$6.00 per gallon gas

[aumoore]

CBS just reported that fuel in Atlanta is almost $6.00 per gallon. They showed a picture of a BP station with regular at $5.87 Mid at $5.97 and High test $6.07. This my friends is nothing more than price gouging. I just got off the phone with one of my fellow salesmen in South Georgia and he said the price has gone up $0.70per gallon today and more expected tomorrow.

The President needs to put a stop to this and tell the offenders that they will be fined and jailed no questions asked. I have a better idea than jail: send them to New Orleans, Biloxi/gulfport and have them pick up bodies and help with the cleanup and rebuilding at minimum wages while their business is sold to the local communities they price gouged.

It makes my blood boil to see people take advantage of a national catastrophe.

[damicatz]

Stations in North Carolina had their gas up to $3 a gallon yesterday. Before they even ran out of their pre-existing fuel supply. Greedy oil companies.

[smashmode]

Gas has gone up here in wqashington 16 cents in the last 2 days.

[NC George]

The local gas stations run on a margin of less than 10 cents a gallon. In fact, the reason most gasoline stations are now gas stations/convenience stores is these isn't enough profit in gasoline alone to stay in business. They have to use to proceeds from what is in the ground to buy the next tankerload. If they don't raise the price now, they may not have enough money to fill their underground tanks this weekend.

Secondly, there is a critical shortage of refinery capacity in the US. All of our refineries run at virtually 100% capacity all the time. That means any disruption in the flow causes instant shortages. They people you need to blame are the ones that have caused no new gasoline refineries to be built in the US in years.

One of the largest reasons for the immediate shortage is everyone is running out and buying as much gas as possible before the prices went up. Gas stations were running out in our area (eastern NC) because people were lining up on Monday.

BTW, I'm a professional driver, the gas cost increases are undoubtedly affecting me more than most, but the problems aren't as simple as "they are gouging us." There is a worldwide demand for oil. There are 2.5 billion people in China and India who all want driver's licenses.

[lurkey]

Stations in North Carolina had their gas up to $3 a gallon yesterday. Before they even ran out of their pre-existing fuel supply. Greedy oil companies.

Where? The highest price I saw last night was 2.999 for Premium (2.799 for regular) at an Exxon in South Raleigh.

Part of problem is imposed shortages on the supply side. The hurricane took out about 8 refineries on the Gulf Coast. Here is a news story that explains it better than I can what's happening.

[GalvestonDuck]

Just talked to my grandparents in Lexington to ask them how KY fared with the remnants of Katrina (fine). Later in the conversation, he mentioned how gas was $2.42 yesterday (and I was thinking to myself, how is it cheaper up there than here in TX where it was $2.56 yesterday) and now it's $2.99 there.

Not sure what it is today, but I'm heading to RC now and I'll glance at the sign.

[Stephanie]

Gasoline prices went up $.27 today. It wasn't like we were warned though.

[WXBUFFJIM]

At my location near Baltimore, MD at my local gas station, prices went up from $2.55 a gallon Monday morning to $3.09 a gallon today and that's just for regular unleaded. Diesel fuel is even higher. I haven't heard of any gas running out around here. But it's definitely getting more expensive each day with a $54 cent increase in just 2 days.

Jim

[KLP124]

Oil is high now because we've lost production platforms.

Gas is high because oil is high, we've lost refining capacity, and the two main pipelines which deliver large amounts of gasoline and diesel to the eastern and northern states, are shut down due to loss of electricity.

Pretty much all working refineries are running at max capacity... but right now, there's no was to get that gasoline OUT because of pipeline shut downs.

[jdray]

Price gouging is being looked at in Georgia. Expect some arrests.


nothing like good ole http://www.gasbuddy.com to help you out.

[WXBUFFJIM]

Also 95% of the oil rigs in the gulf of mexico are not functioning tonight. So it go figures why price gouging is happening. I never seen anything like this.

Jim

[aumoore]

My friend asked the station owner if he had fuel and he said yes about 30" left in the tank. As he was paying the owner told the clerk to go and put bags over all the pumps except the premium. He laughed and said we have priemium at $3.19/gal and tomorrow we will sell the rest.

The main crooks are the Arabs but the oil company managers, distributors and many station owners are the gready ones.

[HurriCat]

SEE UPDATE AT END! This is for real: My mom called (local) and said that her sister in Canton, GA called and said pumps were going to shut down at midnight in Atlanta and local areas. My mom said that a neighbor here was just out and had to drive around to find gas. I threw 2 five-gallon cans in my truck and went out immediately (about 7pm EST). Sure enough, the 7-11 had long lines, as did the station across the way (436/Semoran). What kills me is that this a.m. gas was like 2.64 for Regular - NOW it was 2.98 Regular, with Mid and High-Test like 3.07 and 3.17. Dang - I just checked my receipt and it's not mine - I know I got over ten gallons total - this is for like six. Sorry - gotta go check the bank and see what I got dinged for! Stay safe. I hope we aren't making this a self-fulfilling prophecy by filling up and all, but we need to get to/from work. ISN'T MODERN LIVING JUS' PEACHY?

UPDATE: Nothing showing on my account yet. I really thought that I had torn off the receipt as it finished printing. OH WELL. Anyways, I just hit several Atlanta news sites - not a peep about rationing or shutdowns. I might have to strangle mom and my aunt I am happy, though, that hopefully it is just everyone's jitters causing the pump-runs.

[AnthonyC]

I have a funny story about this...

I went to my grandparents' house this morning and our local Chevron station was at 2.81 for regular gasoline. I came home from their house two hours later and regular gas had gone up to 2.85. Three hours later I drove passed the Chevron station again and it had gone up to 2.91. It's getting ridiculous. Local news media suggest that you should stock up on gasoline now...at least for the Seattle region...because they are expecting another increase of 30 cents by Saturday...continuing through Labor Day weekend. Pretty soon I won't be able to afford gasoline. It cost me almost 40 bucks to fill up an entire tank just the other day.

Anthony

[Lowpressure]

Up to $3.19 in Charlotte

[soonertwister]

I can't believe that gas stations don't have lines of credit with their suppliers for at least the current delivery of gasoline.

That isn't how business is done in most of this country.

[Canelaw99]

Wow! I talked to my mom in Winston-Salem, NC today and she said premium was $2.79 this morning, then by 12:30pm today it was up to $3.29. Our regular here in Homestead was $2.77 at BJ's yesterday, but not sure what it is elsewhere in the county.

[tomboudreau]

I just talked to my boss and he said the price of gas went up 37 cents in 45 minutes down around the Washington, PA area. It is now 2.99 a gallon. I know this morning, when I got gas for my car, it was 2.67 a gallon. I can only image what it will be when I leave here tonight. I might take a trip by the gas station to see what it is and I will update accordingly.

[Coredesat]

Gas has gone up 15 cents here in Richmond since last week. However, it's still relatively cheap (I emphasize "relatively") at $2.53 at the nearby Hess station.

[Cape Fear Cane Watcher]

Gas here in Wallace went up $0.40 today, from $2.49/gal to $2.89/gal for regular. Twenty miles up the road in Warsaw, the stations along I-40 had regular at $3.09.