GasBuddy News Article

votes

A majority of Americans set gas prices for all of us

GasBuddy Blog -- As much as it stinks to hear, sometimes rising gasoline prices are partially our own fault. The fact that Americans are beginning to spend more shows that the economy is on the mend, and while Americans may be buying more food or clothes, they're also making more trips to the store, the mall, etc. The one product letting them get there is gasoline. We can directly tie increased shopping purchases and retail sales increases to gasoline demand. The more people are purchasing, the more gasoline they're undoubtedly using to get to stores or to the mall.

February's retail sales report showed definite signs of people beginning to open their wallets more for items they want, but that also means they should prepare to pay more at the pump...

Read the Full Article

Submitted Mar 12, 2010 By: PD

Back To News

Category: GasBuddy Official Blog > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: A majority of Americans set gas prices for all of us	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)

First Prev

Last

FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,581 Points:724,270 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:10:44 AM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse There's too much consumin goin on!
SpruceGuse2 Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,893 Points:1,492,690 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:09:37 AM Ignore SpruceGuse2 Report Abuse Tell that to the 15% unemployed still in Michigan......................
sleepyt Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,405 Points:420,265 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:07:48 AM Ignore sleepyt Report Abuse cincidap has some nice analysis below. It does appear there is a range of economic activity bound by our dependence on energy, and how that dependence changes other spending behavior. We may be locked into this economy for some time. So CONSERVATION is a way to change the dynamics.
mickealo Champion Author Spokane Posts:1,471 Points:1,213,370 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:07:39 AM Ignore mickealo Report Abuse i don't believe this one as prices go up even when demand is down it has more to do with speculators and gov.
captngasTN Champion Author Tennessee Posts:1,738 Points:428,900 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:06:15 AM Ignore captngasTN Report Abuse Retail sales does not gas pricing make.
AC-302 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:14,877 Points:1,947,685 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:02:28 AM Ignore AC-302 Report Abuse If demand goes up, price will go up. What does that tell me? Conserve, America! OPEC is sticking it to you, right? So stick it back to them by making it a point of spending less on gas!
ILVET Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,905 Points:1,964,620 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:02:20 AM Ignore ILVET Report Abuse Everyone should understand by now that gas is going to go up no matter what we do. Speculators are going to drive it up as they will always find an excuse to do so and NO ONE lifts a finger to stop them. If we use less then the refiners will drive it up by producing less. You might as well get use to this fact!
bills55 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,178 Points:303,950 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:01:02 AM Ignore bills55 Report Abuse I say it.s speculators and a failing dollar.
turbosaab Champion Author Cleveland Posts:9,130 Points:1,437,690 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:00:58 AM Ignore turbosaab Report Abuse I don't agree at all. I don't believe there is any sign that the economy is recovering. Every day the number of unemployed increases. How can that be construed as recovery?
bad_sailor Champion Author London Posts:2,989 Points:726,105 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:00:36 AM Ignore bad_sailor Report Abuse It doesn't matter how much we conserve, greed and speculation are the driving factors for pricing.
MUSTANGSRUS Champion Author Ontario Posts:4,743 Points:1,001,895 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:59:09 AM Ignore MUSTANGSRUS Report Abuse Rising gas prices will choke off any fast recovery. What a lousy excuse for raising prices.
bell05 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,356 Points:907,155 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:57:18 AM Ignore bell05 Report Abuse CV; I agree with the you. But most of the general public has their head in the sand. Look at who got elected!!
KillChain Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:2,264 Points:603,800 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:55:22 AM Ignore KillChain Report Abuse I thought the Libs and Dems were going to go after big oil....not now when they get the money now.
dlr17 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,708 Points:485,595 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:54:31 AM Ignore dlr17 Report Abuse Big profits$ for Big Oil and Big Bank$ with the high prices and all the fee$. We won't see an end to the recession any time soon with this pattern.
TheSnowstorm Champion Author Montreal Posts:4,463 Points:1,005,630 Joined:June 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:54:23 AM Ignore TheSnowstorm Report Abuse More data manipulation. Statistics is a wonderful tool.
