Gasoline hits a high for February

[Newsjock]

Source: Los Angeles Times

The average price for regular gasoline shot up to $3.50 statewide, the highest level ever in February, and is expected to rise further as the summer driving season approaches.

The price, which reached $3.99 in some parts of Los Angeles, was the highest since October 2008, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Some stations are charging more than $4.25 for premium and $4.69 for diesel.

... "The only way to insulate yourself is to stop using gasoline," said Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer Federation of America. "The cost of gasoline is the third biggest household expense after housing and it's almost as big as medical. This is going to have a huge impact on household budgets."

... Pump shock is hitting much of the East and West Coasts, with New Yorkers paying as much as $3.79 a gallon, and parts of the Midwest, where some Chicagoans found prices as high as $3.69 a gallon.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20110218,0,2337491,full.story

[Arctic Dave]

1. I hate to say I told ya so so but what did you expect to happen

when they never fixed what caused the problem the first time.

[fittosurvive]

13. More dollars chasing the same amount of oil...

Yep, it was bound to happen.

[frylock]

2. just payed 3.67..

$45.00 to fill up my element.

[Tripod]

3. K&R because my friend loves gas prices. n/t

[Wilms]

4. But, but energy prices are going down.

So we can now start Throwing Little Old Ladies into the Cold.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x554926

[mackerel]

5. Just paid $3.34, got a 3 cent discount at Safeway.

Thank the heavens I have a prius!

[gtar100]

6. Remember that tax cut we're all supposed to get this year...

the oil companies want it.

[social_critic]

7. You should be paying $6 per gallon

I don't see why you guys complain so much. Gasoline prices should be taxed to make it cost $6 per gallon. If it costs so much, you'll be driving small vehicles with small fuel efficient engines, 5 or 6 speed manual transmissions, and also keep your tires inflated. Which is what this world needs to reduce green house gas emissions.

You do have to either do it or get off the pot, as they say in Kansas. I'm for the high gasoline taxes. And I don't mind driving a small car.

[gtar100]

8. Yea, it's kind of a blessing in disguise. But the extra cost isn't going to taxes,

it's going to profits to keep small-minded, greedy people fat and happy. Let's hope this is the proverbial capitalist rope they bought to hang themselves with.

[social_critic]

14. Most of the money goes to crude oil producing countries

Actually, a lot of the money goes to oil producing countries, their state oil companies, and taxes. As for private oil company stock, a lot of it is owned by mutual funds set up in 401Ks, retirement plans for state employees, and IRA's. I have an IRA, and some of the money is invested in stocks. And I'm sure those mutual funds are holding oil company stocks. So I suppose I'm one of those greedy people you mention? But what can I do to save for retirement? Did you notice CD interest rates? They are really low.

[dipsydoodle]

9. Which why its $8 / US gallon in the UK

Taxes.

[Le Taz Hot]

11. Yeah! That's the ticket!

FORCE us to buy new cars and pay $6.00 a gallon for gas out of the money from the jobs WE DON'T HAVE! That'll learn us! (I wish to hell I could unrec. a post). I'm so glad we have people like you here on DU to show us lost gas guzzlers the way, the truth and the light. :puke:

[social_critic]

15. No pain, no gain, sorry about your personal problems

it is indeed unfortunate to see so many people doing poorly. You have my sympathy. However, if you don't have a job, then maybe you should consider using a very small car with a very tiny engine. If you get 50 mpg, then you won't really notice the difference, I think. And you will be helping the environment.

There's also a big boogieman out there - we are running out of oil. When something is running out, the price has to go up to encourage people to switch to something else. If you don't drive a tiny car, then you'll eventually be forced to use public transportation. Which means you had better start agitating to have a pretty decent system where you live - or you'll have to move. I know his is harsh, but it's reality. We can't manufacture a natural resource like oil, it comes out of rocks underground. So we've been using up the earth's savings bank, and now we got to get busy facing what we have been doing.

[Yavin4]

17. Sums It Up Nicely

The era of Reagan "abundance" is coming to an end.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. Pedantic.

Look it up. By the way, I take the bus so all that self-righteous lecturing . . . :rofl:

[Rhiannon12866]

10. It's going up everyday here in NY...

It's as high as $3.37 some places around here, just for regular, and diesel is just crazy, $3.75 and up. The least expensive places in the country are Missouri and SC, but it's rising there, too, and doesn't look like it's going to turn around anytime soon. The unrest in the Middle East isn't helping. Just wait for travel season. :(

[AngryAmish]

12. I, for one, blame Bush.

[Yavin4]

16. Oh Yeah, Let's Kill High Speed Rail Projects

Cause Americans love their cars.