Diesel prices up 70 cents in last 2 weeks! WHY??????

[DJW]

Gary, regarding Taxes you are right. The Cry, "Tax the Banks, Tax the Insurance Cos. " will only result in higher costs placed on the consumer, A business sets out to make a x% profit over costs, otherwise they are no longer a business, or a defunct at best, (should that be Worse?) business. Regarding price of fuel, (energy) if it were possible to reduce motor fuel requirements by 50% what would the price of fuel cost then? Answer, a Darn Sight Higher than today's cost. With some comodities essential to modern life, the Less you Use the Higher the Cost per Unit. (try it you'll like it)

 

[BHaden]

In Arizona, they charge the truckers . 08 MORE/gallon because of the wear and tear on the roads. I always wondered why the TRUCK pumps were in the back of the large stations. They design the public pumps so the big rigs can't get in. The price at the pumps in back is higher. My daughter is the one who told me about this little piece of info and I had it confirmed in Sept when I stopped at a REAL truck stop (without consumer oriented pumps) and the cashier gave me an 8 cent discount because I was a pickup.

 

[BigPapa]

I feel for you folks. It's still @ $2. 38 here in middle TN. I don't understand the big difference.



Scott

 

[Mundgyver]

The difference is that each week, Branded Stations report what they charge for gas back to their Corporate. This is a requirement that Big Oil has put on them.



Now if we examin this, nation wide and look at the median income of every region of the U. S. , we can then control what we charge for the maximum that is affordable by the consumer.



I have a friend that owns a Chevron station and we have had some discussions about it. The station owner does not control the pricing, he (the individual owner) has to set his price within a very narrow range that is dictated by coporate. If he is within the range they want they leave him alone, if not they can penalize him by charging him a higher price for what he needs. The whole U. S. is set up into price zones and corporate looks at each and every zone at least 3 times a week.



Stations only have enough fuel for about 2 to 3 days, so they have to continually buy repleshment, thus corporate has the ability to control the price every two to three days when a new load of fuel must be bought.



It is a game and it is manipulation of the price by the corporations. They are the only game in town (U. S. ) for energy and since there is no viable alternative, we the consumer are forced to live right at the hairy edge.



Ever notice that just when you think your getting ahead how the price of fuel seems to go up again

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'd still like some knowledgeably member here to explain to me exactly where and how the commodities traders figure into the product flow between the well and the refineries - surely the major oil corporations can forge long term, price guaranteed contracts direct with the various overseas producers - why does the ultimate price we pay somehow hang upon commodities middlemen and their built in profit making?



I sure do NOT see crude oil pricing in the same light as wheat and other commodities that can vary widely in supply and demand from month to month and year to year - crude oil essentially flows from the well to the refiner in a steady stream as fast as it can be produced and delivered - apparently with commodity "bandits" somewhere in between skimming their "tariff" right off the top, and never even actually touching the crude, or even slightly involved in any part of the production, refining or marketing...



WHY are they needed, what do they contribute?

 

[Mundgyver]

Good point! Hopfully some one can explain that side of the puzzle

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

I'd still like some knowledgeably member here to explain to me exactly where and how the commodities traders figure into the product flow between the well and the refineries - surely the major oil corporations can forge long term, price guaranteed contracts direct with the various overseas producers - why does the ultimate price we pay somehow hang upon commodities middlemen and their built in profit making?



I sure do NOT see crude oil pricing in the same light as wheat and other commodities that can vary widely in supply and demand from month to month and year to year - crude oil essentially flows from the well to the refiner in a steady stream as fast as it can be produced and delivered - apparently with commodity "bandits" somewhere in between skimming their "tariff" right off the top, and never even actually touching the crude, or even slightly involved in any part of the production, refining or marketing...



WHY are they needed, what do they contribute?

'commodity "bandits"', "profit making"





You answered your own question, Gary!