Quillback Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 I paid 3.25 in Jane, MO yesterday. Prices have really jumped in NW AR and SW MO. Supposedly some sort of refinery outage in OK. #@&^!
strangercreek Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 Do you think this will have an effect on the Memorial Day crowd in Branson? Hopefully all of the merchants are not hurting that bad. Our society seems to like their vacations, which is a good thing.
Terry Beeson Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 Springfield NewsLeader online poll so far this morning... *************************** Online Poll Do you believe the climbing gasoline prices are the result of market manipulations by Big Oil, or is it normal market forces of supply an demand at work? 86.3% Manipulations 13.7% Market forces Total Votes: 680 *************************** Gas prices will affect the tourist business to some extent. People tend to budget so much for a trip and higher gas prices will mean the percent going to fuel will be higher, leaving the percentages for lodging, attractions, and souvenirs to suffer. I venture a guess that many will go for cheaper lodging and some just to cut back on "trinkets" they buy. Maybe eat burgers instead of seafood. I just don't think they will cut back that much on travel. I'll be in my back yard cooking ribeyes instead of burning gas this weekend... Well, maybe a trip or two to Taney... TIGHT LINES, YA'LL "There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O’Neil
RiverRunner Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 "I'll be in my back yard cooking ribeyes instead of burning gas this weekend... Well, maybe a trip or two to Taney... " Lucky you Terry!!! I've got to drive to Alabama and pull back a U-Haul trailer full of stuff. I'm sure to get good mileage pulling that thing. At least I'll get to fish the pond for a little while.
taxidermist Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 We went to Branson Saturday evening. There was not the crowd on the strip or even the tour buses. Yes its effecting many people I think. THey will staycloser to home for a time. It has to be eating to expendable income and young families are going to suffer. I do know one thing I saw fewer boats on the lake yesterday. It took $59.00 to fill the boat yesterday in Harrison at Murphy Oil. The boat does pretty good on fuel economy 90HP 2 storke, but I dont run it wide open I back off the trottle some and it cost me maybe 3 mph. The local auto dealers are trying to move the full sized pickups. Is it gas scare? or they just need to move inventory? I will still fish I have that budgeted!! But may turn it into camping trips this summer. John
Al Agnew Posted May 22, 2007 Posted May 22, 2007 Gasoline prices are now at a record high, adjusted for inflation...up until now, in real dollars as a percentage of average income, gas had been higher back in the 1970s. I'm afraid we're running into the perfect storm. Whether or not the oil companies are actively colluding on gasoline prices, this is in no way a free market in the classic sense. The price of a barrel of oil is set internationally. The vast majority of gas stations are owned by a very few companies. So the companies don't have much to do with the price of the raw material, refineries ARE running at near capacity, and there is no real competition regarding the final price of a gallon of gas. And forget about the government putting on some kind of price controls, even if you believe that to be a good thing, since far too many of the politicians are in the pockets of the oil companies. Forget about this country EVER being able to produce enough oil domestically to take care of our consumption. ANWR? Please tell me how 2-4% of our domestic consumption at best (the best estimate of how much oil is in ANWR), which, if development of the oil fields there started now, wouldn't be available for at least 10 years, is going to help in the near future. And even when it WOULD become available, it wouldn't lower the price at the pump, since the oil from the Arctic is some of the most expensive on earth to get out and transport. Heck, the oil companies really aren't even all that interested in getting oil out of ANWR because of the cost...although the oil field development companies are slobbering all over themselves, because THEY'LL make a lot of money developing the necessary infrastructure. Oil shale? Last I heard, it still would cost an incredible amount of money to actually get oil from oil shale, even though we have a whole lot of it in parts of the West. The technology just isn't there. Nope, what we should be doing and doing in a big hurry, with all available support from government, is figuring out the BEST alternatives for not only running our autos, but producing all our energy needs. Continued reliance on oil is only going to get us deeper and deeper in trouble, environmentally, economically, and geopolitically. But it ain't gonna happen until a lot of us do a lot of suffering. When the price of gas gets this high and higher and way too many people can't even afford to get to work, let alone play, eventually they will force some changes. But we've waited far too long for the changes to come quickly and painlessly. I'm fortunate enough to work at home and to still be able to afford to drive to my recreation. But I'm considering all alternatives to owning the pickup truck that I use to carry the canoes and pull the boat...13-14 miles per gallon just ain't gonna cut it anymore.
drew03cmc Posted May 22, 2007 Posted May 22, 2007 $3.29 in Independence right now. We won't be doing any travelling! Andy
Terry Beeson Posted May 22, 2007 Posted May 22, 2007 Through the smoke, we can see that there has been some reaction to the high prices. Overall, gas consumption (demand) is down. However, there has yet to be a viable reaction to this in the form of lower prices - unless, of course, the "excuse" is the prices have not risen as much as they would if the demand were "stable." How short is the memory of the American public? Thirty years ago we had a similar situation and the answer came from Japan. Fuel economy was the answer then and is the answer now. Why oh why do "soccer moms" think they have to have a gigantic gas guzzling SUV to take the kids to practice and games and then use it to drive all over hell and half of Georgia? I have a 4X4 that I bought for hunting and fishing. I used it only for those purposes or when I had a need for a pickup or third vehicle. My main vehicle was a much more economical car. I sold the car due to an economic crunch for some "operating capital" and now wish I had it back. With the job situation and other factors, I'm "stuck" with the truck and can't justify buying or trading. But you can bet, if and when I find another job, I will be looking for something to drive to work. But I've heard too many people say they are not giving up their big rigs and will just keep paying more at the pump. That's just what the oil companies want to hear. You do know that the oil companies and auto makers are in cahootz with each other, right? I drove down hwy 60 this weekend and from Diggins to Seymore saw several Amish in their buggies. That is getting more and more appealing every time I pass a "petrol station"... TIGHT LINES, YA'LL "There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O’Neil
CMAC Posted May 22, 2007 Posted May 22, 2007 Horse and Buggy or bicycles seem the right thing to do!! Gas in Central MO 3.29 - 3.39/gal. Diesel looks attractive now.
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