Keep in mind that, adjusted for inflation, it is only now that gas prices have exceeded by a few cents what they were in 1980.

Its all relative, but since you brought it up, 1980 was also a prior record year for oil profits.

$3.55 today.

It's bad enough that gas prices are going up but everything else is also.

Well, that's to be expected, Mig. If it costs them more to transport the goods, then that gets passed onto the consumer.

It is also important to keep Globalization in mind. The US must now compete with the rest of the world for capital, raw materials, and goods and services.

Maybe Exxon is saving up for another Valdez :p....they figure they are due :/.

Clemenza once said That's alright this thing's gotta happen every five years or so ten years.

Long Lines for gas on the Garden State Parkway rest areas. Why? $3.17 for regular (LUKOIL). Their contract with the state only allows them to change prices once a week - Friday mornings. This last price was in effect just before the big jump. Can't wait to see the price tomorrow. My guess is $3.47. See what happens when the government steps in!!

They'll be going up 22¢ at 5:00 a.m.

That was Monday. Last night I went back to Costco and the price was $3.52!! How is that possible in just a few days??????

There's something here that seems to be ignored. Unless constrained by law, what someone has to sell can be offered for any price.

$70 to fill up my wife's SUV.

A local radio station (106 on the dial) had a promo today to sell gas at $1.06 per gallon to 106 cars. Some people lined up six hours early to get the gas.

As bad as the prices are, I don't get it. Sit over SIX HOURS on a line to save possibly $30????

People go crazy about gas prices...drive across town to save 3 cents a gallon, etc.

$4.36 where I was, that is fucking messed up

Most people are not bright. As always, prices will peak this summer. Buy a 55 gallon drum or 10, fill them up, pay the price now, lick your wounds and this summer when it hits $4/gallon you will be happy, better yet, pay the $4 this summer and save the gas for next year when its $6/gallon. I don't know if gas goes bad or if its active ingredients diminish over time, but the fact is, its always going to go up, so accumulate some now so when it gets insane (or, more insane) stockpile some now, I am willing to bet any amount of money that you will NEVER see gas fall below $3 at this point. So, suck it up, plan up, and move on!

Thanks for actually proving it with your post.

I read a story in the paper about how people all over the country have figured out how to steal thousands of gallons of gasoline from gas stations during the night and are selling it at cheap prices.

Anyone know where I can find one of these thieves? These people sound like modern day Robin Hoods to me.

Here it's gone down from $3.65 to $3.53 WooHoo!!!

During the gas shortage of the 1970s, a neighbor of my husband's stockpiled cans of gas, thinking he could beat the system. Then his house burned down when they lit a match.

The most ridiculous ideas are the ones repealing the gas tax. Yes, it seems like a lovely thought for politicians to be so concerned about their constituents that they want to save them the 30 cents per gallon, BUT where is the money going to come from?? The loss in sales tax revenue will just mean higher taxes next year, since the money has to come from somewhere. I'd rather pay now than pay later. At least I have SOME control over how much gas I consume, but NO control over taxes.

Senator Clinton wants to make the oil companies pay the taxes. Why should they? Isn't this a free-market economy?? Why shouldn't they be allowed to charge as much as the market will bear?? If some of the billions of dollars that have been spent in Iraq had gone into R&D for alternative energy sources, or REAL subsidies to encourage people to buy hybrids, or REAL subsidies to make solar energy more cost-effective, then maybe the oil companies wouldn't have the endless demand that they do!

Federal fuel tax is $0.184 per gallon.

Where is the replacement funding going to come from? The US Treasury anticipates a $300-400 billion deficit this fiscal year. Fuel tax funded activities would make up a small (tiny)part of that deficit. Higher taxes next year? Federal, state, or local? The Senate is quite unlikely to support an increase in the federal fuel tax next year to make up for any loss of such derived revenue this year. In Texas we pay a state imposed $0.20 per gallon fuel tax and local governments cannot tax fuel.

The US has been dealing with energy policy since I was in college some three decades ago. Prior to the war in Iraq, there was funding available for alternative fuel research and federal dollars have funded such research. Alternative fuel does not necessarily mean cheaper fuel prices which is what most consumers mean when they say or write alternatives fuel.

Well, what I mean when I say or write alternative fuel or energy sources is simple - supply and demand. If there wasn't such a demand for petroleum products, be it for gasoline, home heating, the manufacturing of plastics, etc. then there wouldn't be such high pricing. If there were realistic alternative sources, then the price would be expected to come down.

As for sales tax, I live in NY. The gas tax here is about 30 cents per gallon and a repeal of such a tax this summer is expected to cause a budget shortfall of $500-$600 million dollars. Who do you think will pay for that??

I mentioned solar energy. Why is it so completely and totally unaffordable? It costs tens of thousands of dollars to install enough panels to make a dent in a household's electric generation. Why? Why are the tax credits given to the purchasers of hybrids so little? Yes, these are not LESS expensive alternatives, but why not? Why wouldn't the government INCREASE the incentives at such a time?

Decreasing demand would not only drive prices down, but it would decrease our dependence on Middle Eastern oil-producing nations and give us the added benefit of making our planet a healthier one.

Not to get off topic, but I was wondering if his homeowner's insurance contested the claim. Most policies, like mortgage agreements, prohibit the large storage of gasoline and other flammable substances on residential premises.

Chrysler is starting a sales incentive tomorrow. (I don't know all the details but) apparently they're offering a plan if you buy one of their new cars they'll subsidize your gas purchases for the next three years (up to 700 gallons per year) and guarantee a gallon price of $2.99.

Klyd, I don't know. But the house was GONE. They had a well, so no fire hydrants. By the time the pumper truck got to the house, there wasn't much left beyond the foundation.

SC, I heard that on the radio. They guarantee the gas card for three years, even if you sell the car. Here are the details Chrysler $2.99 program

Edit: You can only buy from a participating gas station. I checked out the gas stations in my area, and there were some on there that don't sell gas, so it's weird. One was a body shop where we just had my daughter's car fixed, and I definitely didn't see any gas pumps. Also, you have to designate a credit card as the only one that you will ever buy gas with, so I guess they credit your card for the difference.

I don't have to drive a lot these days, but still do my fair share. Before today, ONCE I paid over $3/gallon (it's cheaper here in NJ), but today I paid $3.49 only because I was running on fumes. I stopped at Exxon (over-priced, I usually go to the no-name discount places. But was way below empty). Anyway, $3.49. I was nervous about running out. Got it, and 3 miles later, another Exxon: $3.44! 3 miles away! WTF?? I know it's only pennies per gallon, but still...

Oops!! Don't know how that happened????

Oh well, anyway, yea, it totally sucks. I paid 3.93 two days ago. It's really really making me think before I go anywhere but work.

TIS

I've seen $4.00 at several gas stations in Manhattan. I paid $3.93 in the Bronx this morning.

I get reimbursed $.485 / mile (or whatever the latest apporved figure is) for business miles. I maybe drive 2,000 business miles per month give or take. I have been donating this back to the organization. However, with these prices I am not sure how much longer I will be able to do it.

For the past 2-3 weeks I've been paying $3.55-3.59.