Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
that was coz of a lame cash-for-clunkers program. if you look at car sales over the last few years, amreekans have reverted back to buying giantass cars all over again, just with a bit more emphasis on fuel economy.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
, amreekans have reverted back to buying giantass cars all over again, just with a bit more emphasis on fuel economy.
But that is not such a bad thing. Look at the earnings reported by GM and other auto makers because of that. A record $7 billion for GM in 2011. That helps the economy cause it secured more jobs which helped/helps in every other way.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
imho, all this stuff about good/bad for economy is pure bs. what is really good for the economy is to let the free market do its job of figuring out what is a viable industry and what is not, instead of using all kinds of funds to prop up fake industries. toyota has been making fuel efficient cars in the US using US labor for years. GM has been making guzzlers. when it was GM's turn to roll over and die, they get taxpayer money to become like toyota. and pay their lobbyists to spread the word that they have strengthened the american economy. have they really?
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
You are talking about politics. That is always dirty. I am talking about a common guy and how he/she suffers when times are bad. Common guy cares less if the brand is made by Toyota or GM as long as he/she has a job.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
TLK - Your math skills are awesome, but I dont have that extra $60. :(
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
^same here :(
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
TLK - Your math skills are awesome
not just math skills. Everything about me is.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
common guy should care if his limited tax money is being used to prop up industries that don't give back to the economy, the same money invested in a thriving and efficient alternative to the sick company would ultimately be better for the common guy too.
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no way. you are obviously an elitist who thinks $60 is nothing. That makes you not so very awesome 
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I may be with you on the ethics of bailing out big companies using tax payer money, but you have to admit that GM used the money wisely and i think they are about to return it. It was much better bail out than banks bail out which did squat to save any foreclosures that really hurt many common people.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
I am not saying its nothing, I am saying that its not gong to break your bank.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
I am not saying its nothing, I am saying that its not gong to break your bank.
Which is a crappy assumption.
It's cool, though. I'll just start riding my camel to work. 60 miles on a camel shouldnt be too bad, right?
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Ntt really especially if the camel looks like Tom Cruise.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
umm, no thank you.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
Good thread by Ghost. All the tamasha by Republicans that we need to drill to get price down may be BS. Other factors such as speculation also at play here. And always good to get more exposure to Current TV. Unfortunately, it is not available most places - but only through Internet.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
Did some digging. This link shows that world oil consumption has trended upwards from 54 million barrels per day in 1983 to a peak of 87 million barrels at the end of 2007. As the recession hit, consumption dropped as expected to 81000 in 2009.
World Crude Oil Consumption by Year (Thousand Barrels per Day)
Crude oil prices peaked in March 2008 (forgot to get link but you can google as well as I) at $132 per barrel, crashed to $40 per barrel in Jan 09, and now is at 100+ per barrell. Of course, the correlation between consumption, economy and price is obvious. In 2007, economy has-d peaked,m so consumption and price peaked. In 2009, economy had cratered, so consumption and price cratered. Since 2009, economy has recovered, so price has also recovered, though not up to 2007 highs.
The world consumtion (data available to 2009) is trending up, and so will the price. So while some of the price volatility can be assigned to speculation, most of it is governed by supply and demand. And as long as we keep driving gas guzzlers and live in mega mansions, run ac full tilt etc , expect no relief.
Re: Why Gas Prices Are So High
The Momday WSj states the consumption from Asia has increased frmo 20 Mbpd in 2001 to 25 Mbpd in 2009 - 25% increase in 9 years. The consumption in North America fellslightly to 23 Mpd (did not say from what level). This is consistent with world consumption data presented in previous post.
US Midwest crude is much cheaper because lots of oil coming from Canada, and also from oil shale developments in North Dakota. But no way of moving this oil to refineries. So pipelines need to be built - that has become a political football. Since there is glut of oil here, the oil prices are low. But refined oil (gasoline) price still high since cant get this glut of oil to refineries. (Tuesdday Feb 28 WSJ).
The cash for clunkers by the way was a joke. They should at least have required that replacement vehicles should have much higher mpg, noot the 1-2 mpg improvemnt that was set.
$60 per month is for one vehicle - so if there are 2 vehicles in house, that doubles to $120 increase per month - certainly not chump change.
The increased fuel cost also affect goods' prices.
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Interesting finds Southie. Agreed that people also need to get their consumption in check.