Fuel overpriced?

[Gary - K7GLD]

Do you feel current fuel pricing is artificially inflated?



If so, what percentage do you feel the real pump pricing is inflated by?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

ttt - results look interesting so far - and I think keeping this subject alive might contribute it's small influence as the vaporous corporate pulse-takers/lurkers anonomously skim boards and threads like this to guage and report public perceptions...

 

[JL penner]

You sure do use a lot of big words Gary!



Bump. .

 

[Jengle]

Heck yes, its inflated. Nothing more than pure, unadulterated corporate greed, fleecing their customers.

 

[Smokin_Monster]

I thought it was overly inflated when it hit $2. $3. 15 is ridiculous highway robbery!

 

[RKerner]

It's not just the current events that have enabled large profits for the oil companies. They have been reporting large quarterly profits all year, in the billions of dollars over estimates. The local liberal media had an editorial today defending these profit levels as they say a 'bust' cycle usually follows. Then an analogy to drug compainies was made to rationalize the incredible profits. I think basic economics and a general awareness of energy consumption will correct fuel prices in spite of nervous speculators on Wall Street. Invoking emotion over this subject is a waste of energy of another sort as it does nothing to change the demand or supply.

 

[rbattelle]

Are we talking about gasoline or diesel? My answer changes depending on which we're discussing...



-Ryan

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Are we talking about gasoline or diesel? My answer changes depending on which we're discussing...



-Ryan

HMMmmm - strange question, cuz while there are relatively minor price differences across the board in all areas *I* have seen, 87 octane regular to the highest octane, and then diesel, they ALL pretty well track on a weekly basis - it's not like one jumps or falls by 50 cents in relation to the other in a given few days...



Is it different in Ryanland?



BUT, the poll is related to all fuels - including heating oils if it applies to your situation...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

OH, and as an added ingredient, and food for thought, does anyone besides me sorta wonder why lubricants, engine oils, grease, etc. , haven't seen the same general price increases as fuels, seeing as how they are all derived from the same crude oils...



Just a short while back, I bought 3 cases of Delo 400 for the LOWEST price *I* have ever seen- $5. 25 gallon...

 

[rbattelle]

HMMmmm - strange question, cuz while there are relatively minor price differences across the board in all areas *I* have seen, 87 octane regular to the highest octane, and then diesel, they ALL pretty well track on a weekly basis - it's not like one jumps or falls by 50 cents in relation to the other in a given few days...

Is it different in Ryanland?

Everything's different in Ryanland. People say "hello" when they leave and hamburgers eat people!



I can't say with any particular intelligence whether fuel is overpriced. My "gut feeling" is that gasoline is not overpriced, but diesel is. Natural gas is probably not overpriced either. I don't know about heating oil, but since it's basically just diesel fuel then I think that's overpriced too. Kerosene probably is not overpriced. That's why I needed clarification on what type of fuel we're talking about.



-Ryan

 

[DSpencer]

I have no reason to believe oil prices are inflated. I am not involved enough in the oil business to have enough information to make a fair evaluation, however I did google up Shell and Exxon information. I can't remember which companies numbers but one of them had claimed a 7 1/2 billion dollar profit. That was based on less than 1. 5 billion barrels of oil. That translates to a profit of around 5 dollars a barrel. That number is high though since they also made profits on other products such as natural gas and other ventures. It doesn't seem to me that 5 dollars a barrel for a 50 dollar barrel of oil would be called gouging.



I don't know if those numbers are accurate but thats the story I read and I'm stickin to it.

 

[Cooker]

Everything's different in Ryanland. People say "hello" when they leave and hamburgers eat people!

I'm sure Ryanland is a better place than Garyland :-laf



In response to the overall topic, yes I personally feel the American public is getting the run around with fuel prices.

 

[DBrickel]

When I bought my diesel in 1996, diesel was selling for +/- the price of regular gas. Now it is selling for . 25 to . 30 cents more than regular. Why does it cost so much more now? What has changed to warrant this increase? It is still processed in the same way is it not? Can anyone explain or give justification for this.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

When I bought my diesel in 1996, diesel was selling for +/- the price of regular gas. Now it is selling for . 25 to . 30 cents more than regular. Why does it cost so much more now? What has changed to warrant this increase? It is still processed in the same way is it not? Can anyone explain or give justification for this.

It's my understanding that the shift from earlier sulphur content in diesel fuels to the later lower standard required significant additional refinery processing - and the coming even lower standard will undoubtedly affect pricing even more. I can understand and accept that - but the general across the board fuel increase in terms of percentage increase, compared to most other countries, I cannot...

 

[Diesel Nut]

I think the only reason diesel is so much more now is it has become the oil companies diamond in the rough. Demand for diesel has shot through the roof in the last 5 years. Everyone wants a diesel. So, when you are looking to make as much money as possible, you can raise the price of you fuels and make a killing. Diesel is still the cheapest road fuel made. It is the first made, with the least amount of refining, new Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel content and all. Want proof? At the Arco around the corner from my house I bought a tank of the new ULSD fuel, at the same price as the truckstop for the current requirement Low Sulfur Diesel. If this new fuel is raising costs, Why does it all cost the same?

Oh - and that 7 1/2 Billion in profits, is after they do the maintenance on their refineries, ship everything, pay the EPA fines they incur, pay out bonus wages, taxes and whatever else they do. $5 bucks a barrel might have been before it hit $3 a gallon. My guess is they are making a lot more than that.