Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

$4 a gallon not the end of rising gas prices
Chicago Tribune ^ | May 17, 2008 | Joshua Boak and Greg Burns

Posted on 05/18/2008 12:14:41 PM PDT by BulletBobCo

Drivers will likely need to become comfortable with gas at $4 a gallon, as oil experts say an era of historic pain at the pump will endure well beyond the Memorial Day weekend, when prices traditionally peak.

You might trade in that GMC Yukon for a Honda Civic, skip the highway for the bike lane and redefine that time-honored tradition of the road trip. Americans are already reordering their Memorial Day weekends, with AAA predicting a decrease in travel for the first time since 2002.

But those changes might not be enough to immediately pull down a gasoline market that follows the whims of the world economy. Newfound wealth fills pockets of the globe once known for overwhelming poverty, and for the first time prices are responding to their thirst for fuel as much as demand in America.

The new world order for petroleum markets has some analysts predicting far higher prices ahead. Gasoline in the U.S. could reach $7 a gallon because more drivers in India and China will hit the road even as American oil consumption retreats, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce predicts.

"Millions of new households will suddenly have straws to start sucking at the world's rapidly shrinking oil reserves," wrote CIBC analyst Jeff Rubin.

The forces behind the oil boom include the emergence of China and India as economic powers, exhausted fields controlled by nationalized companies, and market speculation that could be pushing prices higher than supply and demand can justify. While industry insiders dispute how much each of these factors contributes to oil prices, many expect the high prices to last for years.

"It's not going to be a one-year blip and go away like the Internet bubble," said Joseph Dancy, who manages the LSGI Venture Fund in Texas.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 110th; energy; gasprices; iran; oil
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last
To: BulletBobCo

http://consumerist.com/consumer/features/why-is-gas-so-freakin-expensive-263887.php

Stay safe Bullet Bob !!


21 posted on 05/18/2008 1:12:06 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squantos
A great many FR posters have provided one of the main reasons — restrictions on supplies for “environmental” reasons. In the U.S., you've locked up ANWR, offshore, and oil shales. In Canada, we've got a moratorium on drilling off the west coast & “environmental” activists (perhaps largely U.S. based) are campaigning vigorously to shut down the Alberta oil sands. If these supplies were all on-stream — world prices would drop significantly (price inelasticity again).

Environmentalists are also blocking alternate energy sources -- not just nuclear, and coal -- but, even wind generators where they spoil the views of powerful leftists. The demand for oil and gas would decline, if these alternatives were fully exploited.

Ironically, the oil companies can thank environmental organizations for their recent record profits.

22 posted on 05/18/2008 1:18:24 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: BulletBobCo
You might trade in that GMC Yukon for a Honda Civic

Good luck with that - your Yukon will be worth a lot less just by virtue of poor gas mileage...probably to the point where the gas savings isn't worth the loss in trade-in value.

23 posted on 05/18/2008 1:19:44 PM PDT by RockinRight (Supreme Court Justice Fred Thompson. The next best place for Fred.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kjo

That might take it down $0.60...


24 posted on 05/18/2008 1:20:25 PM PDT by RockinRight (Supreme Court Justice Fred Thompson. The next best place for Fred.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: smoketree
Theprice of oil has been rising in the last few years because of “world instability”. Every time there was any crisis no matter how small oil went up. Crisis over oil stays up. Nest “crisis” oil goes up. Crisis over oil stays up....

Saudi prince takes a sh*t, oil goes up...

25 posted on 05/18/2008 1:22:03 PM PDT by RockinRight (Supreme Court Justice Fred Thompson. The next best place for Fred.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA; thackney

I agree the environazi’s are always part of the problem yet I am told the refineries , prior to the last one being constructed in 1978, have expanded 10 fold since then in size. The EPA paper dam didn’t take into account the property that refineries were already on being used vs new locations and all new refineries. Not sure if that is true and state for the record I have no personal knowledge that is a fact . The link I posted too BBC here on this thread....

http://consumerist.com/consumer/features/why-is-gas-so-freakin-expensive-263887.php

....is a pretty good read on the matter, albeit from the net and unfounded as are our comments here.

But I am grateful for the information and thoughts on the matter !

Stay safe !


26 posted on 05/18/2008 1:28:28 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: RockinRight

Saudi prince pops a pimple, oil goes up.
Ouch that hurt, oil goes up.


27 posted on 05/18/2008 1:28:31 PM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: BulletBobCo

Share with your address book and ask that they pass it on as well and/or send to your elected moron:

Liberal DemoRAT Energy Plan:

1. You can’t drill for oil anywhere.
2. You can’t build a refinery anywhere.
3. You can’t build a nuclear power plant anywhere.
4. You can’t burn coal for electricity.
5. You can’t allow the oil companies to reinvest their profits into exploration.
6. But you can drive up the price of food by subsidizing an ethanol industry that takes land out of food production while using more energy than it creates.
7.You must continue to tax every gallon of gas that we put in our tanks.
8.You must threaten all energy users with additional ‘carbon taxes’.
9. And just in case some entrepreneur out there somewhere may have an idea for an alternative energy concept that just might work, you must raise the capital gains tax so that investors have less capital and less incentive to invest in his/her project. count your blessings.