DieselKat Champion Author Tennessee Posts:1,721 Points:1,414,575 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:54:20 AM Ignore DieselKat Report Abuse No surprise in this.
cv Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,259 Points:2,291,130 Joined:Oct 2003	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:54:07 AM Ignore cv Report Abuse Use whatever means to conserve fuel because any excuse to raise gas prices will the plan for the speculators forever.
mk9999 Champion Author Rochester Posts:2,977 Points:696,220 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:53:45 AM Ignore mk9999 Report Abuse We need smaller more fuel efficient cars.
BartBuzz Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,938 Points:810,010 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:53:22 AM Ignore BartBuzz Report Abuse The economy may be on the mend but unemployment is still around 10%. Consumer spending is only up a fraction of a percent based on the latest data. The Government is the only consumer who thinks they can spend its way to recovery. Instead they are spending us into bankruptcy. Keep conserving.
HankHill09 Champion Author Long Island Posts:1,236 Points:248,675 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:53:21 AM Ignore HankHill09 Report Abuse Just because the economy may be on the mend, that doesn't mean that gas prices should go up. Maybe the reason why the economy is on the mend is because it doesn't cost us an arm and a leg to drive around town !!!!!
woodeye55 Champion Author Gary Posts:2,282 Points:903,340 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:50:38 AM Ignore woodeye55 Report Abuse ...play you pay...
Tonester1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,659 Points:1,369,145 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:50:26 AM Ignore Tonester1 Report Abuse Please keep conserving.
nurdco Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:3,832 Points:719,030 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:50:24 AM Ignore nurdco Report Abuse MINORITY not majority
cincidap Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,080 Points:602,350 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:50:16 AM Ignore cincidap Report Abuse thecomposer has the right idea. This country (perhaps continent) has entered a vicious cycle wherein the inflationary pressures of energy prices are so awful that it would almost make one root for a deflationary depression. Any economic improvement dooms itself due to the resulting energy costs, whereas any purge is self-limiting because the sudden drop in energy cost brings back demand.
cableman31 Champion Author New York Posts:4,047 Points:1,071,805 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:49:36 AM Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse The only thing that sets gas prices in this country is "OIL COMPANY GREED" and they have plenty of that. And RochBear remember in your EV you can only go about 25 miles so you still have enough power to get back home and then charge it for 8 to 12 hours. That to me is NOT going where I want when I want.
Hewy67 Rookie Author Grand Rapids Posts:8 Points:32,685 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:48:55 AM Ignore Hewy67 Report Abuse Just another excuse
rsm315 All-Star Author Detroit Posts:838 Points:219,530 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:48:19 AM Ignore rsm315 Report Abuse Its not us its the speculators!
JunGleJimBo Veteran Author Orange County Posts:379 Points:163,755 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:45:58 AM Ignore JunGleJimBo Report Abuse Plan your trips to the store, and what to buy. Hit multiple stores on the same circuit. Take a cooler with an ice block to keep perishables cold. Should cut down on fuel consumption. JimBo
TommyTraveler Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,696 Points:723,005 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:45:52 AM Ignore TommyTraveler Report Abuse Combine your trips. Plan your trip and then work your trip plan. If we all could cut 5% of our gas usage big oil would not be able to have anywhere to store the oil.
BeaverBilly Champion Author Alberta Posts:4,995 Points:1,578,660 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:45:37 AM Ignore BeaverBilly Report Abuse It is a connection to our spending habits.
johnwinger Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,377 Points:1,217,120 Joined:Oct 2001	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:44:03 AM Ignore johnwinger Report Abuse Now it's our fault?
adr47 Champion Author Saskatchewan Posts:2,411 Points:540,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:43:36 AM Ignore adr47 Report Abuse Reason to get off oil and onto alternatives
salog Champion Author Columbia Posts:3,528 Points:878,865 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:43:17 AM Ignore salog Report Abuse If that was true then price would be set be demand. What is really happening is that it is a big conspiracy. We are buying more gas this month. Speculators think demand is increasing, so they increase the price of oil. Then next month we cut back our driving. Now speculators are left with all this expensive oil that no one is using. So they have to sell at a lost.
throttle Champion Author Maryland Posts:7,872 Points:1,655,180 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:43:12 AM Ignore throttle Report Abuse Unfortunately true.
