What the hell is up with diesel prices?

[o_mccarroll]

jponder - that's actually a small picture of me playing the guitar with my band at a party we played at in College Station, TX.

 

[jandtjil]

Was wandering about and found the site(s) below, maybe it can help some of us plan a fuel stop over the weekend.



http://www.gaspricewatch.com/USGas_index.asp

requires Zip code



http://www.tatravelcenters.com/ta/display_diesel_fuel_prices.phtml

prices at TA travel centers



http://www.williamstravelcenters.com/guide_fuel.asp

prices at williams travelcenters



http://serv2.flyingj.com/fuel/diesel_CF.cfm?state=ALL

prices at flying J T-stops

 

[John Berger]

That's exactly it. It's up, again

 

[jponder]

Originally posted by o_mccarroll

jponder - that's actually a small picture of me playing the guitar with my band at a party we played at in College Station, TX.

Okay cool i can see it now. I have a small monitor. HAHAHAHAAHAHA Man it looked... oh well I know now

 

[BTanzini]

I dont know how many of you remember the energy crunch of 1973 ? but I hared back then that the oil industry will not be happy intill the price of fuel cost the same a gal as it cost per liter in Europe and they are slowly getting there. The thing that erritates me is industry connot be satisfyed with a resonable amount of profit, they have to show the public who is in control and when they see an oppurtunity to make billions more profit by raising the price just before a holliday, they want us to know they are in control of the mass's. Belive it or not fuel is a by product of refining oil for the plastics industry, years ago it was a garbage by product untill Henry Ford came along. I rememeber when I could buy a gallon of gas for . 18 cents, in the 1950's. Just wait untill some refinerys go off line like the one in Chicago at one time and they are not building any new ones that I am aware of. You'v seen nothing yet. Just my 2 cents worth. In central Texas it is any where from $125. 9 at a truck stop (high volumn dealer) to $143. 9.

 

[apkole]

Hmmm, well now interesting comment about the refinery going off line. Seems a facility in Ohio had a problem. Word wuz they would be back up and runnin' in 3 weeks. That production will not resume for 6 mos. by the latest news accounts. Diesel at our local stations is at $1. 65. Gas is 1. 70. Yep, it's a holiday weekend in Michigan again. No need for a calendar, just watch the fuel prices!!!



I keep waiting for the layoffs and terminations to kick in and with all of those people not working perhaps consumption will drop and the corresponding drop in driving activity might put some downward pressure on pricing. Oh well, I can dream can't I??

 

[o_mccarroll]

Don't want to get into a war here... but I just can't buy the idea that the oil industry is "gouging us at the pump". From what I understand, refineries are running at full capacity right now. Supply and demand are what they are. If you want to talk gouging: what does the government take per gallon?



Think about this: a gallon of fuel costs about $1. 40, just for the sake of argument. And what all goes into that gallon of fuel. Exploration, extraction, refinement, transportation, and distribution. What does a gallon of drinking water cost? And what does it take to produce that? Or milk? Come to think of it, how many liquids can you buy cheaper per gallon than gas or diesel?



Again, before the flaming starts, I just wanted to add a perspective to this conversation, and no offense to anyone is intended

 

[BTanzini]

Mr O_Maccarroll, you make a good point but my answer to it is that the oil industry get many tax breaks from the govnment for expoloreing and drilling for new supplys of oil. I never got a tax break for finding a new job when I was out of work. Taxas on gas and diesel products are stable they do not fluctuate, (correct me if am wrong) tax is based on a gallon not the price per gallon so that argument is no good. But I feel that tax on gas and diesel should be discontinued now because it is no longer a luxury it is a nesscecity today, but if that was to happen the oil companys would immediatly find away to raise the price per gallon the total amount of the reduction of taxas because of there gead. The oil companys have a track recored of gouging people at the pumps.

