Gasoline hits record high - average $3.07 for self-serve regular

[Bill]

"The price of gasoline has hit a new record high, averaging $3.07 for a gallon of self-serve regular in the United States, a survey reported Sunday.

When inflation is factored in, the new price trails the all-time high in March 1981. At the time, gasoline cost $1.35 a gallon -- in today's dollars, that's $3.13 a gallon, said Trilby Lundberg, publisher of the Lundberg Survey.

Still, in raw numbers, the $3.07 beats the previous high of $3.03 in August (2006)."

http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/06/news/economy/gasoline/index.htm?cnn=yes

"Last month there was "substantial evidence" that gas prices would fall, but a series of "incidents" at a dozen refineries worldwide led the price to reverse course, Lundberg said.

In some cases, refineries began scheduled maintenance, but in other cases they experienced accidents that led some to shut down entirely and others to limit their capacity, she said."

[Linkster]

Thats pretty far off from what even Im seeing in typically low priced areas here - its been over $3 for some time and regular has been running 3.15 - a friend in Calif sent me a pic he had taken of his local station charging $4.25 right now

[Mr. Blue]

Not really all that surprising though.

[Bill]

Anybody wanna bet that it _won't_ drop back to, say, $2.69 in the fall of 2008?

[imgonnaeaturlunch]

"The price of gasoline has hit a new record high, averaging $3.07 for a gallon of self-serve regular in the United States, a survey reported Sunday.

When inflation is factored in, the new price trails the all-time high in March 1981. At the time, gasoline cost $1.35 a gallon -- in today's dollars, that's $3.13 a gallon, said Trilby Lundberg, publisher of the Lundberg Survey.

Still, in raw numbers, the $3.07 beats the previous high of $3.03 in August (2006)."

http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/06/news/economy/gasoline/index.htm?cnn=yes

"Last month there was "substantial evidence" that gas prices would fall, but a series of "incidents" at a dozen refineries worldwide led the price to reverse course, Lundberg said.

In some cases, refineries began scheduled maintenance, but in other cases they experienced accidents that led some to shut down entirely and others to limit their capacity, she said."
Let's see, what was gas when Boy George took office, around .99/gal wasn't it?

[Mr. Blue]

It's foolish to think a non-renewable source of energy would remain cheap forever...

When you look at what people in the UK pay for gas it kind of makes Americans seems like whining little babies.

[imgonnaeaturlunch]

It's foolish to think a non-renewable source of energy would remain cheap forever...

When you look at what people in the UK pay for gas it kind of makes Americans seems like whining little babies.
Its unbeleivable the lenghts you lovers of Boy George will go to in an attempt to not assign any blame to him ( I know what you're thinking," poor little rich boy can never get it right", you attempt to have empathy for the loser by imagining yourself in his position). 1st of all, you can't compare Europe & the U S. Europe has a much better public transportation system which their citizens have been using for over a century. The U S made a conscience decision to go in the opposite direction. Thus the taxes on gas in Europe are much higher because it's used much less & also to encourage use of public transportation( damn, you don't know this?). If you don't believe the increase in gas prices is relative to Bush/Cheney being in office than you probably don't beleive the power outages in California were manipulated by Enron for money & to get Gray Davis kicked out, & if you don't beleive the former as well as the later than you probably also beleive Ken Lay is dead.

[Mr. Blue]

You're a tiresome one trick pony.

The point is that gas prices are going to continue to go up just from the mere fact that it's a non-renewable resource. Do you understand basic supply and demand?

So, what has politicians done? You love to mention Enron and Gray Davis, why don't you google Bill Clinton and Enron and see what pops up.

The problem remains that politicians have sold themselves to lobby groups, Republican, Democrats, the whole lot of them. As long as gas prices are down the unwashed masses are contented, because they can't think far enough ahead in the future to realize we've built our economy on a resource that's going to run out.

But Americans love this ignorance is bliss mentality...so they buy their SUV, they whine when gas prices go up, and they make no personal sacrifices to move towards the future.

Ross Perot was one of the first people I heard publicly speak on the topic of a much higher gas tax for Americans and I remember how a lot of people ripped him for that idea.

[Linkster]

I agree the US wastes more gas than any other country - its just plain greed - you go to Europe or Japan you will find that not only are the gas prices way higher (on purpose) they have minimum limitations on auto mpg ratings in the 40-45 mpg range - you cant sell a car unless it meets those specs
Of course that also has driven their societies to develop alternate transportation that works and is not dependant on cars

Funniest thing I see almost every day is kids being taken to school - or in the winter - sitting in their mommies car at the bus stop with the car running - its a shame that we coddle kids these days and the auto manufacturers play on it in their ads where mom is driving junior everywhere instead of the kid getting off his ass and onto a bicycle or walking - raising a whole generation of spoiled brats

[Mr. Blue]

I agree the US wastes more gas than any other country - its just plain greed - you go to Europe or Japan you will find that not only are the gas prices way higher (on purpose) they have minimum limitations on auto mpg ratings in the 40-45 mpg range - you cant sell a car unless it meets those specs
Of course that also has driven their societies to develop alternate transportation that works and is not dependant on cars

Funniest thing I see almost every day is kids being taken to school - or in the winter - sitting in their mommies car at the bus stop with the car running - its a shame that we coddle kids these days and the auto manufacturers play on it in their ads where mom is driving junior everywhere instead of the kid getting off his ass and onto a bicycle or walking - raising a whole generation of spoiled brats

Exactly!

How can you feel sorry for people like that? I sure as hell can't!

I happen to drive a fuel efficient car, I use mass transit a lot (NYC has really good mass transit), I ride my bike, I go for walks, and even if gas prices went up to $10 a gallon it wouldn't bother me at all.

So how can I feel sorry for Americans that start whining when it hits $3 a gallon, $4 a gallon? I just don't feel all that sorry for them. They consciously made life choices that made them slaves gas prices.

Not only have they enslaved themselves by their own choices, but by the political choices they made. Republicans, Democrats, all of them, refuse to acknowledge the problem. That's why when Ross Perot raised this point I was cheering him on because he was dead right and one of the few people that talked about it.

As for kids, dead on right there Linkster...when I was a kid I walked to school. When I got old enough I rode my bike to school and did a paper route before getting there. We're creating a generation of spoiled brats!!!

[imgonnaeaturlunch]

I agree the US wastes more gas than any other country - its just plain greed - you go to Europe or Japan you will find that not only are the gas prices way higher (on purpose) they have minimum limitations on auto mpg ratings in the 40-45 mpg range - you cant sell a car unless it meets those specs
Of course that also has driven their societies to develop alternate transportation that works and is not dependant on cars

Funniest thing I see almost every day is kids being taken to school - or in the winter - sitting in their mommies car at the bus stop with the car running - its a shame that we coddle kids these days and the auto manufacturers play on it in their ads where mom is driving junior everywhere instead of the kid getting off his ass and onto a bicycle or walking - raising a whole generation of spoiled brats
The U S's decision to not use public transportation nationwide was deliberate. At the time this decision was made, it was thought that people using their own cars to get around would encourage a more independent, self reliant mind set. Who knows who's right. People in the U S love to knock Europe but guess what, they've been in existence for thousands of years. There's something to be said for that.

[Linkster]

Totally agree with that - and having been in Europe and Japan it certainly works very nicely - the US population wouldnt ever go for that unless they were forced - which may happen here in about 20 years or so