theawesome1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,661 Points:810,140 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:42:45 AM Ignore theawesome1 Report Abuse A tank of gas ( 15 gals) is not excessive filled once a month or less.
RochBear Champion Author Minnesota Posts:5,563 Points:1,053,165 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:42:12 AM Ignore RochBear Report Abuse This is one of the many reasons I want an EV, which I can charge with my wind/solar array. That way I can go where and when I want, and not effect the price of gas.
riverrising Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,714 Points:676,950 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:41:18 AM Ignore riverrising Report Abuse lucky for me,we have no malls,clothes shops in town. very few places to spend money. keep our money,spend less. no where to go. who ever wrote up article is in their own WORLD.
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,931 Points:818,705 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:39:22 AM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse We can only controlour use. We cannot control the rest of the worlds intake. If we stop relying on it, then we won't care (as much) what the price of it is.
INDY51 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,505 Points:339,970 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:39:20 AM Ignore INDY51 Report Abuse there is much more than supply and demand that set gas prices.
granma3xnow Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,998 Points:410,675 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:38:24 AM Ignore granma3xnow Report Abuse I'm not driving MORE, I'm driving LESS. So is almost everyone I know. It does not stop them from RAISING the pump price. I do have a theory: Oh, we're not selling enough, lets start to raise price so they'll all come in and fill up, cause they think its gonna go higher.
WonderfulMI Champion Author Michigan Posts:5,872 Points:812,350 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:38:05 AM Ignore WonderfulMI Report Abuse If you pay the price, you have established the price.
jazzej All-Star Author Michigan Posts:979 Points:157,085 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:37:49 AM Ignore jazzej Report Abuse But an earlier article said our use was still way below normal, but that was having little or no effect because China's use was so high. Bottom line, we pay more no matter what.
Ticoman54 Champion Author Miami Posts:2,616 Points:587,170 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:35:35 AM Ignore Ticoman54 Report Abuse Even though weak demand has had little affect on prices for the past 15 months, conservation is still important. Sooner or later, the bubble will burst if we continue to keep demand weak. Tip: Try to take advantage of your trips and run several errands on the same trip to conserve. If we ALL do this, it will change the fabric of our demand. I think this article is nothing but BS. Prices have not been affected by weak demand for the past 15 months so why all of sudden should they be impacted if demand increases slightly?
thecomposer Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:221 Points:63,635 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:33:36 AM Ignore thecomposer Report Abuse LOOK AT THIS> Spinning a recovering economy for AN EXCUSE TO RAISE GAS PRICES!!!! Theis Evil F*** Tards will stop at NOTHING to pocket more money from themselves.Hell is very Fiery.
wizzard1222 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,718 Points:1,345,140 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:33:14 AM Ignore wizzard1222 Report Abuse It's not the consuming "Americans"...IT'S the hedge funds & investment bankers...rough trading !!!!
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,671 Points:917,950 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:33:02 AM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse As always big oil just screws us since we are using less and driving less they will make it up in other ways.
FocusGuy Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,116 Points:457,375 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:32:40 AM Ignore FocusGuy Report Abuse old article but some people need to be told every day.
hwmillerster Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,858 Points:499,915 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:30:18 AM Ignore hwmillerster Report Abuse As alway, supply and demand rule the gasoline market.
9C1 Champion Author Chicago Posts:17,700 Points:3,280,645 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:29:56 AM Ignore 9C1 Report Abuse Democrats have turned the economy around, so it is their fault the gas prices are high.
fcdriver Champion Author Tennessee Posts:2,859 Points:601,470 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:29:48 AM Ignore fcdriver Report Abuse and a majority of them just cant figure that out
goalie1950 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,625 Points:326,400 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 8:28:58 AM Ignore goalie1950 Report Abuse The reality of the matter, the oil companies set & established gas prices based on what they perceive as projected inventories versus consumption. But the actual driving force in gas pricing is a element called: GREED