Gas Back Below $4, Except In Western States

CAMARILLO, Calif. — A national survey shows gas prices continue dropping across the nation.

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline at self-serve stations was $3.85 Friday, down almost 15 cents from two weeks ago.

Mid-grade went for $3.98 and premium went for $4.10. That's according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations nationwide, released Sunday.

Diesel was at $4.64.

The cheapest gas was in Tulsa, Okla., where a gallon of regular cost $3.50. Anchorage, Alaska, was most expensive at $4.37.

The California average was $4.10, down 22 cents from two weeks ago.

The Western states were the only region in the U.S. where gas remained above $4 a gallon on average.

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On the Net:

Lundberg Survey: http://www.lundbergsurvey.com

Comments

[Tator]

Nothing I enjoy more than see moonbats have a hissyfit out of IGNORANCE and you guys are getting played for fools by the MSM.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goklany11-2008aug11,0,1107249.story

"After studying the average yearly price of gasoline from 1949 to 2007, and assigning the number "1" to the ratio in 1960, we found today's prices comparable to what they were in 1960 (1.35 today to 1.00 in 1960, with a high of 3.32 in 1998). The higher the gasoline affordability index figure, the lower the price of gasoline relative to disposable income."

Here is areal simple way to figure this out. Pick a date, what was the minimum wage at that time, now what was the price of gas at that time and you will see in many cases gas is cheaper by how many hours you have to work for it.

Moral of the story. The MSM guides you moonbats around and tells you how to think and feel....and it is based on slight of hand...How can we fool'em today.

[leduck]

sweet
i guess peak oil was just a bad dream

[EinChicago]

No. Just another loony comnspiracy theory for the weak minded. ;)

[KillTheMessenger]

You know those horror movies when they finally kill the monster or the bad guy and then it (he) comes back and back and back...

That's what peak oil feels like around the time of the peak. High prices lead to short term demand destruction and you get a rest for a couple of months, then demand picks up again as supply begins to falter and there goes the next big upswing in prices. Let's see what happens when people buy heating oil. Let's see what the peak price will be next summer.

[robinhood2]

Much of the pricing problem relates to California's special gas blending requirements to reduce air pollution. Oil refineries in the state were modified a few years ago to meet the state's requirements. But, as far as know, no other refineries in the country can meet these requirments. I read there there are one or two refineries capable of producing this kind of gasoline in Scandinavia, which is a long way away from California. Amazingly, very few residents seem to complain about these special blending requirements, even though it drives up the costs for the millions of motorists in the state. The state's gasoline market has effectively been walled off from the rest of the country. Nice if you are an oil company that does not like competition from out of state.

[BOBONDE]

I DONT SEE PEOPLE JUMPING FOR JOY AT THE PUMPS

[KillTheMessenger]

You don't know Americans. I bet Hummers will be flying off the lot as soon as we hit $3.80/gallon.

[aznurse]

Its down below $4.00 here in Arizona.

[drkazmd65]

Passed an Exonn station this morning on the way to work with 87 Octane at $3.619/gal in MD. I would never go to an Exxon,... but that is the lowest I have seen in my region of MD since late spring.

[dctackett]

it's like the heroine addict complaining about the rise in the price of heroine...
maybe it's a good thing...

[sandiegoconservative]

Is it heroine or heroin? I believe a heroine is a female "hero".

[flipbiscut24]

Gas is still unacceptably too expensive.

Record profits (again) for Exxon.

[KillTheMessenger]

Why is gas too expensive? If you drive a Prius, you need approx. 320 gallons of gas a year. So that's roughly a gallon a day and so we are talking about a $4/day investment in mobility. I spend almost that much a day on my monthly bus and train pass. I believe I also spend about ten times as much for my home and maybe four times as much on food. So how is gas "unacceptably expensive"?

I don't see it. Does somebody else?