With the coming change in administration, it| will be guaranteed that the price of gasoline hits $10 per gallon as our economy dumps. All this and more thanks to anti-American, anti-military Liberal DemoRATS whose platform is “enjoy living in America the new third-world country.”


28 posted on 05/18/2008 1:32:47 PM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BulletBobCo
My Senator, Bill Nelson (Rat-FL) told me in an email that production of domestic petroleum is not the answer. According to this clown we must conserve and develop alternative sources regardless of gas/food inflation.

I told him I can't pump sunshine or wind into my auto.

There is no doubt that the rats want a sour economy heading into the elections and will probably get away with blaming the GOP.

29 posted on 05/18/2008 1:34:39 PM PDT by Jacquerie (Why vote when blackrobes rule?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ExTexasRedhead

>>>>>My energy plan: declare a national energy emergency; uncap all our oil wells....

I like that! Don’t forget to fastrack at least 50 nuke plants and to start building 20 new space shuttles for the disposal of nuclear waste.


30 posted on 05/18/2008 1:35:00 PM PDT by angkor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: rocksblues

Will Obama seize Venezuela ??


31 posted on 05/18/2008 1:37:20 PM PDT by traumer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: traumer

The other way around.
Venezuela will sieze obama.


32 posted on 05/18/2008 1:41:01 PM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: angkor

This country fast-tracked everything to win World War II. We can do the same thing again; it takes gonads and they’re in short supply today. Our fathers and forefathers are turning in their graves. Many sacrificed their lives to protect and defend this great nation that Liberals are destroying in their quest for power.


33 posted on 05/18/2008 1:41:25 PM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: ExTexasRedhead
"...My energy plan: declare a national energy emergency; uncap all our oil wells that were capped back to the 60’s and forward; use the tons of exploration maps the oil companies have locked up for years and start drilling immediately; ban all the red tape for drilling and refineries; tell environmentalists to go to hell; drill offshore in the Gulf and Pacific. As for refineries, drop all the red tape and work non-stop 24/7 with thousands of workers just like we did in WWII to vamp up to win a war. My guess is that prices would drop quickly with that announcement..."

Aw, you make it sound so easy ... well, yeah, it is that easy, but you didn't solve the Middle-East problems with the fake-Palis and their supporters!

And what about Syria and Hizbollah and Iran? Have you visited them yet?

Oh, wait ... yer not a democRAT, are ya ................ FRegards

34 posted on 05/18/2008 1:49:02 PM PDT by gonzo ( What Part Of "Shall Not Be Infringed" does anyone have a problem with? The USSC will soon wonder ..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ExTexasRedhead

Well said.
The libs are like al qaeda, the nazi’s, imperial Japan, etc.
The only thing sacred to them is their power.
They would stand on the ruins of this great country if it meant they could hold the flag of power for one minute.
Future historians will write of the treasonous actions of the democrats.


35 posted on 05/18/2008 1:51:10 PM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: ExTexasRedhead

I like the plan. If only your elected representatives weren’t Bolsheviks—it could actually have a chance of falling on receptive ears.


36 posted on 05/18/2008 1:58:37 PM PDT by freespirited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: t1b8zs; kjo; Squantos; smoketree; USFRIENDINVICTORIA
“Yea well I find it hard...”

Does anyone comprehend the impact on oil prices of the US almost halving it production of Oil since 1986? Does anyone grasp the fact that despite the World Market demand for Oil steadily rising for the last decade the US is producing less and less of it's own oil each and every year? That the US is producing less oil now then they even did in 2000?

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/mcrfpus2m.htm

It is called Supply and Demand. People should learn about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_and_demand

37 posted on 05/18/2008 2:00:07 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (http://www.iraqvetsforcongress.com ---- Get involved, make a difference.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BulletBobCo

Too many need oil and they - OPEC - aren’t producing enough.

And why should they?

The money earned goes right into investing in Islam taking over our world.

Meanwhile Congress sits on their fannies doing less than nothing to push this CRISIS to the top of the agenda.


38 posted on 05/18/2008 2:06:08 PM PDT by eleni121 (EN TOUTO NIKA!! +)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ExTexasRedhead

Can we get 50,000 people to write the critters in DC just what you say?

They might listen.


39 posted on 05/18/2008 2:08:29 PM PDT by eleni121 (EN TOUTO NIKA!! +)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Squantos
have expanded 10 fold since then in size

They have expanded, but no where near that much. But neither has demand.

Total throughput has gone up, not as much as demand has grown but fuel production is close.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/wgirius24.htm

Also, the refineries have been upgraded so that more product like gasoline and diesel is produced from the same amount of crude and less "leftovers" like petroleum coke and residual oil.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/wgfrpus24.htm

A good basic read on that is part of:

The Truth About Oil and Gasoline: An API Primer
http://www.energytomorrow.org/energy_issues/truth_about_oil_gasoline_primer.pdf

40 posted on 05/18/2008 2:10:43 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson