Going Up

Have you noticed that gas prices are going up? The national average now tops $3 for regular. It's not that much in the lake area, but AAA says the the price has jumped about a 20 cents a gallon in the last month. And some experts say this could only be the beginning, with gas prices possibly reaching $4 dollars a gallon or even higher in some parts of the nation. Are you concerned about the rising prices,and will it impact how much you drive or even what you drive?

Comments

[elohssa]

Thank god for a company car...

[jock martin]

Why should anyone be surprised about gas prices going up. This trend is just the beginning of price increases for everything that takes energy to create, tires(all hydrocarbons, oil, all hydrocarbons, fuel for farmers, etc) Because of Obama policy of oil exploration restrictions, no drilling in the West, East or now, the bulk of the southern waters. We must make changes to our government control before we can we can put cost reduction in our vocabulary. We better wise up now or be ready for gov't handouts and farming in the back yard.

[steve]

I don't drive that far to work but its still costing me about $10 a week more than a year ago. Thats less money I can spend going out to eat or going to a movie etc...Instead of money going our local economy its going to the middle east and to speculators.

[bill]

jock martin hit the nail on the head. You got Obama and crew to thank for the high prices.

[Ken B]

While I'm not here to defend Obama, I seriously doubt it has much to do with the current President. After all, the highest prices on record were during the Bush Administration. Oil supplies are 10% above the all time high. Screaming shortage is a way for the oil companies to make more money. They've been doing it for years no matter which administration is in office. You could drill the USA with holes like swiss cheese, and it wouldn't make a difference in oil prices because it is not a supply problem. Traders do not have to take delivery of their product, so they can run the price up as long as people will buy it at that price, and the oil companies sit back and let it happen because it lines their pockets with $$$. OPEC has openly let it known that the target price for a barrel of oil is set $100. They will get that price and then some.

[whome]

May I ask a Question who do you think is paying Billions for the BP oil leak.It's us! If you can't afford to buy it than you drive less. When the government sued the tobacco companies and the price of a pack of cigarettes went sky high. Who is paying the fine. Those poor people who can't quit that's who. The money that the states have gotten from Tobacco where is? God only knows. If they want you to drive less and you won't do it on your own than you up the price where you can't afford to smoke or drive. That my friend is Government control of your daily life.

[jack]

Well said Ken B. I am not defending Obama either but you are right. I paid $4.85 per gallon for diesel while Bush was in office. Oil is at $95 per barrel today. Gas and diesel will go between 4 and 5 dollars per gallon again but the only thing different this time is that it will stay there. As soon as we seem to becoming out of the economical slump prices at the pump go up. Go figure. There are still a lot of people hurting out there that are just now getting on their feet. As for me I will continue to drive like I always have but I feel for those who can't.

[Mike]

As previously stated, the price of a barrel of oil has nothing to do with supply. It's an artificially manipulated price that seems to mysteriously rise during expected periods of peak demand. I don't believe those "doom and gloom" projections of 4 or 5 dollar a gallon gas. That's the same song they sang a few years ago. It wasn't true then and I don't believe it's going to be true later. There is a much more concerted effort to develop alternate fuel vehicles and I think this will have an impact on the increasing cost of oil. Demand will drop and so will the price...eventually. Will it have an impact on my driving...of course, but I'll just plan my trips more carefully just like I did a few years ago and I can cut my fuel usage by about 50%. I got lazy and reverted to my old habits when the price of gas came back down. In shopping for a new vehicle, I'll give more consideration to fuel efficient cars but I won't get rid of my current vehicles just to get a more fuel efficient one. I think the bottom line here is that the only way to fight the increasing cost of fuel is to use less of it and let the rule of "supply and demand" take over and lower the price of gas. I think it'll happen...we just need to have patience. To echo posted sentiments, I also think our current administration is only making matters worse and the sooner we get them out of office, the better off this country will be.

[Mike]

As previously stated, the price of a barrel of oil has nothing to do with supply. It's an artificially manipulated price that seems to mysteriously rise during expected periods of peak demand. I don't believe those "doom and gloom" projections of 4 or 5 dollar a gallon gas. That's the same song they sang a few years ago. It wasn't true then and I don't believe it's going to be true later. There is a much more concerted effort to develop alternate fuel vehicles and I think this will have an impact on the increasing cost of oil. Demand will drop and so will the price...eventually. Will it have an impact on my driving...of course, but I'll just plan my trips more carefully just like I did a few years ago and I can cut my fuel usage by about 50%. I got lazy and reverted to my old habits when the price of gas came back down. In shopping for a new vehicle, I'll give more consideration to fuel efficient cars but I won't get rid of my current vehicles just to get a more fuel efficient one. I think the bottom line here is that the only way to fight the increasing cost of fuel is to use less of it and let the rule of "supply and demand" take over and lower the price of gas. I think it'll happen...we just need to have patience. To echo posted sentiments, I also think our current administration is only making matters worse and the sooner we get them out of office, the better off this country will be.

[steve]

I know it's not Obama fault but he isn't helping. With the economy hurting, people looking for jobs, and oil closing in on $100 a barrel, we should be drilling anywhere we can. It won't affect the price much but at least it will put americans to work. Unlike "green energy" oil and gas doesn't need to subsidized by tax payers.

[Swamp Charly]

whomver is "manipulating"the oil price is irrelevant....there is always someone claiming conspiracy theories anytime anything goes wrong....
Tax imported oil and open up domestic fields...put a tax on fuel at the pump for all....tax,tax,tax !!!!(LOL)>>>>>>>

[Long Haired Country Boy]

EPA , EPA , EPA , EPA
Interstate Commerce Act
Federal Energy Policy
TAXES , TAXES , TAXES

THERE IS NO OIL SHORTAGE

KPLC Blog Police . I really appreciate you
not posting thre Truth , maybe you won't delete this format

[Liberal With More Than Two Teeth]

Wishlist of Sunrise guest Robert Turley (of the LSU Ag Center) features disgusting Neo-Confederate and consipiracy wack-job literature. Does he really want the South to break away from the Union again?

http://www.amazon.com/Robert-M-Turley/wishlist/2C7UEESAF8HSD/ref=cm_wl_search_bin_1

[AWAKENED]

Am i concerned. No. Nothing I can do about it. Will it change the way i drive. No, nothing you or our government can do about that....yet.....

[Randy Hunt]

I remember when fuel prices rose to the rediculous amount of an average of $4.65 per gallon. My family restricted our vehicle to one tank of fuel a month. We stood by this practice until the fuel prices were reduced. The oil companies will again end up with a surplus. I suggest we get out of OPEC and use our own oil supplies. Regardless of what people are told, we have plenty of our own oil but they wouldn't be able to charge the outrageous amount they are charging us now.

[La Bete Noir]

I cannot imagine anyone being concerned about the rising prices of gas..even though it goes up to $10.00/gallon!!!!

Why should I??? It will not impact how much I drive...I am retired on SS!!!! Have money to burn!!!!