[falco]

You forgot to figure in the price of the Prius. Most Americans cannot afford a $400 a month car payment. That's a week's salary for some. Put in the cost of rent, heating oil, food, education, medical insurance, etc., you get the picture. You know, some commodities, given that the oil barons make billions a year, should remain affordable to the masses if for no other reason than to keep stress levels down. But obviously, the barriers to a stress-free life continue to pile up. Governments around the world are killing innocent civilians to gain control of oil. You talk about stress!!! There is a need for the monopolists to keep the societal structure in place - the class system of a poor, middle, and wealthy class and same with countries - first, second, and third world countries - so that people and countries can be expoited for the elite's own personal wealth and power. If I thought using less oil would save lives and countries I would willingly pay the price. But the price gouging is not to save the environment. These are the same bastards that pollute, build factories where emission standards are lower than here, and expoit the cheaper slave wages in third rate countries (remember, they keep them third rate. Quite a scam eh?)

[Rule Of Law]

Do you sell priuses?

[SwingingFromCenter]

Ironic, since those of us in the Western states...our oil has to travel less distance than anywhere else in the country (down the pipe from Alaska into the refineries in Montana and California and then trucked out).

[Rule Of Law]

It's the most back a s s ward way of doing business. When I sell or buy in volume, I get or give a volume discount. That's the way it is in all other products, except oil in California. We are, according to other posters here, the fifth largest user of oil/gas in the world. That should, in a real free, supply and demand market, entitle us to a break.

But since we are not anything close to being a "swing state," I guess we'll just keep taking it up the old tail pipe.

[drkazmd65]

Problem is Rule - you aren't pooling the buying power of the residents in CA to get the discounts. If you could get some critical mass of CA residents together as some sort of Co-op - then you might be able to reap some of the benefits.

But,... wouldn't that smack of communism?
:D

[Podewumun]

Check your state's gasoline tax. That might explain it.

[leduck]

gas taxes are not high enough

[SwingingFromCenter]

Naw, that's not it. California maybe, but where I live the tax isn't so bad. Heck even with all stations being full serve, we're cheaper than our neighbours to the north and south.

[KillTheMessenger]

It's a small fraction of the total cost. If you want to see high gas taxes, you need to go to Europe.

[KillTheMessenger]

Except for the fact that most of the oil in the West comes from the Middle East and Central and South America, of course, and some of the rather heavy sour crude from Alaska is sold to Asia because US refiners don't like the stuff.

Reality is a bitch. But Google can help to tame it.

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2007publications/CEC-999-2007-017/CEC-999-2007-017.PDF
http://www.energy.ca.gov/2006publications/CEC-600-2006-006/CEC-600-2006-006.PDF

[bola47]

so now what? are the auto makers going to put their small fuel efficient cars on hold? will americans flock to buy suv's that are on sale? we never learn from past mistakes. learn to live without oil and the price will drop like a rock. by the way, the govt. should have sold the strategic reserve at the high price and bought it back at the new lower prices. of course the idiots at the energy dept. would never have thought of this.

[KillTheMessenger]

If you buy an SUV today, you will feel like a sucker in November when heating oil demand will drive oil prices up again. Not to mention that next summer driving season is only ten months away. And by 2012 world oil production will have peaked in a way that is visible to everyone (even the worst of the peak oil deniers) and then the sky will be the limit for oil prices.

[sandiegoconservative]

It depends on who you are and what you need. I have a pretty fuel efficient car, but am looking at a good, used trailblazer (2005, 30k miles, fully loaded) for get this- 9,500 out the door. I drive only 16 miles per day on average, less on weekend days per average, so I would not be kicking myself if I buy.

[EinChicago]

It's peak oil! Peak Oil! Peak oil I tell ya!!!!!!

What? Prices are coming down?

It's Peak oil in 2012!!! Peak Oil in 2012!!! Peak Oil in 2012 I tell ya!!!!

[westreal]

Funny how gas prices drastically fall right before each presidential and congressional election. But mysteriously take off like a rocket the day after the election is over. These oil companies are manipulating the market with the ok of highly elected officials.

[fact finder]

westreal; BUH DUH. Only those like killthemessenger who will not open their eyes do not know this, or is it open their brain.?

[sandiegoconservative]

Perhaps you can explain the rise in prices at the beginning and drop at the end and the small peak over the holiday season every year there is not an election?

[KillTheMessenger]

It's the end of the summer driving season, stupid. But since you don't know about this annual cycle, you have to make up a conspiracy theory to satisfy your ignorance.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

Wonder why? Because people cut back on their driving, and Big Oil sat bolt upright and said Heeey maaaan.... try this, it's lower priced now, don't worry it won't make you a junkie....