When oil prices go up gas stations raise gasoline almost immediately,when it goes down it takes way longer,why
450933
It is called greed...plain and simple.  The profits the oil companies had last year were outrageous.  I think the entire industry needs to be investigated.
609355
OIL is $74 per barrel. The amount of that oil which is turned in to gasoline is alot less.
825130
gas and oil prices are determined by supply and demand on the world market.  Neither oil companies nor republicans control prices. Only thing they could do is build more refineries, which would result in greater supplies of gasoline, which would reduce prices further.  Liberals don't like refineries, because they think they cause pollution  and are beholden to the environmental lobbyists.  Oil companies don't build refineries, because they can't with govt approval and they're making big profits as things are, so there's no incentive to build them.
68168
Gas prices are set based on supply and demand. If more people are using gas or there is a lower amount of gas being produced then the prices will go up.\n\nThe recent increase in prices is probably due to the growing tension with Iran. If for some reason the oil from Iran is cut off, there will be less production.
122255
The gas companies practice what is known as zone pricing. They look at how much money people in a certain area make and then set the price from there. It allows them to charge people who will pay more a top dollar price while still selling to the poor at a price they can afford. That is why some independent gas stations will have prices that are much lower then the big corporations, they don't have zone pricing.
873620
If they release oil reserves every time the price rises a little it will go down, but we will pay for it dearly when the oil producing countries see that our reserves are getting low. Six years ago our reserves were at an all time low. We held our own for a while but eventually the suppliers realized we didn't have backup and that's how we reached the all time high prices. Several months ago the reserves were in the ninety percent range and that is when it finally started dropping. If they do use the reserves properly gas prices will remain stable. If it does drop dramatically look out we will pay for it later.
475386
Gas station absolutly.. you could raise the prices on the board outside and skim the till and at the rate of gas the company would never know.
474948
Well, it won't run out completely, but it is projected that demand will outpace production within that time frame.  This is based on Hubbert's Curve and if you're interested, try researching Peak Oil.  Regardless, when demand outpaces consumption, expect the price of gasoline, and anything else associated with petroleum, to increase in price drastically.
859698
Used to be $2.21 as I remember. I saw yesterday the gas station near my house was $2.33. The low gas prices arguement was used by the GOP as a campaign tool and now they still lost. So, it is rising again.
304008
Not really.  If everyone stopped buying from Exxon and used the other providers, then the other providers would run out of gas pretty quickly due to supply and demand chain effects.  What would happen is that they would buy their gas from Exxon and overall all prices would go up, not down.\n\nFull mythbuster at Snopes.\n\nhttp://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp
517097
They (I assume you mean oil companies) have every right to raise prices.  Its called capitalism!  If you want to be picky, why don't people protest bottled water or movie popcorn?  Its profit margin is a helluva lot higher than gas.  \n\nThere are a lot of other options for people if they think gas prices are too high.  Don't drive! Ride a bike, walk, public transportation...
436434
Actually, gas prices in the US are artificially low.  We pay about 1/2 to 1/3 of Europe's prices.  Prices here fluctuate almost arbirarily, but also in accordance with supply and demand, and, of course, the price of oil.  It's precisely because we're in this war over oil that prices has gone up. War makes production and distribution a pain, to say the least.  Other oil producing nations, like Venzuela and Nigeria have also had political distruptions.
426738
Year after year gas prices go up in the summer and fall in the winter.
348889
supposedly it's because of "weapons of mass destruction." but we all know it's because of the oil. the shitty part is now bush has had us over there 3 years, and the fuckin gas prices are still pushing $3 and probably $4 in summer.
808497
Oil prices are not very elastic.  Once demand exceeds supply, the price will skyrocket.  Excess production capacity is marginal supply that comes into play when the price goes up.  It may be a well that costs more to operate until oil is at $70 a barrell.  If demand is really great, then this capacity is used up.
967853
Alternative fuels and they will call the oil industry into Congress again for a "stern talking to..." not that it will help.  Oil industry rises and falls on the price of oil, plain and simple.
678289
Gas will go up for this holiday weekend, more people travel more profits got nothing to do with supply and demand. Oil traded over $72 a barrel today. So get you gas before it goes up tommorow for the weekend.