Gasoline Prices Set to Rise Through Election Day
Source: CNBC
Retail gasoline prices, already at the highest levels on average since July 2008, are likely to continue to climb this month as refinery and pipeline problems overshadow weakness in U.S. consumer demand.
On Wednesday night, a fire broke out at Exxon's [XOM 92.7045 0.4845 (+0.53%) ] Baytown, Texas refinery, a 584,000 barrel per day facility that is the largest operating refinery in the U.S.
Exxon said there may be "some impacts to production" from the fire, but the plant will resume normal operations. A partial shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline, the nation's largest oil product pipeline, also contributed to supplies fears, as it impacted the portion of the line carrying gasoline from Atlanta to Nashville.
"It will only take another refinery issue and a bit more of geopolitical noise to have the first U.S. election at a US average gasoline price of $4 a gallon," says energy analyst Olivier Jakob of Petromatrix. (Read More: Gas Prices Jump Up to 20 Cents Overnight in California)
The national average for regular unleaded is now at $3.79 a gallon, basically on par with where pump prices were last Friday.
Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/49303656
It will remain $5 probably through 2012.
montanto
(2,966 posts)kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)picking the one who will "lower gas prices".
I happen to think billionaire RWers have huge influence on the oil market. Remember how that one guy manipulated the price of silver back when? ONE wealthy person did that.
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)going to happen months ago really.
Third Doctor
(1,574 posts)JRLeft
(7,010 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,474 posts)was driving up costs.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021475295
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Wait, why yes, yes they could have.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,145 posts)allan01
(1,950 posts)the oil companaies have done this during every election cycle since i can remember . greedy bastards.
liberal N proud
(60,346 posts)Makes you wonder, Oil barons giving money to a certain candidate? A certain party making claims that gas prices have more than doubled under their opponents administration? Oil companies mysteriously having "problems" ahead of an election?
There's no coincidence here, no, not at all!
AndyTiedye
(23,500 posts)I'm sure the upcoming election has nothing to do with this.
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)southerncrone
(5,506 posts)Let's face it, the oil industry doesn't like "green" or "blue".
jwirr
(39,215 posts)WallaceRitchie
(242 posts)The first week or so of September, the average price of unleaded had appeared to peak in the 3.83-3.86 range, nationally... and had been declining through the end of the month.
Suddenly, with a favorable jobs/unemployment estimate... up we go.
The madness currently taking place at pumps in California will distort the national average.
elbloggoZY27
(283 posts)These oil giants are fleecing every citizen in the United States and the Replacement Congressmen do absolutely nothing.
Come November I hope these Guys & Gals are sent packing right out of Washington because they have not done a single thing to help us.
It may sound blunt but these folks are not qualified to be in Washington let alone the White House.
The United States was founded by real Patriots and I would like to know where they are.
OldDem2012
(3,526 posts)...to Members of Congress to make absolutely sure nobody interferes with their operations.
greiner3
(5,214 posts)Uh, conspiracy theory anybody?
underpants
(182,883 posts)this stinks. The explanation I heard on NPR for the 12 cent overnight jump in California was a few "events" at California refineries. One was a "power outing" - I don't know the specifics but that sure is a coincidence now isn't it?