Holy Cow! Gas prices are skyrocketing!

**jazzcat** · 09-12-2008, 11:06 AM

Last night our local news announced that several gas station have run out of gas and shipment isn't due till next week at best. Overnight prices increased by as much as $.40 to $4 a gallon and they are predicting the price will go up another $1 by the end of the day which will put the price at $5.00 a gallon!!!

They are begging people not to panic here and not to rush out and fill up.

Is this happening where you are or is this just happening to Knoxville, TN?

EDIT: The noon local news says the cause of the shortage is from Hurrcane GUSTAV, not Ike but the "panic" of the shortage and the possible problems from Ike are causing prices to continue to climb. Everyone does expect it to be $5 a gallon here by tonight. No Fair!
Here's a link: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/se...ahoo_headlines

**Karen** · 09-12-2008, 11:14 AM

They said it was sue to happen in the Gulf states, as everyone panics about Hurricane Ike, as the refineries have to stop production while the storm hits. It should be a temporary bump, I'm guessing you are close enough so that your gasoline comes from those refineries more directly.

I filled my tank a couple days ago, so am fine for a little while. It turns out my supermarket chain has a "gas points" program, and as the two I shop I don;t have a gas station, I had never paid attention. Went online, found the one with a gas station closest to me (8 miles) and filled my tank for 75 cents less a gallon than the street price. That was cool!

**pomtzu** · 09-12-2008, 11:16 AM

Here in central Delaware it's averaging $3.30. I saw it for $3.28 in Dover yesterday. I heard that since the price of oil dropped back down to under $100 per barrel, that the oil companies are cutting back production. But of course - so the price of gas can go back up again - just like it is where you are! Won't they ever be satisfied with the billions in profits that they make???

**lvpets2002** · 09-12-2008, 11:27 AM

Yes there are Several Oil Refineries on the Gulf Coast in the Houston Area.. If Ike hits as hard as they predict then it wont be temporary.. It is more likley to wipe out the refineries.. Now we can just watch & see how Ike does & hope for a temporary bump..

**RICHARD** · 09-12-2008, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Karen

Went online, found the one with a gas station closest to me (8 miles) and filled my tank for 75 cents less a gallon than the street price. That was cool!

There was a report about a woman smiling at a gas station pump!

**pitc9** · 09-12-2008, 11:54 AM

Karen, I have the same thing here. Giant Eagle give you .10 cents off a gallon of gas for every $50 you spend. Once in a while they double it if you buy gift cards! That's when I go crazy!!

I've gotten as much as $2.10 off PER GALLON once when I filled up!

Gas around here (NE Ohio) is around $3.50-$3.70.

**davidpizzica** · 09-12-2008, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by pitc9

Karen, I have the same thing here. Giant Eagle give you .10 cents off a gallon of gas for every $50 you spend. Once in a while they double it if you buy gift cards! That's when I go crazy!!

I've gotten as much as $2.10 off PER GALLON once when I filled up!

Gas around here (NE Ohio) is around $3.50-$3.70.

The Giant Eagles work about the same way here in Pittsburgh. Gas here is between $3.50 and $3.63 a gallon. I was lucky enough to find a station that had it for $3.47 a gallon!

**AllAmericanPUP** · 09-12-2008, 01:43 PM

it's 3.99 here

**gemini9961** · 09-12-2008, 02:08 PM

I just filled up at $3.59. Filled up in Tampa, FL.

**Hellow** · 09-12-2008, 02:45 PM

I thought they had refineries for the oil they get from Alaska? Anyways, hope that you get gas back soon!

P.S. You don't have gas companies to blame for the high gas prices. Blame OPEC, they are the ones who controls it all. But some of the high gas prices is reasonable, because Oil is becoming harder and harder to find on land, and they don't want to drill the ocean for risk of disrupting the natural wildlife.

**Freedom** · 09-12-2008, 03:16 PM

Filled up yesterday for $3.51 per gallon.

The Weather Channel today, reporting on Ike, did say the refineries would be off line for at least a while.

Reggie, according to a recent Washington Post article, it is not OPEC but Sovereign Funds which caused the gasoline price spike; all done by speculators.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...081102462.html

**lvpets2002** · 09-12-2008, 03:18 PM

Yes have refineries all over the place including Alaska.. Texas City & Port City that skirt tails Houston does have Several.. They call these two towns the mini rich communities.. My stepbrother is a head coach in Texas City High School..

**chocolatepuppy** · 09-12-2008, 03:31 PM

I paid $3.50 a gallon this morning.

**Animalhouse26** · 09-12-2008, 03:41 PM

It was 3.63 ish up to 3.72 depending on the station.. a cpl days ago. I am sure it is up now.

I am in Pinellas County Florida. I HATE this! We drive a Big SUV with 15 miles to a gallon.. ugh!

**jazzcat** · 09-12-2008, 04:03 PM

Just came back from the vet and the gas station down the road is out of Unleaded and Plus and price on they had for the unleaded was $4.49.

At the vet's some people were saying that while in line for gas a station ran out and people started yelling and fighting. It's getting crazy around here.

I just wonder what it's going to be like tomorrow. It's the Univeristy of TN's home opener football game and they often have 100,000 in the stadium many of who drive long distances. There isn't going to be any gas. We had thought about going to the game but decided not to. I bet there will be a lot of cars with gas stolen out of the tanks tomorrow.