[been_lurking]

Yep, the consumers are being gouged BIG TIME.

You, of course, are aiding and abetting the process by paying whatever they ask for a gallon of gas. They don't take it from you, you give it to them willingly. If any other business determined that the market would pay any price for their product, we wouldn't necessarily subscribe their cost increases to "gouging".

For an interesting "thought experiment", what would be the relative "gouging" threshold for products like tap water, electricity, telephone service, cable TV, Internet access, airline tickets, credit card interest rates, golf balls, or any one of a billion other products/services? At what point do we accuse McDonald's of "gouging" on the price of french fries?

If you don't like the current prices, quit paying them, or reduce your consumption, or buy an alternate product, or any and all combinations of those.

[lilylangtree]

I spend a lot of time at home or walking. I'm filling up once every 8 days. My major driving is to and from work. I've reduced as much as I can, but I still have to pay the gouging price when I do fill'er up.

[off-roader]

For an interesting "thought experiment", what would be the relative "gouging" threshold for products like tap water, electricity, telephone service, cable TV, Internet access, airline tickets, credit card interest rates, golf balls, or any one of a billion other products/services?

If you don't like the current prices, quit paying them, or reduce your consumption, or buy an alternate product, or any and all combinations of those.

Complete Nonsense!

I can choose some forms of cheaper phone service, TV service and Internet access and it's cheaper to fly than drive in some instances. Credit card interest is largely relfected on my credit rating.

The fuel prices are adjusted across the board. There is zero exception of the present price gouging and there is no party selling fuel in their locales for any variation of +/- 2%.

And just exactly what is an alternative product to Diesel Fuel?