A question about gasoline prices

[lv4dogs]

It's $2.46 cash price at the station at the corner ($2.51 if you pay via credit card) but if I travel just a few miles in any direction it's about $2.65-$2.73.

[Donnaj4962]

Here in Northwest Indiana, it is between $2.06 and $2.19 per gallon. That was this morning when I came into work. Now last night when I went home from work, it was between $2.07 and $2.22 per gallon!

At the first of the week, it was about $1.99 per gallon, give or take a few cents!

I am constantly amazed at how the price of gas can change 20 cents in a matter of minutes!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Since the car is still broken I haven't driven since June but did notice the cost of gas as the bus went by a station yesterday. It was $2.19 for unleaded here.

[buckner]

It varies a lot here in Lexington, KY.

In one direction off campus, it's at $2.18. In the other, it's $1.94. I think it's the actual area that makes it differ, but nonetheless, I got it at $1.94!

[moosmom]

The cheapest I've seen it in CT this week is $2.35.9/gallon.

[Lady's Human]

the price of gasoline varies from area to area due to a number of factors. First and foremost, gasoline is a commodity. The price varies according to the price on the commodities market, which can vary greatly day to day.

The second major factor is the delivery zone. The main factor here is the distance from the pipeline terminal that the gasoline is coming from.

The third varying factor is state taxes. For instance, in Mass the gas tax is a fixed rate, (x number of cents per gallon), while in NY it varies, as it is a percentage of the purchase price, just like a sales tax.

Federal taxes are fixed.

Only after all those factors are taken in does the station owner affect the price, and they tend (with major exceptions) to keep the price of gas as low as a profit margin would allow, because they want you to come in to the store for coffee, etc. (the exception would be the fool in Binghamton who is 40-50 cents higher than his competition across the street)

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Here it's $2.20-something. I just got off the phone with my sister-in-law and she was telling me that she paid $1.90-something in Tennessee.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

It's around $2.45 here.

I wonder why prices are suddenly being lowered before November elections?

[Lady's Human]

Because there was just a major oil field found in US waters which sent the price of oil futures into the tank. ($20+ per barrel drop in about 2 weeks, mostly the day after the new field was announced)

[zippy-kat]

Proximity to a refinery doesn't always influence gas prices; we're paying approximately $2.79/gal (high grade) and we have several refineries near us (closest being about 9-10 miles).

I guess I'm the odd one out, I don't mind paying the "high" prices as oil is the economy out here. (I would debate that they're actually not that high, it seems to me we were long over due an increase.)