Friday morning, on my way to work, I did something I normally don't do--I stopped and filled up with gas. I was getting low, but I usually like to wait until the weekend to fill up. Don't why that's my normal schedule, but it is. I guess I just like to have a full tank to start the work week.
So, I stopped, and paid $3.51 a gallon, for the cheap grade of gas. Not a great prices, but it was $.02 cheaper than the next lowest price.
On the way home after lunch, I drove past the very same gas station where I had filled up 7 hours earlier. In seven hours, gas prices had risen to $3.95 a gallon. Did you read that? Gas has risen $.44 in 7 hours! I was shocked!
Little did I know how much more shock I would experience over the weekend. By Saturday morning, gas was selling for $4.19 a gallon, again for the cheaper gas.
And, it continues to go up! And up! And up!
My wife heard on the radio on the way home Friday afternoon that gas could go to $5.00 - $6.00 a gallon...all because of Hurricane Ike.
Now, I fully understand that 25% of our gas refineries are located in Texas and Louisiana, I can appreciate that. However, at the time gas rose $.44 in 7 hours, the hurricane had not hit yet, and no gasoline had arrived in Birmingham from Texas. I can understand why gas prices would go up the next week or so, I really can. However, I am really struggling with the obvious gas gouging that is going on!
You cannot convince me that someone isn't making a killing off of us with gas! Again, remember, the hurricane hadn't hit on Friday. No gas has been refined on Friday or Saturday that made its way to Birmingham--all we were seeing were managers and companies raising rates--all because they could! And, this was on the day that the a barrel of oil dropped to $100 a barrel on futures.
Saturday afternoon, we went in my wife's car to Sam's Wholesale Club. We must have passed a dozen gas stations before we got there. We saw prices in the $4.19 - $4.25 range. Then, miracle of miracles, we found a station selling the cheap stuff at $3.83 a gallon. Who thought I'd ever be happy to pay $3.83 a gallon!
I filled up. I was proud to fill up, paying $.32 a gallon more than I had paid the day before. A man next to me was filling his truck and 5 or 6 five-gallon gas containers. The mid-grade and the highest grades of gas were out at this particular station.
Looks like rough and expensive days are ahead. All because of a hurricane named Ike. Who likes Ike!
What are gas prices doing in your part of the world? Seen prices rising or staying the same? I think your answers will either remind me that we don't have it that bad...or it will aggreviate me more on the gouging that is going on!
In one day ours dropped from 3.95 to 3.79 the day before Ike. By the next day it was 4.19. My oldest daughter lives in Knoxville. She called Friday and it was 4.49 and Saturday it was 4.99. Does that help any? Obvious gouging.
ReplyDeleteI filled up for about $3.60 a gallon yesterday in Lubbock, TX.
ReplyDeleteI heard on the radio this morning that the state of Alabama defines gouging as a price rise (during a state of emergency--which we are in) of 25% more than the average in the previous 30 days. So, as far as the weekend goes...that would be an increase of $.90...guess what...they raised the price $.89!!! Do you think they knew what they were doing or what???
ReplyDeleteMichael...don't you folks in Texas know about Ike? Now's your chance to take advantage of all of us! :)
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to this post. I am so angry about all this gasoline stuff, I can hardly stand it.
ReplyDeleteGratefully, while it has gone up here, it hasn't done what it has in your neck of the woods. Gas was finally down to $3.44 a gallon pre-Ike. Before it hit, it rose to $3.59 and has stayed there all weekend. While I haven't been out in town today, that is what it was yesterday.
We've pretty well quit going anywhere unnecessarily.
Of course, gas was about $8.00 per gallon when we lived in Hong Kong. But we ain't in HK anymore.
And the thing is...there's so little we can do about it! My wife and I hardly went anywhere this weekend...we didn't eat out like normal...we certainly didn't buy as much! That's the only way we can handle the price increases...our salaries aren't going up!
ReplyDeleteAnd the entire time, a barrel of gas has dropped to $97 a barrel...down, what, from nearly $150 this summer! Yet, gas is up!
Go figure....
Gas has gone up here in Granbury, Texas, but we also have stations that are closed or are closing. For those who don't know where we are - we're southwest of Ft Worth. Ft. Worth is about a 45 minute drive.
ReplyDeleteI filled my van up for 3.63 a gallon at the beginning of last week. It's now 3.83 a gallon. Not bad I guess. I am not complaining b/c I remember when it was over 4.00 a gallon when the rest of the country was still in the low 3's. I don't drive much either so I fill up about every 10 days or so. I won't need gas again until Wednesday probably so hopefully it'll be back down again. Esp now that we know the oil refineries are just fine.
ReplyDeleteHeidi
or you can live in Mexico and enjoy the fruits of a government who is paying to keep the price of gas down for it's citizens.
ReplyDeleteI cringed when I read this as both of our vehilces have empty tanks to be filled today.
ReplyDeleteThe news said last night that so far in our area they have not seen any gouging like there has been across the country. So disturbing in so many ways.
I cringed when I read this as both of our vehilces have empty tanks to be filled today.
ReplyDeleteThe news said last night that so far in our area they have not seen any gouging like there has been across the country. So disturbing in so many ways.
We are paying $3.67 in San Diego. I remember a couple of months ago paying $4.59 for the cheap gas wondering how we were going to make it till the next check. Sorry you are having to go through that. Lots of prayers being sent your way.
ReplyDeleteAaron...at the price of gas right now...I can't afford to drive to Mexico to fill up! :)
ReplyDeleteKath...take out a loan...sell your first born...second mortgage on your house...
ReplyDeleteThat'll cover one vehicle...
Bub...all prayers are appreciated...and if you want to ship a 5-gallon container of it to me, that would be appreciated even more! :)
ReplyDelete