Gas Prices

The Sky is falling! ...

Published on August 22, 2006 By Chaos Manager In Current Events

... No, but gas prices are. At least, in the places that aren't - a) tourist traps or

where I don't visit ...

Seriously, in the last two weeks, I've noticed a trend in gas prices. They're actually falling. Now, they aren't back down to where they were a year ago, but they're getting closer.

In Williamsburg, near my house, the gas stations have been averaging around the $2.95/gal for regular unleaded. When I left to come house/cat sit for my parents - they were already dropping to the $2.75 mark in places. One place (far off the beaten track for tourists) was at $2.71. Now, these are all "locals" type places. These stations are far enough away from Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens that the tourons (a local slang word for "tourist morons") aren't likely to be customers. The stations catering to the tourons are still in the $2.90 range. Of course, they were in the $3.10+ range just a week or two ago, so even they are dropping prices.

When I got back here to the Chesterfield/Petersburg area, I got a rather nasty (okay, it felt pretty good) shock - prices were at $2.69/gal last Friday (cheapest I found) with most still in the $2.75 - $2.79 range. When I came back in on Sunday and found that the usually more expensive places are down to $2.71 .... Well, let's just say I've not been brave enough to visit my normal haunts. The local NBC station's "Pump Patrol" page is reporting prices down in the $2.63 - $2.65 range for the ones I normally use.

So, to get back to my point - I realize that this is part of the "end of summer" drop and I'm not sure how long this'll last, but you have to wonder. If the current administration (aka President Bush and the Republidorks) has been bashed repeatedly about the "rising gas prices", why aren't they getting credit for them dropping over $0.40/gal over the last two weeks? I ask this, because I've been reading articles about the different Congressional and Senatorial races going on over the country and how one of the issues is rising gas prices. Now, I can understand this being a concern. It's a big concern to my wallet, too. Especially now that I'm doing the Williamsburg to Chester commute 5 times a week.

I've been paying attention to the differrent media sources - even going so far as to turn on the local news. *shudder* The only thing I've heard or read about FALLING gas prices has been a 30 second blurb as filler in one of the local newscasts. Once. Nothing else. Everyone else is still talking about how they're going UP. And checking places, I've noticed that the prices here, aren't that unusual.

Now, I know that the administration and Congress didn't have a whole lot to do with the prices going up (I understand basic economics well enough for that) and they don't deserve a lot of credit for them falling again. What gets me - if folks are so willing to blame the President and Republidorks in Congress for the rising prices, why aren't they willing to give credit when they fall?

Oh, right. Wouldn't give them something to piss and moan about. Got it. Sorry. Continue on with your normal, daily activities.

-- Oh, for the terminally dense - While being politically conservative in most things, I am *NOT* a Republican. They are just the ones that currently tend to agree with what I believe. I decide each issue on its own, and each vote based on which of the candidates best matches my beliefs the best. I have voted for the Green Party, Democratic Party, Libertarian Party, and the Party for Mickey Mouse for Governer. And Tim Kaine STILL won that one.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Aug 22, 2006

Boy, you can whip out those insults when you want to!

But as to your article itself, part of the reason is that when BP revealed the pipe line bust, and then that it would take "months" to fix, Oil shot up to about $78/barrell. But BP, while it did reduce some of the supply, was able to keep most of it flowing, and so the price came down as people saw no shortage.

And that has the effect of driving down the prices at the pump. I have see it in the mid $2.60s, and just when I have to fill up.

CharlesCS

on Aug 22, 2006

I have seen $2.76 here in West Palm beach and my wife saw $2.74. I don't care what made it go down, I just want it to either stay down or keep going down.

Chaos Manager

on Aug 22, 2006

Boy, you can whip out those insults when you want to!

I've had lots of practice. The Repubs are just the ones that get mentioned here.

As for the Tourons ... I wish I could take credit for that one. Sadly, I first heard it from a coworker that's been here for ages (and grew up in Atlantic City, so it might not have even started here).

I don't care what made it go down, I just want it to either stay down or keep going down.

Me, too. I really wish it would go back to pre-Katrina prices, but I'm not sure how that'll go.

It's sad, I can remember filling up at the gas station on Fort Lee (Army brat has it's uses from time to time) when I was in College and filling up my Nissan Sentra (from empty) and having enough change from a $10 bill to get a soda and a candy bar at the same time. Sadly, recently it's been change from a $50 ... :

foreverserenity

on Aug 22, 2006

I noticed the falling prices too. Yesterday I paid $2.96 for unleaded plus, today I paid $2.89. Maybe this is the 'lets get them to think we're finally listening to them' hase, then they will sock it to us wham bam again in the fall! LOL!

Dr Guy

on Aug 22, 2006

when I was in College and filling up my Nissan Sentra (from empty) and having enough change from a $10 bill to get a soda and a candy bar at the same time.

I can remember doing that about 7 years ago. 99, the price in some places was about .859 per gallon

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