I can't help but wonder how many of our European members and visitors shake their heads in disgust or laugh their butts off when the American's bitch about fuel prices. Many/most nations have much more efficient choices for personal transport due to the historically high fuel prices in their countries. And then you have the American's crying about $3 gasoline as they continue to buy huge gas hogs that suck the stuff like a wino sucks down a bottle of Thunderbird. 
Last year as prices exceeded $4 in the USA the SUV and truck market basically fell off a cliff as folks suddenly got religion concerning fuel economy. Trading big SUV's and trucks, at huge losses, on suddenly popular and thus overpriced small cars and hybrids became the "new normal". Then the worldwide recession killed oil demand and prices fell dramatically, so all of a sudden the hybrids and other more fuel efficient vehicles that manufacturer's rushed to produce started to pile up in inventory and sales for trucks and other guzzlers began to improve. It seems that attention deficit disorder is not just limited to kids.
As for the current run-up in prices, it is remarkable how supply and demand don't mean diddly anymore. Demand is down worldwide, supply is up worldwide, refineries have scaled back operations to keep from flooding themselves in refined products, producers have oil stuffed into any container and ship they can get their hands on, and yet the price has increased dramatically. I sure will be happy when the speculators find some other products to manipulate for quick profits. I'll be even more happy when the greedy SOB's choke on all that oil they've been manipulating.
Jerry
I for one did not rush out to buy some tiny Econobox. Many other Americans did not either, as most Americans want at least a mid size if not a full size car or SUV. Has nothing to do with Attention defficit disorder, has to do with many just like a big safe car, truck or SUV. Yep, I kept my 1 ton Crew Cab Dually, even when it was 150 dollars to fill her up (4.89 for diesel). Just bought the wife a FJ Cruiser, 19 mpg. Yea we drove several much smaller SUV's. We just did not like them.
Remember Toyota, Honda and Nissan all had to significantly increase the size of their cars and trucks to stay competative in the USA during the 1990's and up until 2008.
Just watch Chrysler go out of Business now that we that tax payer are owners. Why, the govnement is mandating cars we do not want. I predict the same for Government Motors.
By the way, gas prices and diesel prices are real low right now. Just wait until cap and trade passes the Senate, it just passed the house.
My guess in summer of 2010 once Cap and trade is in full effect you will be wishing you had 3.50 a gallon gas
Author
Topic: Increased GAS prices (Read 2534 times)