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General discussion

Gas prices...break $2 mark

Dec 24, 2014 12:49PM PST

Heck, for the last week or more, its suppose to be the big happy moment, gas prices. The gift if you travel and better yet when you return. Locally here, it has broken $2 and lowest I saw was $1.94. Of course, when I pulled-in I got a price of $1.98. Well, Santa seems to smell like gas this year. No milk or cookies but at least a full tank for $20 isn't a bad gift at all. -----Willy Happy

Discussion is locked

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I've been trying to predict the pricing cycles
Dec 24, 2014 6:16PM PST

and top up just before they jump. 25-30 cent increases happen overnight and the decreases happen slowly. With crude so low, it hardly seems justified to make those leaps upward. I was at a station the other day and here's a guy with a PU truck full of jerry cans that pulls up on the other side of the pump I'm using. I hope he made it home safely. I'd not want to see what an accident would like like when carrying that kind of cargo. Happy

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Somewhat related...
Dec 25, 2014 12:08AM PST

I finally had a delivery of propane and the price pretty much is what it was when the season started. I think, it dropped about 10 cents, but still a heck of bill for the refill. The warm season so far has been welcomed in that regard, less energy costs, but you and I know sooner or later, the other shoe will drop. Wink I hope, at least to drop "diesel pricing" too because that hurts me as well. It seems always higher than gas and while I don't use that much, the x-gals of diesel is yet another expense I have to carry. I was seriously looking into making my own bio-diesel some time back, but due to overall expenses and finding used oils, yada, yada, I came it up. Energy expenses across the board are roughly 1/3 of living out here as I see it. Let's not forget, the lawnmowers, log spliters, chain saws, pumps, tractors, backhoe, heaters, autos and p/u's that are absolute needs for me. gee, it's alot once you view the whole picture.

Happy Xmas and NY -----Willy Happy

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You can't figure the pricing cycle because
Dec 25, 2014 2:41AM PST

the oil companies don't do FIFO or LIFO. They do HIFO - highest in first out.

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You can get fairly close
Dec 25, 2014 6:27AM PST

Local competition drives the local markets to some extent. You also need to watch the crude oil price but realize that any significant change in that market won't affect the pump price right away. You can use "gas buddy" ( a google gets you to the site) and watch the graphs cycle up and down. Sometimes the jumps upward run on almost predictable cycles. You just can't wait until you're desperate for fuel so you'll end up at the pump more often. You also don't want to drive out of your way to save two cents a gallon. Calculate what your fuel costs are per mile and make your purchases using that criteria as well. Different regions will also have a dominant brand that tends to be the first to move and that affects the other stations in the area. It's not an exact science by any measure but, if you can buy in the bottom ranges of each pricing cycle, you can probably save enough for a cup of coffee...unless it's from Starbucks, of course. Happy

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(NT) Been using GasBuddy for years.
Dec 25, 2014 7:34AM PST
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Just breaking the $1 mark here
Dec 24, 2014 8:04PM PST

But that's for a liter, NOT a gallon. It cost me $70 to fill my tank.

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(NT) AND big vehicle sales are on the rise...
Dec 25, 2014 2:17PM PST
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People are so short-sighted
Dec 26, 2014 1:43AM PST

They should know that this won't last.

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But many don't look past the obsession
Dec 26, 2014 3:05AM PST

to purchase their next toy.

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There was an editorial cartoon not
Dec 30, 2014 11:04AM PST

very long ago: SUV owner filling up and swearing to 'ride a bicycle, contribute to green organizations, recycle...'. Then, >ding<, prices drop. He says, "Never mind."