Gasoline headed to $4.50

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selfbnd411 -> Gasoline headed to $4.50 (4/25/2007 1:02:52 PM)
It's pretty crazy if you've been following the data. Refining margins are incredible--the refiners are making $24 on every barrel of gasoline they sell, versus $10 a year ago--and $10/bbl was seen as unsustainable back then! Refinery utilization is dropping when it should be increasing. The spring is when the refineries build inventories so they have gas on hand for the summer driving season. The fact that gasoline inventories are dropping raises the specter of undersupply. Sorry to say it, folks, but gas is headed to $4/gal by the summer in California. Probably slightly less in other parts of the country, but it would take just one hurricane or incident in the middle east to drive prices to $4.50 before the summer's out. We're already at $3.50 here in California. Oil, Gasoline Surge as Motor-Fuel Supply Falls to 18-Month Low By Mark Shenk April 25 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil surged more than $1 a barrel and gasoline jumped to the highest since August after a government report showed that U.S. inventories of the motor fuel fell to the lowest in 18 months. Stockpiles fell 2.79 million barrels to 194.2 million, the lowest since Oct. 7, 2005, when refineries were shut because of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Refineries operated at 87.8 percent of capacity, down 2.9 percentage points from the prior week, the Energy Department said. A 0.5 percentage point gain was expected, according to the median of responses in a Bloomberg News survey. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=asHToZpfONS0&refer=home

LadyEllen -> RE: Gasoline headed to $4.50 (4/25/2007 2:13:06 PM)
I've said it once, I'll say it again - its the equivalent of USD 10-00 a gallon for petrol/gas in the UK. "Youve never had it so good" etc E

proudsub -> RE: Gasoline headed to $4.50 (4/25/2007 2:29:56 PM)
I think the more people talk about it and the media talks about it, the easier it is for the gas companies to keep raising prices becasue we are expecting it.[:o]

gentlethistle -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 2:37:43 PM)
As LadyEllen says, the stuff costs a lot more in the UK and we haven't given up buying it over here yet. My guess is that Americans won't quit buying it either. But wouldn't it be a kick in the proverbials to the suppliers if everyone did cut down on consumption? Hey....it might even lead to an over-supply and bring the prices down. Why not give it a go? Celebrate International Drive Nowhere Day tomorrow and kick a capitalist in the pants. Laura (sadly deluded, a fetish is a fetish even if it's for oil)

LadyEllen -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 2:40:04 PM)
Trouble is, they have us by the balls dont they? How else are we to get to work, to the shops(stores) etc? E

gentlethistle -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 2:47:40 PM)
I walk to the shops. I catch trains and buses to work. Yes, it takes a long time and some days it's no fun being delayed (well, not usually significantly on the walks to the shops) but then it's hideous driving in the cities where I live and work, so I'm not sure why people would find that any more enjoyable. Dominants drive cars because they like to imagine they're in control. Submissives take public transport because they know someone else is. Wild, unfounded generalisation based on no evidence at all (but aren't those the best sorts of bigotted opinions to have?) Laura

seeksfemslave -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 2:53:30 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyEllen Trouble is, they have us by the balls dont they?E LadyE: I have so much respect for you I just cant comment !

LadyEllen -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 2:53:43 PM)
You may be on to something Laura! Thing is, we've spent the last 40-50 years building the UK into a vast infrastructure for which a car is requisite - mainly because cars and their use and their drivers are vast sources of wealth generation in our economy. For those lucky enough to live in a city well served by public transport and for those who work locally in town centres, its not such a big problem, but lots of people are working in the next town or next town over and live in a town with little public transport, making a car essential. Add to that, that we have seen life move to such a pace that shopping once a week, even once a month is all there is time for, and that superstores et al are located in out of town retail parks, and the scene becomes more dire. When I'm prime minister, there will be tax incentives for people to live in the town where they work, or work in the town where they live - not tax penalties on vehicle usage to get to work. Equally there will be tax incentives for stores to locate in towns and not on retail parks, and public transport will be publicly funded and centrally organised. E

LadyEllen -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 2:55:14 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave quote: ORIGINAL: LadyEllen Trouble is, they have us by the balls dont they?E LadyE: I have so much respect for you I just cant comment ! Thats good to hear Seeks. I'd hate to have to come up with a witty putdown after a four hour drive home tonight! E

popeye1250 -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 3:05:47 PM)
Lady, yes gas is expensive in England but it's mostly TAX to pay for those cradle to grave socialist programs that ya'll enjoy. Same in Ireland. The world is AWASH in oil, there's no "shortage."

seeksfemslave -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 3:06:57 PM)
Something else that puzzles me ladyE. Why is it that you are flagged "offline" within a few minutes of having made a post ?

