineries are only running about 83% capacity and still making more than we use.
The refineries need maintenance
The speculators are doing it
We're running out of oil
We have plenty
Americans are driving less, so we need to raise prices
The Chinese have millions of mopeds to fuel
There is a leak in a pipe in Moose Jaw Alaska
A rodent chewed through a line at the main pump station in Texas.
Demand is down but we are producing more however, our refineries have been and are being shut down
Prices will go to 6.75, but 3 days before the election, Obama will lower prices to 1.40 to ensure reelection
A school of endangered blowfish have been sucked into a pipe, and it takes time to get them out.
Are there any other excuses? What could it be?