News, Gas prices pass $3.40 a gallon, are expected to rise higher. (costs, average)

[njguy]

I just paid.....Oh wait a minute I don't buy gasoline or diesel.

I get "great gas mileage" from my New Balance sneakers hitting the pavement

I really do feel for all of you who are forced to drive long distances just to get to work so to keep the job you have.

Thankfully I do have mass transit options (mostly buses) as I live closeby to NYC - most of the time I walk.

I gave up my car in March 2007 as I saw the $$$ costing writing on the proverbial wall - I guess I'm no longer a "chick" magnet

As of yesterday the price of Unleaded Regular averaged between $335.9 to $339.9/gallon in my neck of the woods and I'll find out this evening if it went up again when I walk by those same gasoline stations.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by silverfox

Is it just me ? I've noticed lately all the "serviceless station" owners and operators are wearing a big smile on their face.

Yes, it's just you. Service station owners hate high gas prices, and here's why: their margins on gas sales are razor-thin, sometimes even a loss-leader. And contrary to popular belief, they can't just set their prices where they want because competition at the retail level is cut-throat. In fact it's so cut-throat that it's actually illegal in some states to sell gasoline at a loss. Gas stations make their money on the soda and junk-food and ancillaries that people buy incidental to filling up. (That's why they also hate pay-at-the-pump and they'd rather not have it, but the market has forced their hand on that issue.) Their margins are much higher on that stuff. And people are a lot less likely to walk in and buy discretionary items after spending $62 to fill up than after they've spent $34 to fill up.

[tallrick]

Mass-transit cannot work in the United States, we are simply too large and live scattered. A much better way is increased automation and nationwide high-speed internet. Commuting is so stupid and needs to be eliminated. The solution is to get rid of zoning and stop creating real-estate bubbles. The people who actually produce tangible goods need to live near their factories, and office workers, as well as service professionals like doctors and lawyers can work from home or close to home. Commuting just makes no sense and is a recent phenomenon enabled by super-cheap energy.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Mass-transit cannot work in the United States, we are simply too large and live scattered. A much better way is increased automation and nationwide high-speed internet. Commuting is so stupid and needs to be eliminated. The solution is to get rid of zoning and stop creating real-estate bubbles. The people who actually produce tangible goods need to live near their factories, and office workers, as well as service professionals like doctors and lawyers can work from home or close to home. Commuting just makes no sense and is a recent phenomenon enabled by super-cheap energy.

Mass transit doesn't work in rural areas, but most Americans live in urban and suburban areas. With tweaking of our land development policies, we could encourage more transit-oriented development. Telecommuting will help but won't eliminate the need for many or most people to commute for work.

[silverfox]

Originally Posted by Drover

Yes, it's just you. Service station owners hate high gas prices, and here's why: their margins on gas sales are razor-thin, sometimes even a loss-leader. And contrary to popular belief, they can't just set their prices where they want because competition at the retail level is cut-throat. In fact it's so cut-throat that it's actually illegal in some states to sell gasoline at a loss. Gas stations make their money on the soda and junk-food and ancillaries that people buy incidental to filling up. (That's why they also hate pay-at-the-pump and they'd rather not have it, but the market has forced their hand on that issue.) Their margins are much higher on that stuff. And people are a lot less likely to walk in and buy discretionary items after spending $62 to fill up than after they've spent $34 to fill up.

Your very correct on your reply except for one thing. I live in a remote area in a small town and the stations here dance to there own drummer. Not the choices of the larger towns. "They gotcha"

Cheers,
Silverfox

[sanspeur]

Better get ready for gas prices to exceed $8.50 per gallon by 2012.

Better get ready for $2.25 gas

[hdwell]

Roughly the same size as a quart-which means 10 bucks a gallon-in Canada. Switching to motorcycle soon.

[Scraper Enthusiast]

Today, "cheap gas" in metro Atlanta is about $3.50 Average is about $3.57. Some stations, however, have gas around $3.60s or $3.70s. This is absolutely ridiculous.

[himain]

Gas here in Concord, NC is 3.51 at Bj's before I went inside. I came outside less than 45 minutes later and it had gone up to $3.54!!!! Other stations are are $3.64. In Miami, its at $3.80

[car54]

I was at BJ's this morning in Northern Virginia and there must have 30 cars waiting in line for gas. Heck, it's only about 10 cents cheaper there!

What's the average fill-up....10-20 gallons? I can't see sitting there for a half hour to save a whopping dollar or two!