gentlethistle -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 3:07:16 PM)
I'm not suggesting it's easy, or even possible, for most people to give up their cars and boycott buying fuel. I agree that many people in developed countries have structured their lives on the expectation of affordable motorised private transport. However, a not insignificant proportion of households in the UK still don't have access to a car, so those people have to structure their lives differently. And they do. I suggest that the majority people could pick one day a year, or maybe even one day a month...or a week...and not drive. If Sunday is your day of rest pick Sunday...if it's Saturday, Friday or Wednesday, pick that. And it needn't adversely affect your lifestyle. Do two trips in the same direction in one journey. Can you buy it online and get it delivered? Could you phone or email a few friends that you've lost touch with instead of driving somewhere to meet up with the usual crowd? Instead of a 'day out' for the sake of it, are there hobbies and activities you could enjoy on a 'day in'? Instead of driving to the gym why not get on a bicycle when you nip to the shops? If people do not approve of oil companies making massive profits by selling them fuel for their vehicles (or of governments taking huge tax rake-offs) then they could find creative ways to buy less of the stuff and reduce those profits. That only requires them to take individual actions that are within their control. I'm not suggesting they don't take part in political or lobbying processes to try to change 'the system' in whatever way they see fit. I'm just suggesting...but oh never mind....I really am deluding myself, it's okay, I know that really. Laura P.S. Lady E -- I like the sound of your manifesto. If you promise not to replace our tax system with one where people have to pay for health insurance then I think I can guarantee you my vote...although I haven't yet worked out how I'm going to get to the polling station in your consituency without driving there!

popeye1250 -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 3:11:53 PM)
Well, I'm retired so I can go 3 or 4 days without driving and often do. I might put 8,000 miles on my car per year.

gentlethistle -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 3:19:45 PM)
I once managed to go for about 6 months on a single tank of petrol. But these days (even though I frequently go 5 - 14 days without driving) my annual mileage isn't dissimilar from yours (so I'm a stinking hypocrite, basically). I hope that situation will change by next year, and if my car fails its roadworthiness test next month then the logical and economic change would be to join a local car share scheme instead. But while it's still 'on the road' the temptation remains to drive it places. Laura

popeye1250 -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 3:25:31 PM)
Oh, and another thing most people can do that does make a difference, only fill your tank up halfway! Why store gasoline for the oil companies? Aldo it will improve your milage as you're hauling around less weight.

gentlethistle -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 3:28:27 PM)
I guess this only works if inflation in gas prices doesn't become so severe as to negate the benefits of this strategy! -- L

LadyEllen -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 3:30:07 PM)
Seeks - you dont get into MI6 without being here but not here you know....... Popeye - you may have a point, but gas, cigarettes, booze are all cheaper on the continent, where those programmes are much more extensive than here (though also more efficient I shouldnt wonder) Laura - I'm lucky enough to work from home most of the time, so I only rack up 500 miles a month at the most right now - big fall from 25-40,000 a year! You'd be most welcome in my constituency - the "law unto itself" Wyre Forest - the only place in the country an independent has any chance. I have to cost my manifesto yet, but I would certainly aspire to no health insurance other than voluntary and a full service health service paid for by eliminating several recurrent and unnecessary costs in the nation's budget. We already pay health insurance after all, its called National Insurance and is deducted at 9% of gross salary and topped up with an 11% of salary contribution from employers. E

GoddessDustyGold -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 4:43:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: popeye1250 Well, I'm retired so I can go 3 or 4 days without driving and often do. I might put 8,000 miles on my car per year. I am not retired, but I have arranged My lifestyle so that I only drive approximately 8,000 miles per year or less. I live and work in the same small town, and My volunteer work is all here too. I also arrange My errands to be done in one trip. If I forget something, I just wait until the next time. If it wasn't important enough to be remembered then I am sure I can do without it for a few more days. I probably spend $40 - $50 per month on gasoline, and that is about 1/10th of the average consumer. And if gas continues to rise, I may have to invest in a new bicycle. I will have to get My stamina up, but I can ride a bike to work if I need to.

Sinergy -> RE: Gasoline headed to $4.50 (4/25/2007 5:04:40 PM)
So I have an appointment on Friday to test drive the new Saturn hybrid; the Greenline Vue. It will cost more. I may or may not make back the extra money I spend going hybrid. But I dont see buying a car as an investment, and I want to leave the smallest negative impact on this world that I can. Sinergy

popeye1250 -> RE: Petrol heading back to a pound a litre (4/25/2007 5:23:51 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: GoddessDustyGold quote: ORIGINAL: popeye1250 Well, I'm retired so I can go 3 or 4 days without driving and often do. I might put 8,000 miles on my car per year. I am not retired, but I have arranged My lifestyle so that I only drive approximately 8,000 miles per year or less. I live and work in the same small town, and My volunteer work is all here too. I also arrange My errands to be done in one trip. If I forget something, I just wait until the next time. If it wasn't important enough to be remembered then I am sure I can do without it for a few more days. I probably spend $40 - $50 per month on gasoline, and that is about 1/10th of the average consumer. And if gas continues to rise, I may have to invest in a new bicycle. I will have to get My stamina up, but I can ride a bike to work if I need to. Gold, yeah, I spend about $50 per month on gas too. And I try to "save up" five or six errands before I go out and do them all at once i.e.; recycling center first, post office, bank, Burger King or Wendy's (before going shopping), food shopping, ciggarette discounter's/ lottery tickets. It works pretty good and I only use 1 to 2 gallons.

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