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7/31/2026 11:52 am  #1


Gas prices

The every day fluctuation of pump prices for gasoline is claimed to be the result of the current state of the US/Israel attack on Iran.
I say it is US oil companies' conspiring to set them by the "whatever the market will bear" standard.
Agree? Disagree?

 

7/31/2026 4:08 pm  #2


Re: Gas prices

Price of gasoline remains ridiculously low.  As indicated by sales of gas guzzlers that remain strong.  Gasoline only starts getting expensive when it reaches (maybe) $10 a gallon.

Gasoline in 1979, in today's money, was about $5 a gallon.  Today's $4 a gallon is cheap.

And so in 1979, sales of gas guzzling American cars reached a peak of 16 million.   Today, largest SUVs now amount to about half of all domestic auto sales (still about 16 million total).  And today (because their products have so little innovation) GMs sales are now down to something like a paltry 6 million.

Many do not make conclusions from facts.  Emotions are too often justification. (For the same reason Saddam had WMDs, people smoked cigarettes to increase health, and Trump's war was going to be won in three days.)   Only emotions claim that gasoline prices are too high.  Facts contradict emotions.
 

 

7/31/2026 5:34 pm  #3


Re: Gas prices

US oil companies are using AI to monitor world tensions, consumer reactions, and calculate how much they can get away with charging for gasoline without being prosecuted by authorities. That’s as sure as Saddam smoked cigarettes for health, Trump has WMDs, and people’s emotions won the war against facts in 3 days.

 

7/31/2026 5:43 pm  #4


Re: Gas prices

$50.00 almost filled it yesrewday,

Last edited by fargon (7/31/2026 5:46 pm)


 I Love my country, I fear the government.
 
 

8/01/2026 11:05 am  #5


Re: Gas prices

It was nice of oil companies to back me up on this yesterday.
Exxon doubled its PROFITS, Chevron quadrupled theirs in the second quarter, the heart of the US illegal war.

Sorry tw, I couldn't bear to read all you wrote.

     Thread Starter
 

8/01/2026 12:51 pm  #6


Re: Gas prices

They should double their profits.  By simply taking a same percent profit margin from a market that has almost doubled its commodity.  They are taking same percent profits - as all honest companies do.  And simply putting oil prices where they should be.

If gas was too expensive, then consumption would drop.  Then profits would drop.  Free market economics.

Scary is how so many are even increasing consumption.    The strategic oil reserves is now down to 43% capacity.  Dropping quickly.  A reserved that is only supposed to be used during an actual crisis.  Not when oil prices are at acceptable levels.

Something written so short demonstrates a problem now reported by the OECD.  In increasing numbers, Americans are becoming less intelligent.  For example, one in seven kids in college can only read at a ten year old's level.  Not tenth grade; ten year old.  A problem also seen with many older adults who also have a decreasing attention span.  Cannot read more than a tweet.  Therefore automatically believe everything that Trump says.

Even Nixon could not lie that much.  Back then, people could read tens of paragraphs.  Not just tens of words.  Ignorance creates anti-Americans.  As demonstrated by lies from Mission Accomplished, in Afghanistan, and Vietnam.  And the war that will be won in three days.    Short attentions spans are associated with those who do not learn from (read about) reality.

Price of gasoline is still cheap.  Oil companies are simply taking a same standard percent profits. Which would decrease if demand decreased.  Which will diminish if oil prices fall.  How many have seriously reduced their gasoline consumption?  Numbers say none.  Because gasoline is at an acceptable price.  So consumption remains high.

Basic free market economics is not found in tweets.

McDonalds now chares $8 for a hamburger that once sold for $1.  So they too must be evil?

Last edited by tw (8/01/2026 12:53 pm)

 

8/03/2026 12:28 pm  #7


Re: Gas prices

Diaphone Jim wrote:

The every day fluctuation of pump prices for gasoline is claimed to be the result of the current state of the US/Israel attack on Iran.
I say it is US oil companies' conspiring to set them by the "whatever the market will bear" standard.
Agree? Disagree?

Those are not mutually exclusive.   They are doing the latter at all times regardless.  The restrictions on oil supply caused by the war are a good excuse to use right now, even though the gas they're selling now is probably made from oil they bought at pre-war prices.  But, to give the devil his due, the prices they pay will rise due to the war, so some price hikes are justified.  But during disruptions, they raise the price in anticipation of that, and only lower it slowly if at all after a disruption is over, so there absolutely is profiteering going on.
 


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Yesterday 8:36 am  #8


Re: Gas prices

They make excellent profits when oil field prices rise.  And significant losses when prices fall.  They buy oil at one price three months earlier.  Then take profits or losses three months later when prices change.

Why do oil companies not have the massive profits seen in the 1950s and 1960s.  Competition is severe.  Prices rise just as fast as prices fall.  But the industry always has good profits.  Because demand  constantly exists.  Varies only little.   No matter how much prices change.
 

 

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