Have you looked at their P&L statements and compared them from '03 to '04? If their after tax net income went from 3% to 4.2%, then their profit went up tremendously. Then yokels DEMAND that they spend a feww billion dollars and build more refineries. Some folks need to understand supply & demand, and simple economics, economies of scal and business in general. (sheesh)
Oil trading futures on the barrel price is what's fueling the prices at the pump.