Yeah, well I’m tired of gas prices between $3. and $4. per gallon. And I am further pi$$ed off how the oil companies diddle the consumers with their price manipulations such as the Springtime an Fall spikes as “supply is reduced as a consequence of refinery shutdowns for maintenance and/or changing over from winter to summer formulations.” These are nothing more than thinly disguised methods of price gouging. The other disgraceful practice is pricing their products on “the ability of the local consumers to pay!” We buy nearly all of our gasoline from Costco here in the Bay Area, and we are buying fuel every week. So you have to wonder why there is at least a $.30 per gallon difference in pricing between the poorer areas and those that are wealthy.
Good summary.
Uh, you do realize that those summer and fall reformulations are a matter of both pollution prevention law, and car performance?? Colder weather requires a higher fraction of more volatile components. And refineries "do" require shutdowns for maintenance.
Pretty good summary. I agree with much of it. However, I too purchase fuel from Costco, but their lower fuel price is not an accurate reflection of the product’s actual cost. You see, Costco charges a membership fee. That membership fee represents the majority of the company’s annual profits. The cost of a hotdog and soda, and fuel, seem too good to be true until you realize your membership fee (along with everyone else’s, especially those who don’t purchase hotdogs and soda or fuel, is actually offsetting that “low fuel cost” and the “low-cost” hotdog and soda.