In 1973 when we had a gas crisis (they rationd gas and you had long gas lines because not all gas stations could get gas) there where reports that the oil companies had tankers waiting out side the continental limits of the U. S. waiting to raise the price per gallon before the companies would let the tankers in to U S ports.

 

[tntway]

yup

i agree...

 

[o_mccarroll]

BillTanziniSr - I agree that the government should stop taxing gas and diesel products. Regardless of how they tax or if the tax rate fluctuates or not, they are making our fuel cost much more than it should.



As far as the oil industry's past track record... what you say may very well be true. I will be the first to admit that while I have read and heard about the gas crisis of the early 70's, I don't have first-hand memory of it since I was born in the 70's. But I think the circumstances today are different from the situation you described (oil companies holding their reserves to keep prices up). I don't believe the oil companies are holding out, but rather our situation is the result of poor legislation and regulation.



I happen to work in commercial construction. Nobody seems to complain if we make a buck or two. But because it hits a little closer to home, any time an oil company turns a profit, everybody starts screaming. In reality, construction and oil are in the business to do the same thing: make money. I'm not in the business of building buildings any more than an oil man is in the business of finding oil.



My point is: I think that we should aim our frustration at the right people, and not just blame the oil industry.



Just my humble opinion. I'll shut up now

 

[BTanzini]

O_maccarroll, you have me confused(it dosent take much) about who to blame for the oil companys gouging the public, the tax athority of the US or maybe the Arabs? Question why did the price of fuel go up just before memorial day week end of this year as this week end and other holidays?,maybe its the consumer ho, wait a minute I just rememberd the, EPA because we are killing ourselfs and our childern and the wild life on this planet, we are just visitors on this plant yet we act like we own it. Im for invironmental protection because I want to leave a better plant for my grandchildren and there children if it makes it that far. Industry just thinks of one thing "money" how can I make more profit and the h___ with the planet because I wont be hear to live with the results our suppiddity. Raising the price of fuel before a holiday is pure gread in my mind. Discussions are good for the mind and soul.

 

[tntway]

amen, bill

 

[Dkevdog]

My Turn

While I was Young, I do remember the crisis in the 70's. I also seem to remember how cheap diesel was compared to gasoline . It was that way up until quite recently. Diesel should be much less than it currently is- it costs much less to produce. I fail to see how You can compare the cost of a gallon of milk to the price of fuel. First of all, I don't drink 5 gallons of milk a day. I do need 5 gallons of diesel a day to do my job. I can go without the milk, I can't go without the diesel fuel. EVERYONE is effected by the increases. Even if you don't drive, can't drive or won't drive. Every consumable product in the world is moved by fuel at some point- most of it diesel. When you raise it, you effect the entire economy and ultimately the consumers are footing the bill. Whether or not this is a matter for the government to intervene in remains to be seen. The government has a tendency to screw things up worse that private industry.



One other thing- nobody complains about construction or other industry making a profit- but do if its an oilman? The oil industry seems to have a monolpoly on price. And youcan't ver well open up your own refinery or go down the street. At least in our neck of the woods, fuel prices seem "going rate" whatever one guy charges, so does the next. If I don't like the price of one contractor- I can keep looking until I do. We don't have that flexibility with fuel.



Kev

 

[o_mccarroll]

The comparison of milk to diesel had nothing to do with necessity of the product. I completely agree with your point on that. (I personally can't stand milk, so it could cost $25 a gallon for all I care. ) I was just making a point of reference. But just because we need a particular item more than another doesn't mean it's any cheaper to produce, or that regardless of production costs we shouldn't have to pay the going rate. If I recall (and I may not be completely informed on this and somebody correct me if I am wrong), this point of view is what screwed up the energy situation in California. Price caps were set on energy. Sources of energy production had to shut down because retail energy prices were capped at a level below the wholesale prices. This is not necessarily oil, but I think it is similar enough for comparison.



Good point on the contractor/oilman difference. I agree with you on that as well. Building construction is a much more competitive product for the consumer, so I guess it doesn't really work as an analogy here.