Falling gas prices?

[Scooby]

I would like to know what is different now to make the gas prices fall as low as they have this past week? What is different now that couldn't be done before when we were all suffering from ridiculously inflated fuel costs? I think the gas prices are a scam. I think there is no regulation on the prices and the oil companies were getting away with whatever they wanted. I wouldn't be suprised if the government was letting it happen because the higher the price of gas, the more taxes we pay on it. It pisses me off that the prices just go up and down like this. What also pisses me off is that one street might have gas 10 cents cheaper then the gas station around the block. That clearly shows me there is no regulation there. None. I want to know what is going on once and for all!

[jamesb]

The gas prices which you see at the pump are directly related to the cost of a barrel of oil. Oil prices have been dropping which in turn has lead to cheaper prices at the pump. Prices of oil and the oil output are generally set by OPEC.

[Just A Girl]

Of course.... here we are a short while after the gas prices drop and now they are jumping back up again. What gives? What is the reasoning for this? I thought Obama was trying to make things easier on us yet here we go again!

I don't know about you, but I can't afford to be dumping money into the pockets of oil makers. This not only effects the gas I put in my car, but also the cost of other transportation, and the cost of just about EVERYTHING because someone somewhere that is somehow connected in the long chain of the economy is also paying the higher price.

I am doing less traveling because of the high fuel prices. I love to travel and used to do it all the time. Now I can't afford plane tickets, bus tickets, train tickets, or even to take a cruise ship! It's all so expensive now.

I don't know what to think. On one hand, increasing prices of products could help put money in the pockets of businesses. But on the other hand, it makes people want to spend less of that money. So how do you balance it out? Would it be better to reduce prices enough that people will want to spend more and thus make up for the cut backs the businesses took with those low prices? In a way, I think that would be the better alternative because you are also boosting the moral of society. People are down in the dumps right now with this struggling economy. If people felt more secure and able to enjoy their money a little more, they would spend more. Right? I know I would.

[followme]

I frankly am tired of this crap. I am partly suspicious about whether or not the gas prices are a sneaky way of pushing everyone to move to the prius or other new age fueled vehicle? Not that I have a problem with new means of transportation or alternative fuel sources, but I don't like being forced into it. Especially when it's all so expensive and I still can't afford it anyway. I would love to own a hybrid car, but it probably won't happen for another 10 years!

[jason75]

The big wigs say that gas prices fluctuate because of the economy, war, and foreign countries. I can see that. But what doesn't make sense to me is that those things should also effect other products we use on a regular basis and yet we don't see the prices of food and other products jump and drop by up to a dollar or so on a daily basis. Up down up down. No. It doesn't work that way for everything else. There may be a change of a few cents here and there, but that's about it. I think the gas prices are all a scam personally.

[catherinek]

I agree that prices flux way too much for gasoline to be explained away by changes in oil prices. I think the way the market is structured has allowed gas prices to become a bellweather for the economoy. What other product is so easily repriced on a daily basis? Until our demand for oil is significantly reduced, we will be subject to such variations. Small, immediate decisions will also have a large cummulative effect: purchase from stations which consistently offer lower prices for your area; batch errands so you are making fewer trips; walk, ride your bike, carpool or use public transportation more!

[NW Admin]

Soooo true that we are all going to have to make lifestyle changes and a conscious effort to do things differently. My husband and I both drive motorcycles as much as possible because they use so little fuel. I do this even though it scares me a bit.

I had a Flex Fuel Ford Explorer, but the cost for the E85 and how quickly it burned made it impractical. So we sold that and bought a new 2009 Camry for it's gas mileage. I was going to go with the Corola, but I really didn't like it at all.

We also try to ride bicycles, walk, and roller blade when we can. Car pool in other situations.

Everyone wants to complain about this, but it seems that people are slow to get on "the band wagon" and do what needs to be done. I am hopeful that new and improved fuel sources will soon be affordable and available to EVERYONE.